Work in Progress
Here are things to do in Philadelphia. Categorized by types of fun.
Historic
Woodford Mansion- a fancy 18th century mansion with fancier antiques.
Stenton- The Country House of James Logan, William Penn's number two man. The literature for this house seems to indicate that it was built as a place for him to hide from the horrible world.
Bartram's Garden- 18th Century Home of Naturalist John Bartram. Historic architecture and gardens, and also various nature programs like Cider Pressing and Bird Watching..
Independence Hall- Signing place of the Declaration of Independence, surrounded by several other historic sites.
Edgar Allen Poe House- Poe lived here for 18 months when Philadelphia was the American locus of the literati.
Eastern State Penitentiary- A haunted ruin of a prison.
Carpenter's Hall- Home of the first continental congress, displays of all kinds of old furniture and guild stuff.
Dolley Todd House- A fakeout: Dolly Todd was Dolley Todd before she was Dolley Madison.
Bishop White House- Home of Christ Church's rector, reflects upper class living in the 1800's.
Merchant's Exchange Building- This building is mostly (and sadly, and inexplicably) closed, but there is a small visitor's center open during the week.
Germantown White House- Oldest official presidential residence.
Ben Franklin's Grave- RIP.
Old Swedes' Church Pennsylvania's oldest church building.
Thaddeus Kosciuszko House- Home of the Polish freedom fighter who designed American fortifications during the revolutionary war.
Laurel Hill Cemetery- Sculptural garden, horticultural gem, and final resting place of historic luminaries.
Natural
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
Valley Green- The nicest park in the city with a cornucopia of hidden wonders.
Riverboat Queen Fleet Paddle Boating- Paddle boating on the Delaware? Oh dear.
Winterthur- DuPont family center of opulence and gardening beauty.
Kelly Drive Loop- Scenic path along the Schuylkill river.
Museums
American Philosophical Society Museum at Philosophical Hall- APS was founded by Ben Franklin.
Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery- featuring a who's who of revolutionary era figures.
National Liberty Museum- A museum of freedom.
Atwater Kent Museum- Exhibits and displays of artifacts depicting the history of the city
Philadelphia Water Works- Historic waterworks and environmental museum.
Mütter Museum- The College of Physicians of Philadelphia displays medical wonders and oddities.
The Civil War Museum of Philadelphia- Reopens in 2014. If you can't wait until then, visit...
Grand Army of the Republic Museum- to see, among other things, General Meade's heroic horse, "Old Baldy." Or his head, at least. Old Baldy was wounded something like 14 times during the Civil War, and outlived his mount by ten years. More here.
Pizza Brain- Hipster Pizza Museum. That is, a Pizza museum run by hipsters. The hipster pizza museum is here.
Museum of Mourning- Holy souvenir ring w/ lock of George Washington hair!
Anthenaeum- Independent museum/library housed in a nifty national historic building. Rotating exhibits, mostly concerned with decorative arts.
Entertaining
Guided Tours
Philadelphia Ghost Tours
Seasonal
Spring
Summer
Race Street Pier- Nice spot for a nighttime panorama.
Fall
Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride That's a pretty sweet hayride right there.
Terror Behind the Walls- Eastern State Penitentiary is already haunted, and double haunted for Halloween.
Frick's Locks- An abandoned town, good for a post-apocalyptic spooky walk, and real life meetings with ne'er do wells and police with trespassing citations.
Spooky Mini Golf at Franklin Square- Pretty much the same as regular mini golf, but with a fog machine.
Scream Mountain: Spring Mountain is Scream Mountain at night. Only haunted chairlift I've ever heard of.
The Valley of Fear- I don't love going northeast of northeast Philadelphia, and then paying for parking. But this is the second biggest haunted hayride around town.
Sleepy Hollow Hayride- "Active Acres" farm's hayride is like watching a TV show you really liked from 1995... today.
Winter
Ice Skating at the River Rink- Late November to March.
Quick Escapes
Fortescue, NJ- Stay in Rose & Drew Pontz's quiet, seaside B&B: 856-447-4685
Bath, WV
Friday, November 11, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
I told you so! All of you!
"Roy has had recent health problems, most notably a bad disc in his back for which he has already received 3 cortisone injections. Investing $16 million a year in a pitcher with a time bomb in his back is bad business."
Oswalt had a pretty good stint with the Phillies in 2010, and I had egg on my face. But it's 2011 now, 5 days from the end of the world, and it seems like the good people of Earth should trust my prophesy over what they hear on Family Radio. Why? Because my apocalyptic vision is coming to pass!
Back spasms chased Oswalt from a game on April 15th, and he hasn't been the same since. His velocity is down considerably, and everyone, from NL scouts to Carlos Ruiz, note that Oswalt's pitches lack movement. That is an ill portent for Oswalt's start in St. Louis tomorrow now that he's been activated from the DL.
I'm not saying that Oswalt is going to turn into a pumpkin. But we're paying him like a prince, and I don't think we can expect royal production from Roy anymore. I didn't read anything about him getting cortisone injected during this trip to the DL, but the more cortisone he gets pumped into his back, the worse the long term prognosis is for his vertebral column. Repeated cortisone injections help reduce inflammation, but they can weaken joints, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. This makes re-injury very likely. What I said in 2010 holds even more truth today-the end of days is nigh for Oswalt's back.
I hope that he can recover enough to pitch well this season. He's gritted and gutted and ground out decent appearances so far. But I won't be shocked if he gets lit up tomorrow. And I will pray nightly both that the world doesn't end on the 21st, and that we don't sign Oswalt to a crippling, long term deal.
By the way, here's a comparison of Oswalt's and Dan Haren's numbers this year. Keep in mind that Haren pitches in the American League, and doesn't get a gimme out when the pitcher walks to the dish.
Haren: 4 wins, 2 losses, 61 strikeouts, and a 1.93 ERA.
Oswalt: 3 Wins, 1 loss, 21 strikeouts and a 3.33 ERA.
Oswalt is good. Haren is tremendous. Haren has 2 years left on his contract at a somewhat reasonable price. And also has a structurally sound back. We could have had Haren for the same deal we made for Oswalt. I will never understand why the Phillies passed him up.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
I am always the most excited person I know when it comes to horse racing.
The first Saturday in May has come upon us quickly this year. I am just sitting down now to figure out my Kentucky Derby picks. With only 41 hours til post, do I have enough time to pour over bloodlines, sniff out the juiced equines, and figure the most malnourished jockeys? Coursin' I do.
It's going to be a crowded field with 20 horses making a go, and there aren't any sure thing winners here. Dialed In is the favorite coming out of post 8, but he only has 4 races under his flanks. Uncle Mo, the second choice at 9-2 odds, is recovering from a gastrointestinal virus and might not be able to race at all. ***5/6 Note: Uncle Mo is dropping out of the derby***** You might think that Calvin Borel, the jockey who has won 3 of the last 4 derbies, might bring some cachet to his horse Twice the Appeal, but that colt is a longshot at 30-1.
The entirety of speculation about this year's derby dandies comes laden with disclaimers like "it's a murky race of motley horses," “the field is wide open,” and “in an unpredictable cloud of mediocre, any horse can win.” All the mud in the divining pool has me scrambling for hard facts to fuel my Kentucky Derby prognosticating. Here's one. Did you know that the "time honored method" of choosing post position involves pulling numbered pills from a bottle? Crazy. And, with that fact, here are my picks for the 137 Kentucky Derby:
- Mucho Macho Man (Post 13, 12-1 odds) Almost given up for dead when he was born and lay motionless for several minutes without a heartbeat, tended by a trainer who just recently returned to the barn after a heart transplant, Macho Man is a miracle horse.
