Hillis Rumors Ridiculous
Since the game against the Miami Dolphins, there has been a considerable amount of rumors swirling around Peyton Hillis. Hillis did not play against the Dolphins because he had strep throat and soon after the game reports started flowing that the real reason why Hillis didn't play was because of a contract dispute with the Browns over a contract extension.
Matters got worse when Hillis' agent felt it necessary to come out and say that he advised his client not to play. If I were Hillis I would fire his agent. If you ever had strep throat it can be pretty painful. High fever and the inability to ingest anything other than liquids are usually the symptoms. In addition, it's my understanding that it is highly contagious.
The Browns organization has done a terrible job of defusing this situation. I saw Coach Pat Shurmur's press conference the day after the game. When the issue came up, he said that Hillis was a big part of the team and that when the young man came to the Stadium he told Shurmur that he had strep throat and was running a high fever and couldn't play. Shurmur danced around follow up questions. Having seen people with strep throat you know that they are sick. The head coach could have put up more of a defense for his star running back.
I have not heard anything from General Manager Tom Heckert on the subject. I find that puzzling unless it is the Browns who want to paint Hillis in a negative light thus giving the team a better position with any talks of a contract extension. In addition, if you think back to the Colts and Titans games, Hillis was taken out of a goal line situation against the Colts and then was used as a decoy in a badly designed play against the Titans on a 4th and 1 situation. Is it possible that Shurmur is not enamored with his big bruising running back??? Maybe he doesn't fit in with Shurmur and Holmgren's version of the West Coast offense??
If this is true, then the Browns are making a big mistake. If you look back to the great 49er teams, they had a brusinig fullback by the name of Tom Rathman who did more than block. He was a good receiver out of the backfield and could get tough yards. Hillis is also a good receiver out of the backfield and once he gets going he is hard to stop. I also think he is a better runner than Rathman.
Hillis is the type of back that you need on the shores of Lake Erie during the months of November, December and January. He can grind it out in bad weather conditions and if you give him the ball enough he will eventually wear a defense down. This is what happended in the Colts game as late in the fourth quarter he scored a touchdown on a 19 yard run that sealed the deal for the Browns.
Last week, Hillis hit twitter with a passionate statement telling Browns fans that he loves this team, its fans and the city of Cleveland. I believe him. In watching interviews of this guy, what you see is what you get. I could be wrong but I don't think it was a PR stunt. In my mind, the Browns need Peyton Hillis to be successful and if Shurmur & Company can't find a way to use him then we got bigger problems than trying to figure out what the real reason is for why Hillis didn't play aginst Miami.
Posada Goes Out In Style
It has been a difficult year for Jorge Posada. Before training camp, Brian Cashman told the aging Posada not to bother bringing his catching equipment because he was going to be the full time DH. As his troubles batting right-handed continued, he faced the demotion in the lineup vs the Red Sox and the ultimate removal from the lineup vs the Red Sox in September. Questions surrounded him as to whether or not he would be on the post season roster. However, his clutch hitting against the Rays in the division clinching game convinced the Yankee high command that Posada would play in October. It may have been the only good decision they made going into the post season.
Posada was the leading Yankee hitter in the starting lineup. A lineup that consisted of Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixiera, Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher. Posada hit .429 and seemed to be on base every time he was up. It's almost like he knew this was it and he was going to go out in style. The sad thing is that the Yankees didn't capitalize on this Core 4 members last hurrah. I haven't heard anyone ask this question but why didn't Joe Girardi move Posada up in the lineup?? How about flip-flopping Posada and Swisher?? Maybe with Posada at the plate in the bottom of the 7th with the bases loaded and 2 outs he gets the job done. Of course we will never know because Girardi trotted out the same lineup 5 days in a row. More on Girardi in another post.
When you look at Posada's career stats they are average. His career regular season stats: .273 batting average with 275 home runs and 1,065 RBI's. Post season stats: .248 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI's. So the numbers are not great. But Posada understood what it means to be a Yankee. He came up through the Yankee farm system. He detested losing. I'll never forget the double he hit in the 2003 ALCS against the Red Sox. There is that picture of Posada screaming in jubilation as he reached second base.
