CALLING OUT GIBBONS, BAUTISTA, ESCOBAR AND COLANGELO.
As you may know, I'm not a big fan of Bluejays manager John Gibbons and his "in game" decisions. Maybe it'll take a few more wins before I feel comfortable with him, but I don't think so. Yesterday was a perfect example. R.A. Dickey had thrown 120 pitches through 8 innings and the Jays had a 7-3 lead on Tampa. So, instead of sending Dickey back out for the 9th, or going with one of his "lesser" relievers to get the final 3 outs, Gibbons turns to his "closer". Casey Janssen hadn't pitched in 8 days, but he's also not used to pitching unless the game is on the line. (Read: Save situation). Like most closers, he's got to be in a game where there's some urgency. A one or two run lead to protect. Very little wiggle room. A situation where every pitch matters. Instead, he's out there just to get some work in, and ends up throwing 26 pitches, giving up a walk and three hits, including a two run bomb off the bat of Yunel Escobar (more later). Luckily, the Jays hung on to win, but now if you need Janssen, who's had shoulder problems this year, he may not be as effective. Suppose you need him to close out tonight's game, or tomorrow afternoon's tilt. Or both? Will those 26 pitches in a "non save" situation have a negative effect? If Gibbons wasn't going to leave Dickey in to get three outs, he should've put in Esmil Rogers or Brad Lincoln or Brett Cecil for the 9th. If the Rays managed to load the bases, THEN you bring in Janssen for the save. Very few "closers" come into a game unless it's a "save" situation. Gibbons should know that.
Still with the Jays, the booing of Yunel Escobar was well deserved last night. Every time he was announced, he had to incur the wrath of Jays fans who can't forgive him for the racist-slur-on-the-eyeblack last season. And when Escobar hit a two run homer in the 9th of Janssen, he took a nice leisurely canter around the bases before finally crossing home plate and giving the exaggerated "safe" sign with both arms. More boos from the Toronto faithful. Rays manager Joe Maddon said after the game that he'd have a talk with Escobar. Maybe a swift kick in the cojones would help too. By the way, I hadn't heard booing like that from Toronto fans since they targeted poor Larry Murphy on the Leafs blueline some 15 years ago. That was vicious.
I like the fact that Gibbons has moved Melky Cabrera to the leadoff spot because, basically, he has no one else to put there until Jose Reyes comes back (sometime between next week and mid July, depending on your level of optimism and the Jays level of panic). What I don't like is having Jose Bautista bat in the #2 hole. Too many times over the past week, Bautista has failed to move Cabrera up a base, which is what a #2 hitter should do, when he's not trying to hit a homerun. Too many times Bautista has failed to change his approach at the plate; to become more of a go-the-other-way contact hitter in order to move the runner along, rather than the free power hitter that he wants to be every time up. If you ask me, EE would be a better #2 hitter, as he tends to use the whole field more often than Bautista. Regardless, if the Jays want to have ANY chance of making the playoffs, they have to get better production out of these two hitters. Bautista, in particular, needs to step it up. After hitting 7 homers in April, he only has two dingers in the month of May, and both came in the same game at Boston. With just 8 doubles and 9 homers, he needs to provide more power. EE as well. His 12 homers are great, but he only has five doubles this season. I expect more power from both.
Much as I've tried, I just can't seem to get into ANY Stanley Cup playoff series. Maybe it's the hangover after Round One. I just don't know. Maybe it's the fact that I went 2-6 with my first round predictions and I'm afraid to hang my hat on any team for fear that they'll flame out in the second round and then I'll have to change my allegiance (again).
Who should play goal for Canada at next year's Sochi Olympics? Bubba and I were trying to figure this one out. Marc Andre Fleury, Roberto Luongo? Brian Elliot? Corey Crawford? Mike Smith? How about Carey Price or even Martin Brodeur? Not a huge talent pool here. It seems the best goalies are from other countries. Lundqvist (Sweden) Craig Anderson (U.S.) Johnny Quick (U.S.) Antti Niemi (Finland) Rask (Finland) Jimmy Howard (U.S.). Whatever happened to all those great Canadian goalies?