- Pants on Fire (Post 7, 30-1 odds) Kentucky's own Pants had a sweet workout in the mud earlier this week, and it looks like a sloppy track is in store for Saturday's contest. He's ridden by just the 6th woman jockey in derby history.
- Dialed In (Post 8, 4-1) This hoss seems like the never say die type and has the best post position. But all I keep reading from the horses connections are excuses for how slow he is. Slow for a racehorse, that is.
- Twice the Appeal (Post 3, 30-1) I don't bet against Calvin Borel in the slop at the Kentucky Derby. But I apparently don't bet with him, either. This horse is slower than Dialed In, but that might not matter in mud.
- Archarcharch (Post 1, 10-1) Starting from post 1 is especially difficult in a crowded field of 19 horses. He’s reported to have had phenomenal training runs, so he’s got a good shot if he can get through the gates unscathed.
- Soldat (Post 17, 20-1) Lady Luck tramped it up on poor Soldat; he's suffered through stumbling starts and rail runs alike in previous races. With the post next to him vacated by Uncle Mo, maybe he'll have some room to run. A real mudeater.
- Brilliant Speed (Post 2, 30-1) A turf horse who has been training surprisingly well in the mud.
- Shakleford (Post 14, 20-1 odds) He’s won on this track before. An energetic, speedy mount, Shakleford can take the roses if he doesn’t let Comma to the Top and Decisive Moment lure him into a front run early in the race.
- Nehro (Post 19, 6-1) Runs with the eye of the tiger. Nehro appears to be in fine fiddle, but he hasn’t run much since arriving at Churchill Downs.
- Animal Kingdom (Post 16, 20-1) This horse threw his rider last Wednesday and broke the rider’s nose. Animal Kingdom is wild indeed.
- Midnight Interlude (Post 15, 12-1) The sharps keep deriding Interlude's previous races as being held at 5th rate tracks, as if he raced in the parking lot behind the Walmart in Tagg Flats before crashing Churchill Downs. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert must be slumming here. Interlude does not seem keen on the mud.
- Santiva (Post 12, 30-1) Santiva is the JD Drew of horses. He’s got all the tools, but seems more than a little disinterested.
- Master of Hounds (Post 11, 20-1) I love a dark horse from Ireland. Also, I love Metallica's 3rd album, Mater of Puppets.
- Watch Me Go (Post 20, 50-1) Not a premier horse to begin with, Watch Me Go drew a tough post position and is a victim of musical saddles. A real workhorse, so he’ll sneak past some tired old mares.
- Twinspired (Post 10, 30-1) Good Guy Mike Smith is riding a beast among beasts. But the big boys don’t often win, and Twinspired is a turf specialist to boot.
- Decisive Moment (Post 5, 50-1) There will come a decisive moment in the race when this horse will have to choose between being a front runner and staying a front runner.
- Stay Thirsty (Post 4, 30-1) Riding without blinkers this time. Riding dirty.
- Comma to the Top (Post 6, 30-1) All indications are that this horse is a palooka. An opponent. He’ll run to the front of the pack early on, and then you’ll never hear his name again.
- Derby Kitten (Post 9, 30-1) An Astroturf specialist, the muck is going to eat Kitten up.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Superfecta Box: Mucho Macho Man, Soldat, Dialed In, Nehro
Worth including in Superfectas: Brilliant Speed, Twice the Appeal, Archarcharch, Shakleford
Upset Special: Brilliant Speed at 30-1 odds.
Five Best Names:
1. Archarcharch
2. Master of Hounds
3. Midnight Interlude
4. Uncle Mo (not racing)
5. Pants on fire
Five Worst Names
1. Derby Kitten
2. Twinspired
3. Stay Thirsty
4. Comma to the Top
5. Brilliant Speed
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Eagles 2011 Draft
This mess is from notes I took from the 2011 Draft. Make of it what you will- I just like to keep these notes in the blog to reference them in the fullness of time to see how the picks panned out.
From ESPN.com:
not from
And this from Peter King at SI:
The good -- Danny Watkins is a day-one starter, mature and experienced, and can play either guard and, in a pinch, tackle, where he played last year at Baylor. The bad -- He'll be a 27-year-old rookie this fall.
No from
From SI's Draft Analysis:
The Eagles grabbed one of the more interesting stories in the draft: a former firefighter from Canada turned big-time college offensive lineman despite the fact he never played high school football. With that said, it's a curious pick: the Eagles averaged 5.45 yards per rush attempt in 2010, making them one of the most effective rushing teams in the history of football. And QB Michael Vick has proven he can make plays even if the pocket collapses around him. The Eagles still need to find playmakers later in the draft or in free agency. The missed an opportunity to do it here.
not from
From ProFootballTalk.com's Evan Silva:
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Baylor offensive lineman Danny Watkins with the 23rd pick in the 2011 draft.
Watkins was a left tackle at Baylor, succeeding former No. 2 pick in the draft Jason Smith. A 26-year-old former firefighter, rugby and hockey player from Canada, Watkins made first-team All-Big 12 as a senior, despite it being just his fourth season of organized football.
Watkins was particularly impressive at the Senior Bowl, where his stock soared. He projects as a guard in the pros, and will block for LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia.
This is a bit higher than most had Watkins projected, but right guard is an area of need for the Eagles and the prospect they selected is NFL ready.
In January, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock described Watkins as “one of the nastiest players in the country.”
not from
From Pro Football Weekly draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki:
The Eagles struggled mightily along the interior offensive line a year ago when injuries depleted their depth. Watkins has the athleticism, foot quickness and strength to play anywhere on the line. He lined up at left tackle in college but projects to guard for the Eagles. Offensive line coach Howard Mudd is one of the best in the league at developing raw talent and could work wonders with the 27-year-old former firefighter.
Not From
From Sean Leahy at USA Today:
Andy Reid sticks to form and takes a lineman in Round 1. Watkins is a fascinating story, a 26-year-old former firefighter who grew up playing hockey in British Columbia. He strapped on a football helmet for the first time in 2007 at Butte College -- where Packers QB Aaron Rodgers began his college career -- before joining the Bears in 2009. Watkins started at left tackle for Baylor for two seasons but could play initially at guard for the Eagles. He's versatile, mature and plays with a mean streak, a good combo in the City of Brotherly Love. He should bolster an interior line recently hampered by injuries and inconsistency. He might even be QB Michael Vick's blind side tackle on the right side in the future. He's renowned for his "heavy hands" ... defenders have been known to go down in a heap after enduring a Watkins block.
Not from
Dave Spadaro's rebuttal: If you think guard wasn't a need here, you haven't been watching. The Eagles haven't been physical enough at the position, and they suffered in short-yardage rushing opportunities and in the red zone. Watkins, if he lives up to the expectations the Eagles have, could step right in and start and be a physical presence that the Eagles haven't had at the position.
Also from Spadaro:
Why not take a cornerback? The Eagles could have traded up and acquired Prince Amukamara, who went to the Giants with the 20th pick. But they stayed put and took Watkins even with Colorado's Jimmy Smith on the board. Does that mean they are satisfied with the cornerback spot? Maybe, maybe not. I expect the Eagles to address cornerback at some point in this offseason. Remember, Thursday was only one piece of an extensive puzzle.