There is no question that Posada's skills have declined over the last 2 years. The Yankees can't really bring him back. With ARod probably going to need more DH time and the emergence of Jesus Montero and Austin Romine, there is no room for Posada. He has been a good Yankee and he went out in style leading the team he has only ever played for in hitting. The sad thing is its one more player gone from the glory years and you have to wonder if we will ever see such a run again.
Week 5 NFL Picks
Last week was another bad one as I went 2-2. Need to pick up the pace to get over .500 as I'm 6-8 for the season. So here we go:
* Cincinnati (+2 1/2) at Jacksonville: The Bengals defense were able to keep their team in the game last week against the high flying Buffalo Bills. This week they face a Jaguar team led by rookie Blaine Gabbert. Not sure the Jaguars should be favored against anybody. The Bengals are 2-0 as road dogs while Jacksonville is 0-3-1 ATS. I'm taking the Bengals with the points and a good chance they win out right.
* San Diego (-4) at Denver: The Chargers are clearly the better team and are 7-1-2 ATS in the last 10 games these 2 teams played. They are 6-1-2 as a favorite. No reason to see that changing as the Chargers should cover the four points handily despite missing Antonio Gates.
* Atlanta (+6) vs Green Bay: I am really hesitant about picking the Falcons but I can't see the Packers covering the 6 points. The Falcons will be looking to avenge their playoff loss last year to the Pack. This game should be a high scoring affair. Not sure if Falcons win out right but can't see the Packers covering the spread so I'm going with the Falcons.
Dead Bat Society: Yankees Eliminated
All season if you have followed this blog I have repeatedly said that good pitching beats good hitting in October. Well last night, on a nice October evening, the Detroit Tigers stymied the best team money can buy with a 3-2 win and eliminated the Yankees from post season play. What was so frustrating that numerous times the Yankees had opportunities to take the lead and couldn't deliver.
Not only couldn't they deliver but it was the big stars who shrunk so mightily at the plate and their failure is an ominous sign for the future as they are not getting any younger. The 4-5-6 hitters for the Yankees went 9 - 55 which represents a batting average of .164 with 1 home run and 5 RBI's. What makes matters worse is that they had chances last night to send the Yankees off to the ALCS.
Nick Swisher is one of my favorite Yankees. I love his enthusiasm and I love how he is so paasionate about being a Yankee. But his post season performances have been putrid. Last night, after Mark Teixiera walked to make the score 3-2, Swisher was once again feeble at the plate. What really kills me is why wouldn't Joe Girardi, he of taking a pitcher out almost every inning, move Jorge Posada into the 6th spot?? Posada hit .429 for the series and obviously has been involved in plenty of post season games. It may have helped to relieve some pressure for Swisher. But Girardi is a block head and used the same lineup for all 5 games. The Yankees must decide whether they want to pick up the option in 2012 to keep Swisher a Yankee. As I said, I love Nick Swisher but can the Yankees afford such ineptness out of the number 6 hitter in October??
Speaking of ineptness, Mark Teixiera has been absolutly terrible in the 3 post seasons that he has had with the Yankees. In 2009 he hit .180, 2010 he hit .148 and in this series .167. This from an RBI producer. When he walked last night to force in a run, I got the feeling that Teixiera was relieved. Somehow, I don't see Paul O'Neill, Reggie Jackson or Mickey Mantle being that way. Throughout the whole season, I can't think of too many times when Teixiera carried this team. In the final game of the regular season, he hit 2 home runs and I remember thinking this is typical. 2 home runs in a meaningless game. The fact of the matter is that Teixiera has fallen in love with the short porch of Yankee Stadium. Prior to coming to the Yankees, he was a career .300 hitter. Not any more. Until he begins to drive the ball to left-field, his high average days are over. The sad thing is that the Yankees have nowhere else to go with him.
Speaking of nowhere else to go, this brings me to Alex Rodrieguez. The Yankees have 6 more years to watch the breaking down of what was one of baseball's most feared hitters. ARod was 2-18 in this series. At times, he looked completely lost at the plate. It is evident that the injury to his hip has diminished his power. He is a shell of his former self which absent 2009, was not that successful with the Yankees when he was in his prime and he is far past his prime now. It was clear throughout the month of September and into October, that teams would rather pitch to ARod than Robinson Cano. What's troubling is that I don't see how the Yankees can anticipate ARod playing third base throughout a season. In order to get something out of him offensively, I believe that he needs to be the every day DH.