Finally, I see whereby Bryan Colangelo got the "Brian Burke treatment" from MLSE. He's no longer the G.M. of the Raptors but he is the President (but not for long) In the past five years, the Raptors have gone backwards, and Colangelo was responsible for two huge messes. Not signing or trading Chris Bosh until it was too late. And selecting the Primo Pasta man, Andrea Bargnani as the #1 overall pick in 2006. Oh yes, there was the ill-fated Jermaine ONeal trade, the Hedo Turkoglu debacle, the jettisoning of point guards Jarret Jack, Jose Calderon and Jerryd Bayless, the signing of Linas Kleiza and Landry Fields and the failure to realize that Rudy Gay, while a good player, is not worth anywhere near 18 million dollars a year, and one of the main reasons why Memphis is now in the Western Conference Finals. Those moves, plus no playoff appearances in five years led to an easy decision by MLSE. The big question now is: Who takes over this mess?
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Friday 17 May 2013
DOES ANYONE CARE ABOUT "THE SPORT OF KINGS" ANYMORE?
I was destined to become a fan of "the ponies". My Dad used to tell me stories of how he and his brothers would climb a telephone poll outside the old Dufferin Racetrack in Toronto, and shout out the numbers of the horses as they crossed the finish line. Somebody at a pay phone would place the bet with the bookie, known as "past posting", and hopefully the bookie wouldn't catch wind, and pay off the bet. After a while, the bookies caught on and wouldn't accept a bet after a certain time.
When I first worked in radio, for Foster Hewitt's CKFH, they used to run the stretch drive of the races from Woodbine, Greenwood and Fort Erie. After a song, the buglers call would come on and then you'd hear the voice of Daryl Wells calling the last eighth-of-a-mile or so. The call came in on tape, and then the tape was played as soon as the song ended. That meant there was a gap of a minute or two from the time the race ACTUALLY ended to the time it aired on the radio. I once got a call from a scary sounding guy who wanted to know if I could pass him along the winners before the tape went to air. I told him I was already aware of "past posting" and hung up.
The reason I tell these stories is because Horse Racing is dying. There are many other ways to gamble now. Folks don't have to leave their homes, and if they do, they can head to the casinos and play the slots. In fact, the slots have basically pushed Horse Racing out of the picture in Ontario. Some 60 thousand jobs will be lost when the industry finally dries up, which could happen in the next couple of years. There is now less racing for smaller purses in Ontario. Back in the day, the Queens Plate, the Prince of Wales and the Breeders were a big deal. Now, there's talk that the Canadian Triple Crown could be a thing of the past very shortly.
Which brings me to tomorrow's Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in the U.S. Triple Crown of racing for three year olds. "Orb", who won the Kentucky Derby a few weeks ago, is the favourite at Pimlico, and it's hoped by many that he wins, so we can have yet another equine sensation try for the Triple Crown, which hasn't been won since 1978 (Affirmed). You may recall last year, when "I'll Have Another" won the Derby and the Preakness, but then was scratched from the Belmont and had to retire with a tendon injury. That was a dagger in the heart of the sport because there was no longer any drama associated with the race. Once again, there would be no Triple Crown champion.
Horse racing went on for decades without any real competition, but now it appears sloppily-dressed poker players are more popular than racehorses. The average person wouldn't know the difference between Mr. Ed and Orb. Even if Orb wins the Preakness and then goes on to take the Belmont and the Triple Crown, he won't revive the sport. Back in the "Golden Age" of Sports, Horse Racing and Boxing were by far the most popular sports. Now, nearly a century later, both are replaceable. MMA has taken over from Boxing, and for the gamblers, on-line and TV poker and casino gambling have surpassed horse racing.
I know a lot of people who depend on horse racing for their livelihood. And not just the people who own the horses and breed them. The trainers, the jockeys, the hotwalkers and exercise riders, the stewards and racing secretaries, valets, ticket takers and cashiers. The folks that sell feed, hay, trailers, sulkies, saddles and other tack. The vets, the folks in public relations, marketing, the chefs and waiters and waitresses who work in the dining room. They all depend on horse racing. They're hoping things turn around for their industry. But they're betting on a longshot. Horse racing will never be the same.