Here's something
and this from SI Draft Analysis:
Quite a year for traditionally weak Temple: Jarrett is their second defender taken in the first 54 picks, this time by the hometown Eagles. He started four years for the Owls and was consistently one of their leading tacklers. Speed is an issue, though, and Jarrett might be another reach in a relatively weak year for defensive backs.
Todd McShay on Jaiquawn Jarrett:
I believe Jarrett will be a good starter in the NFL, and with Quinton Mikell a free agent Jarrett will ideally step in right away. He's not big but he's tough, and Jarrett is one of the more underrated defensive backs in the 2011 class.
SI:
Positives: "Fierce, aggressive safety with a solid game. Physical against the run, very quick up the field, and willingly throws his pads into ball carriers. Forceful hitter yet remains disciplined throughout the action. Diagnoses plays, shows range outside the numbers, and quickly gets to the flanks helping cornerbacks. Takes terrific angles to the action, plays with explosiveness and suddenness. Has good hands."
Negatives: Lacks classic safety size. Struggles in man coverage situations. Does not possess elite defensive back speed.
Analysis: Jarrett was immediately productive as a freshman at Temple and has improved his game ever since. He possesses the physical abilities and ball skills to be used as a true centerfielder who can roam sideline to sideline at free safety. He comes with a nice upside and grades as a potential starter at the next level.
Projection: 5th
Here's the Eagles 3rd round selection, after a trade with Baltimore:
and this from SI:
Positives: "Well-sized and athletic defensive back who is still learning the position. Remains disciplined with assignments, displays the ability to drive to the action out of his plant and possesses a burst of closing speed. Fluid pedaling in reverse, quickly changes direction and plays an aggressive brand of football. Fast up the field defending the run, mixes it up with opponents throughout pass routes, and physically defeats them to defend the throw."
Negatives: Displays a poor sense of timing. Loses a sense of where he is in relation to the receiver he is supposed to cover. Not consistent with his defensive back mechanics.
Analysis: Marsh took a quantum leap last season and started to develop as a defensive back. He possesses desirable size/speed numbers for the next level but will need a lot of work before he's NFL ready.
Dealt a 4th round pick for a pick later in the round and TB's pick next year, and then:
Clay Matthews' brother!
and this, according to Gregg Rosenthal at PFT:
Casey Matthews doesn’t have the same explosive ability as his brother Clay, but he does have a nose for the ball. (And similar flowing hair.)
SI:
Positives: "Hardworking college linebacker with marginal size/speed numbers for the NFL. Displays good awareness, breaks down well and remains disciplined with assignments. Quickly locates the ball, fires up the field in run defense, and wraps up tackling. Uses his hands to protect himself, fluid pedaling in reverse, and quickly changes direction. Sells out in run defense and plays with an aggressive attitude. Collapses from the outside to defend the run and easily flows to the action."
Negatives: Average athlete with marginal quickness. Lacks true pursuit speed. Not a reliable tackler.
Analysis: Mathews was a solid college linebacker yet overrated outside of scouting circles because of his last name. He's a potential backup at the next level if he performs well on special teams.
Projection: 7-FA
also this in the 4th:
strangely.
also about Henery
The 120th pick is simply too high for Alex Henery. Yes, he was the No. 1 kicker on our board, but Henery has had some inconsistent stretches in his career, and while he has a monster leg the Eagles would have been better off addressing right offensive tackle, defensive line, tight end, wide receiver or return specialist, then taking someone like Kai Forbath further down the line.
Akers will be a free agent.
SI:
Positives: "Big-legged kicker with a tremendous field goal leg. Gets immediate lift on kicks, drives the ball and consistently accurate. Kicks booming field goals that have great distance. Has a solid kickoff leg and is able to consistently place the ball inside the opponents? 5-yard line."
Negatives: "Average punter and slow getting the ball off his foot. Struggles with his drop, which slows his motion."
Analysis: Henery is a terrific kicking prospect who has the ability to hit from long distances in poor conditions. He's one of the few draftable kickers this year and could quickly find his way on into a starting spot in the NFL.
In the 5th
and SI:
Positives: "Small but incredibly elusive ball carrier who consistently creates his own yardage. Quick-footed, easily makes defenders miss, and bounces around the pile. Shows a terrific burst of speed, squirms through the small openings of the defense, and keeps his feet driving up the field. Effectively sets up defenders, uses his blocks, and darts on the inside to pick up yardage. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield who finds the open seam in underneath coverage and extends his hands to catch the ball away from his frame."
Negatives: Small and easily brought down by a single defender. Gets minimal results as a blocker. Stopped dead in his tracks and shows no ability to pick up yardage off initial contact.
Analysis: "Lewis is a very small ball carrier with limitations for the next level. He'll fit in as a third-down back who is most effective in space, and will be given an opportunity as a return specialist."
Projection: 6-7
also in the 5th
and SI:
Positives: "Fundamentally sound position blocker who uses all his skills to keep defenders away from the action. Stays square, bends his knees, and gets leverage on opponents. Quickly gets his hands up, keeps his head on a swivel, and is stout at the point of attack. Anchors in pass protection, fights hard, and works until the whistle blows."
Negatives: Struggles to adjust. Not a big-bodied lineman and will be overwhelmed by larger opponents.
Analysis: Vandervelde has been consistent on the college level and really showed himself to be a pro prospect last season. He's a solid lineman who projects as a backup at both guard spots.
Projection: 6th
in the 6th
and SI:
Positives: "Strong run blocker moving up draft boards. Blocks with good lean, fights hard throughout the action, and anchors in pass protection. Stays square, gets his hands into defenders, and strong at the point of attack. Blocks with a nasty attitude and moves defenders off the line of scrimmage, opening up the running lanes. Flashes the ability to get out to the second level and hit a moving target."
Negatives: "Overextends and lunges into blocks, which adversely affects his balance. Lacks great footwork in space."
Analysis: Kelce has been durable and productive on the college level and added the dimension of effectively playing another position last season. He lacks true NFL size yet is a solid developmental prospect who can make a depth chart at several offensive line positions.
Projection: 4-5
also in the 6th
and
according to Wes Bunting from The National Football Post:
If Brian Rolle was three inches taller and ten pounds heavier, he likely would have gone within the top 50 picks. He’s tough, instinctive, finds the football and plays the game with a mean streak. However, Rolle lacks ideal size and will likely be more of a nickel backer in the Eagles 43 front, but he holds up very well in space vs. the pass game and should mature into a quality special teams guy as well.
SI:
Positives: "Small yet fearless linebacker who makes plays sideline to sideline. Fast moving in all directions of the field, fluid getting out to the flanks, and gets depth on pass drops. Quick to read and diagnose the action. Fires up the field filling gaps in run defense then immediately changes direction and loses no momentum. Displays tremendous range on the field, has a burst to the play, and is effective in pursuit. Breaks down well, gets his hands up, and is rarely off his feet."
Negatives: Does not have great size. Easily turned from the action by single blocker and gets swallowed up in the trash. Drag-down tackler and struggles to bring opponents down at the point of attack.
Analysis: "Rolle has been a terrific linebacker who was out of place in the middle of Ohio State's defense. Size limits him at the next level, but he could be an effective backup in a one-gap system or potentially get consideration at strong safety. Plays with a special teams mentality, which enhances his possibilities in the NFL."