Yankee ownership has some decisions to make. First, General Manager Brian Cashman's contract is up at the end of this month. In my mind, Cashman does not deserve a new contract and if he gets one he should take a pay cut. He built a team for a 162 game schedule not for October. In fact, as was pointed out by Mike Lupica of the NY Daily News, in the past 10 years the Yankees have been knocked out of the playoffs 5 times in the ALDS. 5 times out in the first round. His bargain basement signings of Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon got them through the regular season but Colon didn't make the playoff roster and Garcia was a non factor. In the mean time, Tiger GM Dave Dombrowski picked up Doug Fister at the trade deadline while Cashman was sitting on his hands. Would the Yankees have loved to have had Fister last night pitching for them??? Cashman should be told what they told Joe Torre, you can comeback at a pay cut with incentives.
Ownership will also have to decide what they will do with the option that CC Sabathia may exercise. Sabathia is the Yankees best pitcher but from August 1st he has not been the same guy who was so dominant early on. I think they have no choice but to extend his contract but they need to be concerned about his weight. A guy his size could break down quickly and a contract extension would have him pitching until he was 36 yrs. old.
Throughout the course of the next week or so I will have more on the Yankees and my observations on the season and on what needs to be done. But all in all, you can't help but being aggravated over what happened in this series and in what should have been a trip to the ALCS.
P.S.: Week 5 NFL Picks later today
Reimer Stands Tall: Leafs Win 2-0
The Toronto Maple Leafs started the 2011-12 season in grand fashion shutting out their old time rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, 2-0. James Reimer was outstanding for the Leafs making 32 saves and being really strong in the first period when the Leafs were out shot 14-4. Reimer's play certainly should quiet all of the critics who were concerned about his play in the preseason which was less than stellar. But the Reiminister of Defense came up big when he needed to.
Everyone watching the game had to feel really good when Matthew Lombardi scored the Leafs first goal while shorthanded as it was Lombardi's first goal in over a year. The Leafs seemed to really pick up the momentum after the shorthanded goal as they really pressed the Canadiens in the 2nd period.
Early in the third period, Captain Dion Phaneuf scored on a beautiful goal that extended the Leaf lead to 2-0. Phaneuf ended the game with a goal and an assist and if the Leafs are going to be successful this year they will need their Captain to chip in offensively.
Despite being out shot 32-18, I thought after the first period the Leafs seemed to carry the play to the Habs. The penalty killing was perfect tonight as the Canadiens were 0-5. Matthew Lombardi and recently acquired David Steckel were keys to that success along with Reimer. Steckel was unreal on faceoffs winning over 70%. Late in the 3rd period, Ron Wilson had a checking line of Lombardi-Steckel-Armstrong and they looked pretty good.
I thought Matt Frattin fit in quite well with Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski. Frattin created some chances with some strong board work. The Grabovski line was dangerous all night. I was impressed with the play of John-Michael Liles and I also thought Mike Komisarek had a strong game for the Leafs.
The Leaf power play was not good tonight. They did not record many chances and there did not seem to be much chemistry. There didn't seem to be much traffic in front of Carey Price and I would like to see David Steckel maybe draw that assignment. I also thought that Philip Dupuis was not a factor and quite frankly I don't see how he stays with the Leafs once Connolly comes back and if Lombardi continues to get stronger. The Leafs scaled back Jake Gardiner's ice time but the youngster did not look out of place.
The Leafs need to build on this win Saturday night when they take on their provincial rival, the Ottawa Senators. Last season, the Leafs were terrible on Saturday night, particularly at home. If they are to make the playoffs this year they need to improve on that record and this Saturday is the perfect time to start.
Hey Valverde, You Are Heading Back To NY!!!