I was destined to become a fan of "the ponies". My Dad used to tell me stories of how he and his brothers would climb a telephone poll outside the old Dufferin Racetrack in Toronto, and shout out the numbers of the horses as they crossed the finish line. Somebody at a pay phone would place the bet with the bookie, known as "past posting", and hopefully the bookie wouldn't catch wind, and pay off the bet. After a while, the bookies caught on and wouldn't accept a bet after a certain time.
When I first worked in radio, for Foster Hewitt's CKFH, they used to run the stretch drive of the races from Woodbine, Greenwood and Fort Erie. After a song, the buglers call would come on and then you'd hear the voice of Daryl Wells calling the last eighth-of-a-mile or so. The call came in on tape, and then the tape was played as soon as the song ended. That meant there was a gap of a minute or two from the time the race ACTUALLY ended to the time it aired on the radio. I once got a call from a scary sounding guy who wanted to know if I could pass him along the winners before the tape went to air. I told him I was already aware of "past posting" and hung up.
The reason I tell these stories is because Horse Racing is dying. There are many other ways to gamble now. Folks don't have to leave their homes, and if they do, they can head to the casinos and play the slots. In fact, the slots have basically pushed Horse Racing out of the picture in Ontario. Some 60 thousand jobs will be lost when the industry finally dries up, which could happen in the next couple of years. There is now less racing for smaller purses in Ontario. Back in the day, the Queens Plate, the Prince of Wales and the Breeders were a big deal. Now, there's talk that the Canadian Triple Crown could be a thing of the past very shortly.
Which brings me to tomorrow's Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in the U.S. Triple Crown of racing for three year olds. "Orb", who won the Kentucky Derby a few weeks ago, is the favourite at Pimlico, and it's hoped by many that he wins, so we can have yet another equine sensation try for the Triple Crown, which hasn't been won since 1978 (Affirmed). You may recall last year, when "I'll Have Another" won the Derby and the Preakness, but then was scratched from the Belmont and had to retire with a tendon injury. That was a dagger in the heart of the sport because there was no longer any drama associated with the race. Once again, there would be no Triple Crown champion.
Horse racing went on for decades without any real competition, but now it appears sloppily-dressed poker players are more popular than racehorses. The average person wouldn't know the difference between Mr. Ed and Orb. Even if Orb wins the Preakness and then goes on to take the Belmont and the Triple Crown, he won't revive the sport. Back in the "Golden Age" of Sports, Horse Racing and Boxing were by far the most popular sports. Now, nearly a century later, both are replaceable. MMA has taken over from Boxing, and for the gamblers, on-line and TV poker and casino gambling have surpassed horse racing.
I know a lot of people who depend on horse racing for their livelihood. And not just the people who own the horses and breed them. The trainers, the jockeys, the hotwalkers and exercise riders, the stewards and racing secretaries, valets, ticket takers and cashiers. The folks that sell feed, hay, trailers, sulkies, saddles and other tack. The vets, the folks in public relations, marketing, the chefs and waiters and waitresses who work in the dining room. They all depend on horse racing. They're hoping things turn around for their industry. But they're betting on a longshot. Horse racing will never be the same.
Wednesday 15 May 2013
TORONTO's MOST POPULAR PASTTIME.
Leaf bashing has been going on for years. I should know. I once organized a protest in front of Maple Leaf Gardens when the Leafs were 21st in a 21 team league. This was back in the early 1980s. The Leafs were brutal. I had a radio talk show at the time on 590 CKEY, and fans would call in and complain about the Leafs (sound familiar?), so I suggested if they really wanted to send a message, they should burn their tickets. That way management might do something to improve the team. Hah! Not only did the protest have no affect at all, it got me kicked out of the Gardens. As well, Leaf players were instructed NOT to talk to any CKEY microphone. Of course, that made me even more determined to give the Leafs a hard time. It was pretty easy, believe me. It was also kind of sad that a once-great franchise with the most loyal fans on the planet would treat those supporters with such utter disrespect.