Projection: 6-7
In the 7th:
and
SI:
Positives: "Stout run defending linebacker who has struggled returning from the knee injury suffered in 2009. Disciplined with assignments, wraps up tackling, and drives through ball carriers. Effective when the action is in front of him, shows ability in zone coverage, and is fluid changing direction or altering his angle of attack. Breaks down well."
Negatives: Shows minimal quickness in his game. Often looks indecisive. Marginal burst to the action.
Analysis: Lloyd was justifiably rated as one of the better middle linebackers in the nation coming into the season but never fully regained his prior form after the knee injury as a junior. Possesses the skills and playing style to be a reserve on the inside if he's able to get back to full health sometime soon.
Lastly in the 7th:
and
Weaver is rehabbing.
SI:
Positives: "Athletic but undersized fullback who has a lot of talent. Displays good vision, football instincts and movement skills. Quickly gets out front of running backs to create space and can adjust to linebackers on the second level. Works to get a pad on defenders and opens up running lanes. Attacks blocking assignments and gives effort. Works runs and shows the ability to quickly get through the hole carrying the ball. Solid receiver and extends to make the reception away from his frame."
Negatives: Lacks dominant strength and struggles to finish blocks. Not a powerful runner who can move the pile in short-yardage situations.
Analysis: Havili was very productive at USC the past four seasons and has versatility as a fullback. He lacks the size and strength to be a true lead blocker but could be very effective in a West Coast offense.
From ESPN.com:
| 23(23) | Philadelphia | Danny Watkins | OG | Baylor |
| What he brings: Watkins is a mature, physical player with a nasty disposition. He is a technician who stays low and plays with good pad level, and uses his strong inline power base and powerful upper body to get movement in the running game. While he is light on his feet and does a good job moving laterally as a pass blocker, Watkins lacks elite length and is best-suited to play on the inside at the next level. Video analysis: Todd McShay  How he fits: This is a player who really grew on teams as we got closer to the draft and even though he'll be a 26-year old rookie, he will be a high-effort guy who fills a need on the right side of a struggling Eagles offensive line. RG Max Jean-Gilles is a free agent and not a great player and RT Winston Justice really struggles against edge rushers. Watkins has played LT and RT, but look for him to step in and start at either position on the right side under legendary OL coach Howard Mudd. And remember that the right side is left-handed QB Michael Vick?s backside, which makes this pick that much more important. | ||||
not from
And this from Peter King at SI:
The good -- Danny Watkins is a day-one starter, mature and experienced, and can play either guard and, in a pinch, tackle, where he played last year at Baylor. The bad -- He'll be a 27-year-old rookie this fall.
No from
From SI's Draft Analysis:
The Eagles grabbed one of the more interesting stories in the draft: a former firefighter from Canada turned big-time college offensive lineman despite the fact he never played high school football. With that said, it's a curious pick: the Eagles averaged 5.45 yards per rush attempt in 2010, making them one of the most effective rushing teams in the history of football. And QB Michael Vick has proven he can make plays even if the pocket collapses around him. The Eagles still need to find playmakers later in the draft or in free agency. The missed an opportunity to do it here.
not from
From ProFootballTalk.com's Evan Silva:
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Baylor offensive lineman Danny Watkins with the 23rd pick in the 2011 draft.
Watkins was a left tackle at Baylor, succeeding former No. 2 pick in the draft Jason Smith. A 26-year-old former firefighter, rugby and hockey player from Canada, Watkins made first-team All-Big 12 as a senior, despite it being just his fourth season of organized football.
Watkins was particularly impressive at the Senior Bowl, where his stock soared. He projects as a guard in the pros, and will block for LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia.
This is a bit higher than most had Watkins projected, but right guard is an area of need for the Eagles and the prospect they selected is NFL ready.
In January, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock described Watkins as “one of the nastiest players in the country.”
not from
From Pro Football Weekly draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki:
The Eagles struggled mightily along the interior offensive line a year ago when injuries depleted their depth. Watkins has the athleticism, foot quickness and strength to play anywhere on the line. He lined up at left tackle in college but projects to guard for the Eagles. Offensive line coach Howard Mudd is one of the best in the league at developing raw talent and could work wonders with the 27-year-old former firefighter.
Not From
From Sean Leahy at USA Today:
Andy Reid sticks to form and takes a lineman in Round 1. Watkins is a fascinating story, a 26-year-old former firefighter who grew up playing hockey in British Columbia. He strapped on a football helmet for the first time in 2007 at Butte College -- where Packers QB Aaron Rodgers began his college career -- before joining the Bears in 2009. Watkins started at left tackle for Baylor for two seasons but could play initially at guard for the Eagles. He's versatile, mature and plays with a mean streak, a good combo in the City of Brotherly Love. He should bolster an interior line recently hampered by injuries and inconsistency. He might even be QB Michael Vick's blind side tackle on the right side in the future. He's renowned for his "heavy hands" ... defenders have been known to go down in a heap after enduring a Watkins block.
Not from
Dave Spadaro's rebuttal: If you think guard wasn't a need here, you haven't been watching. The Eagles haven't been physical enough at the position, and they suffered in short-yardage rushing opportunities and in the red zone. Watkins, if he lives up to the expectations the Eagles have, could step right in and start and be a physical presence that the Eagles haven't had at the position.
Also from Spadaro:
Why not take a cornerback? The Eagles could have traded up and acquired Prince Amukamara, who went to the Giants with the 20th pick. But they stayed put and took Watkins even with Colorado's Jimmy Smith on the board. Does that mean they are satisfied with the cornerback spot? Maybe, maybe not. I expect the Eagles to address cornerback at some point in this offseason. Remember, Thursday was only one piece of an extensive puzzle.
Here's something
| Philadelphia | Jaiquawn Jarrett | S | Temple | |
| What he brings: Jarrett is a strong run defender, where he makes a quick diagnosis and fills downhill. He is a solid tackler who can deliver violent strikes on occasoin, and he has adequate instincts in coverage but his overall skills are just average. He will have issues against quicker No. 3 receivers in man coverage. How he fits: He should fill a significant need for the Eagles as starting SS Quintin Mikell is aging with a salary that may be too much, while young Nate Allen has a nice future but is coming off a knee injury. This is a secondary that gave up 31 TD passes a year ago, which was third most in the NFL, and they must tighten up the middle of the field. Jarrett is not necessarily a game-changer but could be a solid SS, good in run support and decent in zone coverages. | ||||
Quite a year for traditionally weak Temple: Jarrett is their second defender taken in the first 54 picks, this time by the hometown Eagles. He started four years for the Owls and was consistently one of their leading tacklers. Speed is an issue, though, and Jarrett might be another reach in a relatively weak year for defensive backs.
Todd McShay on Jaiquawn Jarrett:
I believe Jarrett will be a good starter in the NFL, and with Quinton Mikell a free agent Jarrett will ideally step in right away. He's not big but he's tough, and Jarrett is one of the more underrated defensive backs in the 2011 class.
SI:
Positives: "Fierce, aggressive safety with a solid game. Physical against the run, very quick up the field, and willingly throws his pads into ball carriers. Forceful hitter yet remains disciplined throughout the action. Diagnoses plays, shows range outside the numbers, and quickly gets to the flanks helping cornerbacks. Takes terrific angles to the action, plays with explosiveness and suddenness. Has good hands."
Negatives: Lacks classic safety size. Struggles in man coverage situations. Does not possess elite defensive back speed.