After Detroit's Game 2 win over the Yankees, Tiger closer Jose Valverde proclaimed that his team wouldn't be coming back to New York. Well, surprise Jose. You are headed back to the Bronx as the Yankees pounded the Tigers 10-1 to even their ALDS series at 2 games a piece. AJ Burnett, he of one of the worst pitching performance all season by a Yankee starting pitcher, was solid over 5 2/3 innings. But what probably saved Burnett and the Yankees season was Curtis Granderson's catch in the first inning when it appeared that Burnett was going to self-destruct.
Where would the Yankees be without Curtis Granderson. With the injuries to ARod this year, Granderson has supplied the Yanks with another source of power and run production. He also is a very good centerfielder and that was on display last night with his catch of Don Kelly's rising line drive that would have cleared the bases and given the Tigers an early 3-0 lead. Granderson continued to flash leather in the bottom of the 6th when he snared a sinking line drive off the bat of Jhonny Peralta that ended the inning and at the time held the Yankee lead at 4-1.
The Yankee offense finaly got on track as they put the game away with a 6 run explosion in the 8th inning that sent the Tiger faithful home and Valverde packing for a trip back to New York. Game 5 won't be easy. The Yanks will be relying on their unflappable rookie, Ivan Nova to clinch the series. One thing in their favor is that the bullpen will be rested particularly David Robertson and Mariano Rivera. Phil Hughes looked strong last night in the 8th inning and could be counted on again if need be. But the key may be for the Yankees to try to get out in front early forcing Leyland to go to his bullpen as it was evident last night that the Yankees were able to get to Alburquerque, Coke and Schlereth. Doug Fister will try to avenge is Game 2 loss but the Yankees should be able to get to him.
The momentum has shifted back to the Pinstripes. They need to take advantage of that home crowd early and send Valverde on a one way ticket back to Detroit.
Tuesday’s Thoughts
While wondering if anyone would even know who Hank Williams Jr. is if it wasn't for Monday Night Football, here is what's on my mind this morning:
* As a Yankee fan you couldn't have expected anything worse: being down 2-1 in a best of 5 series and AJ Burnett is the starter for Game 4. Burnett has been a mess since the Yankees signed him in 2009. Yes, the Yankees will point to the 2009 Game 2 start that Burnett made in the World Series. However, his body of work throughout his Yankee career clearly outweighs that one game which makes me feel that tonight can very well be the end of the Yankee season.
* The ineptness of the middle of the Yankee lineup continues to plague this team's chances to advance. ARod and Mark Teixiera are 1-23 in this series. Teixiera is hitting .161 in his Yankee playoff history and Nick Swisher is hitting .152 in his Yankee career. If the Yankees are going to win this series against the Tigers, the offense will need to step it up.
* It's pretty sad when your best hitters in a playoff series are an aging Jorge Posada and Brett Gardner. You also have to like the guttiness of Russell Martin. But the Yankees probably would be getting ready for the ALCS if the big hitters were doing their jobs to compliment the efforts of Posada, Gardner and Martin.
* There seems to be some rumblings that all is not well in Believeland. Browns fans are questioning Coach Pat Shurmur's 4th and 1 call that did not include handing the ball off to Peyton Hillis. Shurmur denied that there are any problems between him and the bruising running back. But one has to wonder if this was just the case of a rookie head coach being too cute by not giving the ball to Hillis in that situation.
* Tight end Evan Moore was not happy after Sunday's loss to Tennessee. In a post game interview it was clear that Moore felt he should have been targeted more in the Browns offense. I agree with Moore. During the preseason it was apparent that Moore and Colt McCoy had developed a relationship that could bode well this season. For whatever reason, that hasn't translated during the regular season. Here's hoping that with the bye week, Shurmur will figure out how to get Moore involved in the offense.
* The Maple Leafs made the right move by keeping Jake Gardiner on their NHL roster. This kid has been the highlight of the preseason and seems to have a special quality that the Leafs haven't seen since the days of Borje Salming. It's unfortunate that Keith Aulie was sent to the Marlies but I think we will see the big defesneman back up with the Leafs sooner rather than later.
* I was not happy with the Tim Connolly signing and his preseason injury has done nothing to change my mind. How can he develop any chemistry with his linemates when he is not on the ice. It looks like another year that Phil Kessel will be without a true #1 center man unless Matthew Lombardi can comeback strong.