Fast forward to 2013. A team that hasn't even made the post-season in 9 years gets a bit of a break with a shortened season. Still, nobody in their right mind believes Toronto is good enough to even make the playoffs, much less scare the hell out of the Boston Bruins. And so, against all odds, they not only make a series out of it, they actually storm back from a 3-1 series deficit to tie things up. Whoever thought they'd get this far? And so, instead of being happy with just BEING THERE, Leafs fans start to actually believe that their team is the second coming. Up three goals in the elimination game and then.....poof! But let's not give any credit to the Boston Bruins. No. Let's instead bash the hell out of the Leafs the same way we did when they were the first team to hit the golf course every April. I mean, really, do we need to know the anatomy of a choke-job? Is it that important to go over the last few minutes of the Boston game the way they pored over the Zapruder film back in '63?
Of course, there will always be those who complain about every little thing. If Carlyle had called time out with the score 4-2 and told Phaneuf not to give up the puck and told Reimer not to go down so soon, would that have made a difference? Who knows. But I guarantee you, if it keeps getting brought up, you'll never be able to get past it. If people continue to call it a "colossal collapse" and a "choke job for the ages", they're not seeing the big picture. You are supposed to learn from your mistakes and learn from your toughest defeats. When the young Edmonton Oilers lost the 1983 Stanley Cup finals in four straight to the Islanders, Wayne Gretzky recalled passing the Islander dressing room after the game and hearing the unbridled joy as the Islanders celebrated their fourth straight Cup. Gretzky said right then and there, that it would be the Oilers making all that noise the following year. And he was right. The Oilers got their revenge a year later, beating the Isles for the Cup in five games. They needed the experience of a bitter defeat to get there.
Now, I'm not suggesting for a minute that the Toronto Maple Leafs are the 1980s Oilers. But I will throw this out there. That bitter defeat the other night will make them stronger, more resilient and more prepared for their upcoming 82 game odyssey. The experience of "blowing it" will motivate them to improve next year. And the more we remind them of their failure to play ten minutes of hockey, the more we dismiss the good work they had done over the regular season. 5th in the East. A seven game barnburner with the Bruins. Certainly more than ANYONE expected.
Leaf bashing has been going on for years. I should know. I once organized a protest in front of Maple Leaf Gardens when the Leafs were 21st in a 21 team league. This was back in the early 1980s. The Leafs were brutal. I had a radio talk show at the time on 590 CKEY, and fans would call in and complain about the Leafs (sound familiar?), so I suggested if they really wanted to send a message, they should burn their tickets. That way management might do something to improve the team. Hah! Not only did the protest have no affect at all, it got me kicked out of the Gardens. As well, Leaf players were instructed NOT to talk to any CKEY microphone. Of course, that made me even more determined to give the Leafs a hard time. It was pretty easy, believe me. It was also kind of sad that a once-great franchise with the most loyal fans on the planet would treat those supporters with such utter disrespect.
Fast forward to 2013. A team that hasn't even made the post-season in 9 years gets a bit of a break with a shortened season. Still, nobody in their right mind believes Toronto is good enough to even make the playoffs, much less scare the hell out of the Boston Bruins. And so, against all odds, they not only make a series out of it, they actually storm back from a 3-1 series deficit to tie things up. Whoever thought they'd get this far? And so, instead of being happy with just BEING THERE, Leafs fans start to actually believe that their team is the second coming. Up three goals in the elimination game and then.....poof! But let's not give any credit to the Boston Bruins. No. Let's instead bash the hell out of the Leafs the same way we did when they were the first team to hit the golf course every April. I mean, really, do we need to know the anatomy of a choke-job? Is it that important to go over the last few minutes of the Boston game the way they pored over the Zapruder film back in '63?