Analysis: Jarrett was immediately productive as a freshman at Temple and has improved his game ever since. He possesses the physical abilities and ball skills to be used as a true centerfielder who can roam sideline to sideline at free safety. He comes with a nice upside and grades as a potential starter at the next level.
Projection: 5th
Here's the Eagles 3rd round selection, after a trade with Baltimore:
| Curtis Marsh | CB | Utah State | ||
| What he brings: Marsh has great length and is a good press corner, but he is a former running back who is raw at this point. He does play the ball well, though, and shows good range. How he fits: The No. 1 need for this team was CB and Marsh is a perfect fit in the style of defense they play. They love to rely on man coverage behind their blitzes and the only guy they can count on in that role is Asante Samuel. The other guys give up too many plays and the Eagles probably need a starter and nickel back to fill out the secondary and Marsh should really flourish in those press schemes. | ||||
and this from SI:
Positives: "Well-sized and athletic defensive back who is still learning the position. Remains disciplined with assignments, displays the ability to drive to the action out of his plant and possesses a burst of closing speed. Fluid pedaling in reverse, quickly changes direction and plays an aggressive brand of football. Fast up the field defending the run, mixes it up with opponents throughout pass routes, and physically defeats them to defend the throw."
Negatives: Displays a poor sense of timing. Loses a sense of where he is in relation to the receiver he is supposed to cover. Not consistent with his defensive back mechanics.
Analysis: Marsh took a quantum leap last season and started to develop as a defensive back. He possesses desirable size/speed numbers for the next level but will need a lot of work before he's NFL ready.
Dealt a 4th round pick for a pick later in the round and TB's pick next year, and then:
Clay Matthews' brother!
| Casey Matthews | ILB | Oregon | ||
| What he brings: Matthews is instinctive, has a high motor and is a good tackler. He lacks top-end burst and athleticism but he locates the ball well and is relentless in pursuit. Overall he is a much better football player than athlete. How he fits: His versatility may allow him to play inside or outside for the Eagles and he will certainly be great on special teams. OLB Ernie Sims will likely leave via free agency and they can move starting MLB Stewart Bradley to the outside with Jamar Chaney taking his spot. Matthews will likely beat out somebody and the Eagles will really try to establish him as a blitzer and he could be very effective in their nickel package. | ||||
Casey Matthews doesn’t have the same explosive ability as his brother Clay, but he does have a nose for the ball. (And similar flowing hair.)
SI:
Positives: "Hardworking college linebacker with marginal size/speed numbers for the NFL. Displays good awareness, breaks down well and remains disciplined with assignments. Quickly locates the ball, fires up the field in run defense, and wraps up tackling. Uses his hands to protect himself, fluid pedaling in reverse, and quickly changes direction. Sells out in run defense and plays with an aggressive attitude. Collapses from the outside to defend the run and easily flows to the action."
Negatives: Average athlete with marginal quickness. Lacks true pursuit speed. Not a reliable tackler.
Analysis: Mathews was a solid college linebacker yet overrated outside of scouting circles because of his last name. He's a potential backup at the next level if he performs well on special teams.
Projection: 7-FA
also this in the 4th:
| Alex Henery | PK | Nebraska | ||
| What he brings: Henery has a strong leg and is the most accurate kicker in the class. He can also fill in as a punter if necessary. How he fits:This obviously will signal the end for David Akers because when you draft a kicker in the fourth round, you expect him to be your guy. | ||||
also about Henery
The 120th pick is simply too high for Alex Henery. Yes, he was the No. 1 kicker on our board, but Henery has had some inconsistent stretches in his career, and while he has a monster leg the Eagles would have been better off addressing right offensive tackle, defensive line, tight end, wide receiver or return specialist, then taking someone like Kai Forbath further down the line.
Akers will be a free agent.
SI:
Positives: "Big-legged kicker with a tremendous field goal leg. Gets immediate lift on kicks, drives the ball and consistently accurate. Kicks booming field goals that have great distance. Has a solid kickoff leg and is able to consistently place the ball inside the opponents? 5-yard line."
Negatives: "Average punter and slow getting the ball off his foot. Struggles with his drop, which slows his motion."
Analysis: Henery is a terrific kicking prospect who has the ability to hit from long distances in poor conditions. He's one of the few draftable kickers this year and could quickly find his way on into a starting spot in the NFL.
In the 5th
| Dion Lewis | RB | Pittsburgh | ||
| Lewis is undersized but displays above-average vision and elite lateral quickness as a runner to get himself in and out traffic near the line of scrimmage. | ||||
Positives: "Small but incredibly elusive ball carrier who consistently creates his own yardage. Quick-footed, easily makes defenders miss, and bounces around the pile. Shows a terrific burst of speed, squirms through the small openings of the defense, and keeps his feet driving up the field. Effectively sets up defenders, uses his blocks, and darts on the inside to pick up yardage. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield who finds the open seam in underneath coverage and extends his hands to catch the ball away from his frame."
Negatives: Small and easily brought down by a single defender. Gets minimal results as a blocker. Stopped dead in his tracks and shows no ability to pick up yardage off initial contact.
Analysis: "Lewis is a very small ball carrier with limitations for the next level. He'll fit in as a third-down back who is most effective in space, and will be given an opportunity as a return specialist."
Projection: 6-7
also in the 5th
| Julian Vandervelde | OG | Iowa | ||
| He doesn't have elite size for a guard prospect but his low center of gravity make him a solid in-line blocker and he has the balance to stay in front of defenders in pass protection. | ||||
Positives: "Fundamentally sound position blocker who uses all his skills to keep defenders away from the action. Stays square, bends his knees, and gets leverage on opponents. Quickly gets his hands up, keeps his head on a swivel, and is stout at the point of attack. Anchors in pass protection, fights hard, and works until the whistle blows."
Negatives: Struggles to adjust. Not a big-bodied lineman and will be overwhelmed by larger opponents.
Analysis: Vandervelde has been consistent on the college level and really showed himself to be a pro prospect last season. He's a solid lineman who projects as a backup at both guard spots.
Projection: 6th
in the 6th
| Jason Kelce | OC | Cincinnati | ||
| Kelce?s upside is limited by his frame, however, he has the quickness, toughness and enough football intelligence to develop into an effective reserve who can provide depth at guard and center. | ||||
Positives: "Strong run blocker moving up draft boards. Blocks with good lean, fights hard throughout the action, and anchors in pass protection. Stays square, gets his hands into defenders, and strong at the point of attack. Blocks with a nasty attitude and moves defenders off the line of scrimmage, opening up the running lanes. Flashes the ability to get out to the second level and hit a moving target."
Negatives: "Overextends and lunges into blocks, which adversely affects his balance. Lacks great footwork in space."
Analysis: Kelce has been durable and productive on the college level and added the dimension of effectively playing another position last season. He lacks true NFL size yet is a solid developmental prospect who can make a depth chart at several offensive line positions.
Projection: 4-5
also in the 6th
| Brian Rolle | OLB | Ohio State | ||
| Rolle has the tenacity, upper body strength and enough range to develop into an effective reserve outside linebacker. He will also contribute on special teams. | ||||
according to Wes Bunting from The National Football Post:
If Brian Rolle was three inches taller and ten pounds heavier, he likely would have gone within the top 50 picks. He’s tough, instinctive, finds the football and plays the game with a mean streak. However, Rolle lacks ideal size and will likely be more of a nickel backer in the Eagles 43 front, but he holds up very well in space vs. the pass game and should mature into a quality special teams guy as well.