* Ohio State continues to show how they are a football program totally out of control. Yesterday the bumbling Atheltic Director Gene Smith announced that 3 players will be suspended for being paid for work that they did not perform over the summer. Smith had the unmitigated gall to defend the University and lament that this is all on the players, a rogue coach (Tressel) and overzealous boosters. If Gene Smith had a slight bit of pride, he would resign and save himself the indignity of being fired.
* And finally, here's hoping that loud mouth Country Western singers like Hank Williams Jr. stick to singing and keep their over the top opinions to themselves. If it was up to me, his stupid song should be shut down for good.
Pivotal Game 3 Have Yanks On The Brink
Let me make it clear, I have been a Yankee fan all my life. My first Yankee memory is Bobby Richardson snagging a line drive off the bat of Willie McCovey to give the Yankees the 1962 World Championship. I cried when they lost to the St.Louis Cardinals in the 1964 World Series. I lived through the Ruben Amaro-Horace Clarke days from 1965-1975. Experienced the Bronx Zoo and the excesses and losses of the 80's and early 90's. This history lesson is being laid out so that it's understood that I am a Yankee fan. However, as big a fan as I may be, the Yankees are in trouble as Game 3 approaches. Their season rests on the left arm of CC Sabathia because a loss tonight means that the Yankees will be down 2-1 and their season will rest on AJ Burnett.
There is no one else you would want on the mound tonight than CC. He is the Yankees best pitcher and he is a warrior. The problem is that the Tigers will have the best pitcher in the American League on the mound in Justin Verlander. Sabathia could pitch great tonight but will the Yankee offense be able to scratch out enough runs to win. The numbers don't look good.
The projected Yankee lineup is hitting .226 against Verlander. The heart of the Yankee lineup has dismal numbers against the Tiger ace. Robinson Cano .167 vs Verlander, ARod .182 vs Verlander, Mark Teixiera .136 vs Verlander and Nick Swisher .163 vs Verlander. Hardly encouraging numbers coupled with the fact that the Yankees are 2-19 (.105) with runners in scoring position in the first 2 games of the series.
In the post season you only get so many chances to score. If you don't cash in on the opportunities you usually lose. That's what happened yesterday. ARod and Teixiera are 1-15 over the first 2 games. Derek Jeter was 0-5 yesterday with a critical error that set up the 2 run 6th inning which put the Tigers ahead 4-0. If the Yankees are going to win this series, Jeter is going to need to be the Jeter we are used to seeing in October and ARod & Teixiera are going to have to start hitting. You have to wonder what's up with ARod. He doesn't look right up at the plate. The truth be told he hasn't looked right since coming back from knee surgery. As far as Teixiera goes, he's fallen in love with the home run and doesn't seem to have the ability to go the opposite way anymore. This is a guy who was a perennial .300 hitter who is lucky to break .255 with the Yankees.
Eerily this reminds me of the 2006 series against the Tigers. The only difference is that the Yankees have their best pitcher ready to go for Game 3. The problem is so do the Tigers. The drama unfolds tonight at 8:37pm.
MLB Screws Up Game 1 Yanks-Tigers
Many of us who grew up in the 60's & early 70's remember day baseball during the Month of October. There was nothing like it during the post season. Things changed in the late 70's & early 80's as everything went "prime time" which resulted in many young fans missing out on memorable post season moments.
Yesterday, was a sun-filled day throughout the afternoon in NY City with the weather forecast calling for rain in the evening. Of course MLB's weathermen said that the rain would be intermittent and that it should pose no problem for Game 1 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Tigers. A marquee matchup with CC Sabathia going against Justin Verlander. But, lo and behold the skies opened up big time at Yankee Stadium and the game was suspended until this evening thus taking the two aces out of the mix. If the game was played in the afternoon, even at 5:07 (when the Tampa game started), it would have been completed. Instead fans had to sit through a rain delay only to be told to comeback Saturday night and hope it doesn't rain.
With talk of adding another playoff team heating up, MLB needs to seriously consider weather issues when scheduling post season games. There was no reason why that game could not have been played in the afternoon except that Bud Selig is a slave to the TV networks. What if it rains tonight in the Bronx. Then what happens??
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