Of course, there will always be those who complain about every little thing. If Carlyle had called time out with the score 4-2 and told Phaneuf not to give up the puck and told Reimer not to go down so soon, would that have made a difference? Who knows. But I guarantee you, if it keeps getting brought up, you'll never be able to get past it. If people continue to call it a "colossal collapse" and a "choke job for the ages", they're not seeing the big picture. You are supposed to learn from your mistakes and learn from your toughest defeats. When the young Edmonton Oilers lost the 1983 Stanley Cup finals in four straight to the Islanders, Wayne Gretzky recalled passing the Islander dressing room after the game and hearing the unbridled joy as the Islanders celebrated their fourth straight Cup. Gretzky said right then and there, that it would be the Oilers making all that noise the following year. And he was right. The Oilers got their revenge a year later, beating the Isles for the Cup in five games. They needed the experience of a bitter defeat to get there.
Now, I'm not suggesting for a minute that the Toronto Maple Leafs are the 1980s Oilers. But I will throw this out there. That bitter defeat the other night will make them stronger, more resilient and more prepared for their upcoming 82 game odyssey. The experience of "blowing it" will motivate them to improve next year. And the more we remind them of their failure to play ten minutes of hockey, the more we dismiss the good work they had done over the regular season. 5th in the East. A seven game barnburner with the Bruins. Certainly more than ANYONE expected.
Tuesday 14 May 2013
THE INEVITABILITY OF (SUDDEN) DEATH.
You just had to feel it. At some point during last night's game in Boston, you just knew, in the dark corners of your mind, that the Toronto Maple Leafs weren't quite ready for prime time. Something was going to happen in the last ten minutes to spoil the party. It was, some say, inevitable that the young, fresh, confident upstarts from Toronto would be taught a lesson by the grizzled, battle tested veterans from Boston. Of course, you didn't want to believe it, not after having witnessed 50 minutes of sensational, shut down, nose to the grindstone hockey. You allowed yourself a smile, a fist-pump, a nod and a wink to your comrade in blue and white. And then it hit you. The inevitability morphed into stunning reality. That sickening feeling at the bottom of your gut, the one you tried to chalk up to too many beers, hit you hard. Like a Milan Lucic bodycheck. It knocked the wind out of your sails, and those of the entire Maple Leafs Armada. For a while we thought the Leafs had overcome the inevitable, when in reality, they only delayed it.
Yes, playoff experience matters, and it's something the Leafs will have plenty of next spring when they (hopefully) compete again for Lord Stanley's prize. Lupul, Kessel, Gardiner, Reimer, Kadri, coach Carlyle and the rest of them will have the long summer to think about what they accomplished, and what they need to do for future success. This past season was beyond what any Leaf supporter expected. Pointing the fingers of blame for last night's meltdown won't do anybody any good. It's natural to blow off steam after such a heartbreaking defeat. Think about it. The Leafs took Boston to overtime in the 7th game. That's really all you need to remember. The taste of success was delicious this season. Savour it. The pain of losing will subside and eventually give way to the anticipation of future viewing. This team looks like it's going places.
You just had to feel it. At some point during last night's game in Boston, you just knew, in the dark corners of your mind, that the Toronto Maple Leafs weren't quite ready for prime time. Something was going to happen in the last ten minutes to spoil the party. It was, some say, inevitable that the young, fresh, confident upstarts from Toronto would be taught a lesson by the grizzled, battle tested veterans from Boston. Of course, you didn't want to believe it, not after having witnessed 50 minutes of sensational, shut down, nose to the grindstone hockey. You allowed yourself a smile, a fist-pump, a nod and a wink to your comrade in blue and white. And then it hit you. The inevitability morphed into stunning reality. That sickening feeling at the bottom of your gut, the one you tried to chalk up to too many beers, hit you hard. Like a Milan Lucic bodycheck. It knocked the wind out of your sails, and those of the entire Maple Leafs Armada. For a while we thought the Leafs had overcome the inevitable, when in reality, they only delayed it.
Yes, playoff experience matters, and it's something the Leafs will have plenty of next spring when they (hopefully) compete again for Lord Stanley's prize. Lupul, Kessel, Gardiner, Reimer, Kadri, coach Carlyle and the rest of them will have the long summer to think about what they accomplished, and what they need to do for future success. This past season was beyond what any Leaf supporter expected. Pointing the fingers of blame for last night's meltdown won't do anybody any good. It's natural to blow off steam after such a heartbreaking defeat. Think about it. The Leafs took Boston to overtime in the 7th game. That's really all you need to remember. The taste of success was delicious this season. Savour it. The pain of losing will subside and eventually give way to the anticipation of future viewing. This team looks like it's going places.