SI:
Positives: "Small yet fearless linebacker who makes plays sideline to sideline. Fast moving in all directions of the field, fluid getting out to the flanks, and gets depth on pass drops. Quick to read and diagnose the action. Fires up the field filling gaps in run defense then immediately changes direction and loses no momentum. Displays tremendous range on the field, has a burst to the play, and is effective in pursuit. Breaks down well, gets his hands up, and is rarely off his feet."
Negatives: Does not have great size. Easily turned from the action by single blocker and gets swallowed up in the trash. Drag-down tackler and struggles to bring opponents down at the point of attack.
Analysis: "Rolle has been a terrific linebacker who was out of place in the middle of Ohio State's defense. Size limits him at the next level, but he could be an effective backup in a one-gap system or potentially get consideration at strong safety. Plays with a special teams mentality, which enhances his possibilities in the NFL."
Projection: 6-7
In the 7th:
| Greg Lloyd | ILB | Connecticut | ||
| Lloyd was already lacking in terms of elite athleticism before his knee injury and unfortunately took another step back in this area as a senior due to injury. However, he has the ability to develop into a reserve two-down inside linebacker in the NFL. | ||||
SI:
Positives: "Stout run defending linebacker who has struggled returning from the knee injury suffered in 2009. Disciplined with assignments, wraps up tackling, and drives through ball carriers. Effective when the action is in front of him, shows ability in zone coverage, and is fluid changing direction or altering his angle of attack. Breaks down well."
Negatives: Shows minimal quickness in his game. Often looks indecisive. Marginal burst to the action.
Analysis: Lloyd was justifiably rated as one of the better middle linebackers in the nation coming into the season but never fully regained his prior form after the knee injury as a junior. Possesses the skills and playing style to be a reserve on the inside if he's able to get back to full health sometime soon.
Lastly in the 7th:
| Stanley Havili | FB | USC | ||
| Havili is a unique talent because he?s an exceptionally skilled pass-catcher for the position. However, he?s not a good blocker, he lacks ideal size, toughness and power as an inside runner. | ||||
Weaver is rehabbing.
SI:
Positives: "Athletic but undersized fullback who has a lot of talent. Displays good vision, football instincts and movement skills. Quickly gets out front of running backs to create space and can adjust to linebackers on the second level. Works to get a pad on defenders and opens up running lanes. Attacks blocking assignments and gives effort. Works runs and shows the ability to quickly get through the hole carrying the ball. Solid receiver and extends to make the reception away from his frame."
Negatives: Lacks dominant strength and struggles to finish blocks. Not a powerful runner who can move the pile in short-yardage situations.
Analysis: Havili was very productive at USC the past four seasons and has versatility as a fullback. He lacks the size and strength to be a true lead blocker but could be very effective in a West Coast offense.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Phillies Tunes
Todd Zolecki posted a comprehensive list of every Phillie's walkup music. You can find it here.
Chooch's music is a little surprising: Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa. Maybe he thinks representing Pittsburgh when he walks up to the dish will inspire some Pennsylvania pride in the crowd.
Chooch's music is a little surprising: Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa. Maybe he thinks representing Pittsburgh when he walks up to the dish will inspire some Pennsylvania pride in the crowd.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Phillies Scouting Report, 4/3/11
I took in a game at the old ballpark today. Here's what I noticed:
- Michael Bourn I wasn't so sure about it at the time, but the Phillies did well swapping this guy for Brad Lidge. Bourn has some speedy gams, but he'll never be a reliable leadoff guy. You gots to hit or walk to get the chance to steal bases, and he doesn't do either of those things well enough.
- Carlos Lee He looks awful slow in the outfield. He should be a DH, but the Astros don't have any other options.
- Jimmy Rollins Jimmy is hitting seeds to start the season. Everything off his bat is a line drive, and that's exactly what I want to be seeing. And he made a crazy play at shortstop ranging far to shallow center field for a grounder and throwing an off-balance strike to first base. Curiously, he was running station-to-station on the bases today- what was up with that?
- Ryan Howard He's seeing the ball and hitting the ball. Hard. The shift stole a double off his bat today- he should've been 4-5.
- Raul Ibanez Raul is getting the bat on the ball, but his power is all dried up.
- Charlie Manuel Uncle Charlie took Roy Oswalt out of the game after only 88 pitches for a pinch hitter. The gamble worked and the Phils scored 2 that inning. Still, with the state of the bullpen and a three run lead, it was kind of a weird move. Oswalt had been pitching a fine game up to that point.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
MLB Predictions 2011
Last year, my MLB season picks weren't spot on. I'll dissect the agony and the ecstasy of those 2010 ML picks at the end of this post.
First, however, because hope springs eternal, and spring springs once a year, and baseball springs also, it's time to debut my MLB Predictions for 2011.
American League
East
- Boston Red Sox Best Team in baseball.
- New York Yankees A fine, if somewhat aged, lineup. Their rotation is a problem. And doesn't this have to be the year that Mariano Rivera jumps the shark?
- Tampa Bay Rays Sporting a new look lineup and a bullpen by committee.
- Toronto Blue Jays Could score metric tons of runs, but the rotation is a little green.
- Baltimore Orioles The Orioles are the slow-pitch softball team of MLB. I predict a lot of 13-12 games.
- Minnesota Twins A dependable, well-rounded team. It seems like the Twins always have a steady farmhand on call if injury strikes.
- Chicago White Sox (wild card winner) The opposite of the Twins, the White Sox are like the dynamite on board the Black Rock in Lost. There's a lot of volatility on this team.
- Detroit Tigers I like their rotation, but this team will always be one Miguel Cabrera bender away from falling out of contention.
- Cleveland Indians The Indians are rebuilding, and aren't doing a good job of it.
- Kansas City Royals There are some exciting young players on this team. I guess they're finally starting to get the hang of picking first in the draft.
- Texas Rangers A murderer's row of hitting, a desolation row of pitching.
- California Angels in Anaheim A pleasant blend of hitting, defending, pitching, and coaching.
- Oakland Athletics No pop in this lineup, and I'm not buying the rotation hype. Anderson and Gonzalez are legit; Cahill and Braden aren't.
- Seattle Mariners A lot of things need to break right for the Mariners to top .500.
East
- Atlanta Braves I hate to admit it, but the NL East reign of the Braves has begun.
- Philadelphia Phillies (wild card) Pitching won't be a problem, but a combination of injuries, age, and unwillingness to take pitches has unhinged this lineup.
- Florida Marlins The Marlins are a few years away from winning the World Series. And then auctioning off their roster to the highest bidder.
- New York Mets The Mets have gotten to the point of paying their overpriced talent to go home. Yikes.
- Washington Nationals If Steven Strasburg can come back from Tommy John surgery, this team has the talent to contend in a few years. For now, their starting pitcher is Livan Hernandez.
- Milwaukee Brewers Pitching and pop, with Prince hungry for a new contract.
- Cincinnati Reds We'll see how this young team deals with success. Also, Dusty Baker has already made Johnny Cueto's arm fall off, it won't be long before he does in Edinson Volquez.
- St. Louis Cardinals Tony La Russa could very well overmanage this team to playoff contention, but I see a lot of borderline big league players here.
- Chicago Cubs An intriguing ballclub, but the Cubs always find a way to suck.
- Huston Astros Built by GM Ed Wade. Nuff said.
- Pittsburgh Pirates Grading them on a curve for recent futility, the Pirates have a pretty snappy lineup. Their rotation is a nightmare, though.
- Colorado Rockies Much as I hate purple, this team has talent all over its roster. It's going to feast on the atrocious West.
- Los Angeles Dodgers Forget Divorce Court, the McCourts ought to be tried at the Hague for crimes against humanity for what they did to a promising Dodgers team.
- San Francisco Giants The Giants have a nice rotation and a rag-tag collection of position players that through some cosmic kismet got hot last postseason. It won't happen again.
- Arizona Diamondbacks Love the lineup. The arms are mediocre.
- San Diego Padres 22nd in the majors in runs scored, 28th in batting average. No more Adrian Gonzalez. Think they'll get to 90 wins again? I say they'll be lucky to break 70.
Boston Red Sox over Atlanta Braves in six.
Awards
I'm picking two gimmies for MVP, so I'm going with two dark horses for Cy Young.
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
AL MVP: Carl Crawford, Red Sox
AL Cy Young: Max Scherzer, Tigers
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
NL Rookie of the Year: Aroldis Chapman, Reds
Al Rookie of the Year: Jesus Montero, Yankees
NL Manager of the Year: Jim Tracy, Colorado Rockies
AL Manager of the Year: Tito Francona, Boston Red Sox
Recapping Last Year's Picks
There's a fella who writes for Sports Illustrated, Cliff Corcoran, who writes a column called "Awards Watch" about the MLB season awards. You know, MVP, Cy Young, that kind of thing. Here's something he says in his latest column:
"Awards Watch lists the top candidates in each league for the award at hand, basing the rankings on who is most likely to win, not necessarily who is most deserving, though the latter is identified in the text when the inevitable fission occurs.
In my final regular season column of 2010, I predicted the top three finishers in each of the six races."
He says, in effect, that he picked the MLB regular season awards pretty accurately AFTER THE MLB REGULAR SEASON HAD CONCLUDED. This is like saying, "I put some fish in a barrel, and I was able to shoot most of them." At season's end, there are only a handful of likely candidates for each award, and there is almost always a prohibitive favorite.
We don't pad our stats here at Crying Eagles, Noble Turkeys, Red Glares. We call our shots at the beginning of the game, before Cliff Lee gets traded to the Rangers. And we take our lumps when God blesses the Giants with a World Series title because God loves Gay Marriage.
So, without further ado, here is how my 2010 Baseball picks shook out last season. The actual results are in bold, my picks are in parentheses.
American League
East
If the Red Sox hadn't filled a wing of Massachusetts General Hospital with their injured players, I think my AL East picks would've been more respectable.
- Tampa Bay Rays (3)
- New York Yankees (1) -Won Wild Card-
- Boston Red Sox (2, wild card)
- Toronto Blue Jays (5)
- Baltimore Orioles (4)
I know Middle America pretty well. They love me there.
- Minnesota Twins (1)
- Chicago White Sox (2)
- Detroit Tigers (3)
- Cleveland Indians (5)
- Kansas City Royals (4)
Yikes. No excuses. Well, one excuse: I fell for the new look Mariners with all their pitching and defense. They turned out to be the old look Mariners.
- Texas Rangers (3)
- Oakland Athletics (4)
- California Angels in Anaheim (1)
- Seattle Mariners (2)
East
On target. I'm a B-2 bomber, and the NL East is why the military budget is astronomical.
- Philadelphia Phillies (1)
- Atlanta Braves (2, wild card) -won wild card-
- Florida Marlins (3)
- New York Mets (4)
- Washington Nationals (5)
The youthful Reds coalesced and ruined what would've been a pretty solid prognostication on my part.
- Cincinnati Reds (3)
- St. Louis Cardinals (1)
- Milwaukee Brewers (2)
- Houston Astros (5)
- Chicago Cubs (4)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (6)
Picking the NL West was, and is, like picking which one of my dog's turd logs to scoop off the sidewalk first. They all stink. Yes, I'm saying that the Giants stink.
- San Francisco Giants (3)
- San Diego Padres (5)
- Colorado Rockies (2)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (1)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (4)
The Yankees and Phillies nearly made it, but instead we had to suffer through the Giants and Rangers.
Giants over Rangers (Yankees over Phillies)
Awards
Mostly respectable misses for me here, except for picking Don Wakamatsu to win Manager of the Year. He got fired instead.
But check out my Cy Young picks! Pretty sharp shooting for your boy.
NL Rookie of the Year: Buster Posey, Giants (Jason Heyward, Braves)
AL Rookie of the Year: Neftali Feliz (Wade Davis, Rays)
NL Manager of the Year: Bud Black, Padres (Bobby Cox, Braves)
AL Manager of the Year: Ron Gardenhire, Twins (Don Wakamatsu, Mariners)
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Phillies (ding! ding! ding!)
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Mariners (ding! ding! ding!)
NL MVP: Joey Votto, Reds (Chase Utley, Phillies)
AL MVP: Josh Hamilton, Rangers (Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox)
Friday, March 25, 2011
Dez Bryant can curse at off-duty police officers as much as he wants.
Look, the Dallas Cowboys are one of my favorite foils. I heap Texas-steer-sides of beefy condescension on that blue star and all who support it. I burn offerings to the sports gods to strike down every blue chip Dallas prospect with Fibromyalgia.
I'm no fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Nor am I a fan of Dez Bryant, who I've derided in this blog before.
So it is with a heavy heart that I bring you this news. Dez Bryant does not deserve recent criticism leveled at him by the press and Neon Deion Sanders.
Dez was shopping at some undoubtedly garish Dallas area mall this past weekend and got hit with a warning for criminal trespass. What actually happened at the mall is not entirely clear, but the consensus story so far is that Bryant was asked to pull up his low-riding pants by an off-duty police officer (or officers), and Bryant responded to the request with a profanity-laced tirade. One or both of these off-duty police officers slapped Bryant with the criminal trespass warning for "creating a scene."
Let's go over this in slow motion. Dez Bryant is sporting some saggy shorts. It's a misguided, lame, and antagonistic fashion statement. It's tacky, but not against the law. An OFF DUTY police officer tells Bryant to pull up his pants. Wait, let's pause the tape.
What the hell business is it of this off-duty police officer's how Bryant dresses? The officer is not acting in any official capacity ("off-duty"). There is no official capacity to this encounter; it's one citizen telling another citizen that he doesn't agree with a perfectly legal fashion statement.
We don't know how politely the officer asked Bryant to adjust his waistline, so we don't know how reasonable Bryant's tirade was. If I had to guess, though, I'd say that Bryant's outburst was understandable, because I'd assume:
Sound about right? It might not be. But it probably is. And, even if it isn't, it's probably close. Because there is no way that an off-duty police officer discreetly walked up to Bryant and initiated polite conversation about fashion.
Bryant could have responded differently, absolutely. But you know what? It takes two to "create a scene." And, in this case, centuries of racial discord.
Also, will someone please pass along this article about saggy shorts, written by my favorite Jazz Critic Stanley Crouch, to Dez?
****3/29 Update: ESPN is reporting that Dez Bryant is being sued for over $850,000 by two separate Jewelers who claim that Dez owes them money for jewelry, tickets to sporting events, and loans. These suits are unrelated to his altercation at the mall. I bring you this update to let you know that the Dallas Cowboys, and all their players, suck. *****
I'm no fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Nor am I a fan of Dez Bryant, who I've derided in this blog before.