Monday 13 May 2013
ARE THE MAPLE LEAFS MAKING YOU FAT?
The more playoff games the Leafs win, the more my waistline expands. So, what do I do now? Six games into the first round, including back to back Leaf wins on Friday and Sunday, and my weight is up to 205 pounds. The last time I was this heavy was 9 years ago, the spring of 2004. Not coincidentally, that was also the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs. They won a 7 game series over Ottawa, during which I gained a couple of pounds (chicken wings and beer as I recall). Then, they went six more games before falling to Philly in the second round, and I ended up at 207 pounds (Philly Cheese steaks and tequila). Had they gone on to the Stanley Cup finals that year, I'm sure I would've ended up on "The Biggest Loser". Let's face it, spending three hours in front of the TV watching playoff hockey (or any sporting event for that matter) means popcorn, pistachios, chips, veggies and dip and beer. It also means three hours without any exercise at all, unless you consider jumping up and clenching your fist every so often to be a "cardio workout".
Normally, I weigh myself once a week, but with a Maple Leaf game on every other night, and in this case, on back to back nights, I have to weigh myself daily. I know the beer companies and the snack food companies and the pizza conglomerates are airing an onslaught of ads designed to make the hungry and thirsty Leafs fan load up on all the high-calorie foods that are OK to eat once in a while, but not every other night. Seriously. On Thursday, I was 201 pounds and working my butt off on the treadmill every day just to maintain. Then there was Friday's Leafs game, a barn burner of a tilt that likely saw me inhale 1500 to 2000 calories, even with lo-cal salt free pistachios and light beer. The next day, Saturday, I didn't have time for a workout, and managed the spend a couple of hours watching the Jays (another 1000 calories worth of red licorice, sweet and salty popcorn and sunflower seeds). Yesterday, even though I went for a run, I watched a bit of the Jays-Red Sox (fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, soda water) and then at night, the Leafs-Bruins ( Pizza, chocolate covered pretzels, Lays, Skittles) And that's how I got to 205 pounds. And now I'm worried/thrilled that the Leafs will get into the next round. If they lose tonight, I can go back to my normal eating habits and likely drop a few pounds. But if they beat Boston, it's at least two more weeks of undisciplined, yet necessary eating and drinking.
So, which do I choose? I choose to root for the Maple Leafs and the hell with my waistline. Mind you, the last time I said that, it took 9 years for them to get back to the playoffs. Those were known as the "lean" years. In more ways than one.
The more playoff games the Leafs win, the more my waistline expands. So, what do I do now? Six games into the first round, including back to back Leaf wins on Friday and Sunday, and my weight is up to 205 pounds. The last time I was this heavy was 9 years ago, the spring of 2004. Not coincidentally, that was also the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs. They won a 7 game series over Ottawa, during which I gained a couple of pounds (chicken wings and beer as I recall). Then, they went six more games before falling to Philly in the second round, and I ended up at 207 pounds (Philly Cheese steaks and tequila). Had they gone on to the Stanley Cup finals that year, I'm sure I would've ended up on "The Biggest Loser". Let's face it, spending three hours in front of the TV watching playoff hockey (or any sporting event for that matter) means popcorn, pistachios, chips, veggies and dip and beer. It also means three hours without any exercise at all, unless you consider jumping up and clenching your fist every so often to be a "cardio workout".