So it is with a heavy heart that I bring you this news. Dez Bryant does not deserve recent criticism leveled at him by the press and Neon Deion Sanders.
Dez was shopping at some undoubtedly garish Dallas area mall this past weekend and got hit with a warning for criminal trespass. What actually happened at the mall is not entirely clear, but the consensus story so far is that Bryant was asked to pull up his low-riding pants by an off-duty police officer (or officers), and Bryant responded to the request with a profanity-laced tirade. One or both of these off-duty police officers slapped Bryant with the criminal trespass warning for "creating a scene."
Let's go over this in slow motion. Dez Bryant is sporting some saggy shorts. It's a misguided, lame, and antagonistic fashion statement. It's tacky, but not against the law. An OFF DUTY police officer tells Bryant to pull up his pants. Wait, let's pause the tape.
What the hell business is it of this off-duty police officer's how Bryant dresses? The officer is not acting in any official capacity ("off-duty"). There is no official capacity to this encounter; it's one citizen telling another citizen that he doesn't agree with a perfectly legal fashion statement.
We don't know how politely the officer asked Bryant to adjust his waistline, so we don't know how reasonable Bryant's tirade was. If I had to guess, though, I'd say that Bryant's outburst was understandable, because I'd assume:
- That the off-duty police officer was white
- That wearing one's pants low enough to reveal one's boxers is an urban (read: black) fashion trend
- That the off-duty police officer was racist
- That the off-duty police officer wanted to display authority over a wealthy young black man
- That the off-duty police officer was abusing his power as a lawman and acting outside his capacity
- The off-duty police officer feeling that his authority was challenged
- The off-duty police officer re-establishing his authority by issuing a citation
Sound about right? It might not be. But it probably is. And, even if it isn't, it's probably close. Because there is no way that an off-duty police officer discreetly walked up to Bryant and initiated polite conversation about fashion.
Bryant could have responded differently, absolutely. But you know what? It takes two to "create a scene." And, in this case, centuries of racial discord.
Also, will someone please pass along this article about saggy shorts, written by my favorite Jazz Critic Stanley Crouch, to Dez?
****3/29 Update: ESPN is reporting that Dez Bryant is being sued for over $850,000 by two separate Jewelers who claim that Dez owes them money for jewelry, tickets to sporting events, and loans. These suits are unrelated to his altercation at the mall. I bring you this update to let you know that the Dallas Cowboys, and all their players, suck. *****
Monday, March 7, 2011
Why the Phillies big bats are Phailing
Two good articles on ESPN about why the Phillies lineup isn't as potent as it used to be. Here and here. If you're not planning on reading them, the bottom line is that teams are refusing to throw fastballs at the Phightens. And since the Phillies are undisciplined hitters, they swing at whatever junk saunters plateward. The results are strikeouts and dribblers.
Ryan Howard is the Phillie who sees the fewest fastballs- only about 53% of the pitches he gets are fastballs. That's astonishing when you consider that the fastball is the most common pitch in baseball (I don't have a calculator in front of me, but I'd guess that an average players sees about 80-85% mustard). Ryan should really think about bunting down the unguarded third base line more often.
It's unclear how the Phillies are going to adapt to a league adapting to them. I can't see J-Roll or the Flyin Hawaiian suddenly learning patience at the dish. Utley is a smart hitter, but he's already battling injuries. And forget about Dominic Brown bringing an offensive spark. That guy was sent home from winter ball for his batting impotence, and he has been equally sucktastic in spring training- breaking an 0 for 16 hitless streak with a swing that ended up breaking his hand. Jeepers.
I think the only hope might be that the Phillies can swap Joe Blanton for a patient, every day bat. Preferably one who can hit from the right side. Here are the players I'd target in a trade:
Nick Swisher, Yankees: He can take over as an every day right fielder. Or left fielder. He's not a top-flight player, but he's proven to be patient at the plate, and has some pop. The Yankees could really use some pitching help, as well.
Chone Figgins, Mariners: He's overpaid and getting long in the tooth, but he'd be the best top-of-the-lineup option on the Phillies roster. He can steal AND draw a walk. The Phils could plug him into the outfield or deal Placido and let Chone handle the hot corner.
Daric Barton, Athletics: This is a little bit of a stretch. I'm not sure the A's would want to trade him, and I'm not sure he can play the outfield. He might be able to play third base (he played ONE game there in 2008). But he's just what the Phillies need offensively: check out this quote from his player profile at ESPN: "Statistically, nobody chased out of the strike zone less than Barton last year." Yes, he'd be another lefthanded bat, but he actually hits lefties better than righties.
Ryan Howard is the Phillie who sees the fewest fastballs- only about 53% of the pitches he gets are fastballs. That's astonishing when you consider that the fastball is the most common pitch in baseball (I don't have a calculator in front of me, but I'd guess that an average players sees about 80-85% mustard). Ryan should really think about bunting down the unguarded third base line more often.
It's unclear how the Phillies are going to adapt to a league adapting to them. I can't see J-Roll or the Flyin Hawaiian suddenly learning patience at the dish. Utley is a smart hitter, but he's already battling injuries. And forget about Dominic Brown bringing an offensive spark. That guy was sent home from winter ball for his batting impotence, and he has been equally sucktastic in spring training- breaking an 0 for 16 hitless streak with a swing that ended up breaking his hand. Jeepers.
I think the only hope might be that the Phillies can swap Joe Blanton for a patient, every day bat. Preferably one who can hit from the right side. Here are the players I'd target in a trade:
Nick Swisher, Yankees: He can take over as an every day right fielder. Or left fielder. He's not a top-flight player, but he's proven to be patient at the plate, and has some pop. The Yankees could really use some pitching help, as well.
Chone Figgins, Mariners: He's overpaid and getting long in the tooth, but he'd be the best top-of-the-lineup option on the Phillies roster. He can steal AND draw a walk. The Phils could plug him into the outfield or deal Placido and let Chone handle the hot corner.
Daric Barton, Athletics: This is a little bit of a stretch. I'm not sure the A's would want to trade him, and I'm not sure he can play the outfield. He might be able to play third base (he played ONE game there in 2008). But he's just what the Phillies need offensively: check out this quote from his player profile at ESPN: "Statistically, nobody chased out of the strike zone less than Barton last year." Yes, he'd be another lefthanded bat, but he actually hits lefties better than righties.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Alberto Contador gets the European treatment for his "unintentional ingestion."
On the same day Lance Armstrong announced his second retirement from competitive cycling (that's bicycling, not steroid cycling), Alberto Contador was cruising the Tour of the Algarve on his Trek Madone to European cheers, basking in the glow being cleared of doping charges.
In an earlier post, I talked about how Alberto Contador was most definitely doping during his Tour de France win, but hadn't been stripped of his laurels because Europeans are not held to the same exacting zero tolerance when it comes to performance enhancing drugs as Americans.
Apparently, the Spanish Cycling Federation believes that it is very European to consume "tainted meat" through a plastic IV bag (the plastic residue of which was also found in Contador's bloodstream). So Contador is free to continue peddling through the hearts of continentals while Lance Armstrong, even as he retires, is STILL enduring probes for potential performance enhancing drug use.
The take home message for me is twofold. First, one cannot win the Tour de France without some kind of dope. Two, one cannot win the Tour de France without a European Union passport.
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