Normally, I weigh myself once a week, but with a Maple Leaf game on every other night, and in this case, on back to back nights, I have to weigh myself daily. I know the beer companies and the snack food companies and the pizza conglomerates are airing an onslaught of ads designed to make the hungry and thirsty Leafs fan load up on all the high-calorie foods that are OK to eat once in a while, but not every other night. Seriously. On Thursday, I was 201 pounds and working my butt off on the treadmill every day just to maintain. Then there was Friday's Leafs game, a barn burner of a tilt that likely saw me inhale 1500 to 2000 calories, even with lo-cal salt free pistachios and light beer. The next day, Saturday, I didn't have time for a workout, and managed the spend a couple of hours watching the Jays (another 1000 calories worth of red licorice, sweet and salty popcorn and sunflower seeds). Yesterday, even though I went for a run, I watched a bit of the Jays-Red Sox (fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, soda water) and then at night, the Leafs-Bruins ( Pizza, chocolate covered pretzels, Lays, Skittles) And that's how I got to 205 pounds. And now I'm worried/thrilled that the Leafs will get into the next round. If they lose tonight, I can go back to my normal eating habits and likely drop a few pounds. But if they beat Boston, it's at least two more weeks of undisciplined, yet necessary eating and drinking.
So, which do I choose? I choose to root for the Maple Leafs and the hell with my waistline. Mind you, the last time I said that, it took 9 years for them to get back to the playoffs. Those were known as the "lean" years. In more ways than one.
Thursday 9 May 2013
LEAFS CAN'T WIN WITH REIMER.
Don't get me wrong. I like James Reimer. I think he's a fine fellow and a darn good puck stopper. But he's not the complete package in net because he doesn't know how to play the puck. With his stick, that is. One of the main reasons the Leafs get into trouble in their own zone is their goalie's inability or unwillingness to make what seems like a simple play. Reimer seems scared out there. That's why when he DOES venture out of the cage, he plays the puck as if it were a live grenade. Then he overhandles it, which usually results in a yawning cage and a terrific opportunity for the player who just stripped him of the puck to score.
Think of all the times you've seen an opponent beat the Leaf defenseman to the puck after a dump-in. A confident puck-handling goalie would come out, play the puck on his forehand, and either advance it to a teammate, or shoot it out of harms way. Not Reimer. He stays deep in his crease, hoping his defenseman gets to the puck in such time that he doesn't get crushed by the hotly pursuing opponent. If it seems that Leaf defenseman are always losing the puck or getting knocked off the puck or getting dispossessed of the puck. The other night, Ryan O'Bryne thought he had plenty of time behind the net, but Jaromir Jagr was right on his tail. Reimer didn't even yell "Look out" to O'Byrne to warn him. 2 seconds later the puck was in behind him. Terrible communication out there. Look, I'm not saying Reimer has to be the second coming of Marty Brodeur, but come on! He's too timid with the puck.
And, lest you think I'm picking only on one facet of his play, consider what he does when he makes a save but the whistle doesn't blow. There's no opponent near him, yet his defenseman is three feet away. But instead of dropping the puck to his teammate, or advancing it, he freezes it. Duh! Now you've got a faceoff in your own zone against a team that's KILLING yours on faceoffs. If Ben Scrivens makes that save, he gets rid of the puck and puts the Leafs on the offensive. Not Reimer. He holds for a faceoff, which is the correct thing to do ONLY if your team is badly in need of a change.
Now, to suggest that Reimer is the only NHL goalie who suffers from these deficiencies would be incorrect. There are many others who let their puck-stopping speak for them. But the goalies who can act like an extra defenseman are invaluable to a team. For one, they prevent the opponent from dumping and chasing. For another, they keep the opponent wary of a stretch pass during a line change, or even a simple 10 footer from the goal line to a skater who's breaking out of the zone. But Reimer doesn't have the offensive skills to perform either move effectively, so he stays in his net and hopes to stop everything that comes his way. That style of goaltending may have worked 20 years ago for a stay-at-home goalie like Felix Potvin, but today's netminders need to be more versatile. Reimer's puck moving limitations could prove to be the Maple Leafs ultimate undoing. Either teach him to handle the puck or suffer the consequences.
The Bluejays cannot be trusted when it comes to Ricky Romero anymore. They lied to us and they lied to Romero. Everybody thought the club was crazy to bring back Romero last week, considering he had only pitched 7 inning of "A" ball. Now we know for sure. They tried to pull a fast one. No way was this guy ready for the majors. He should've had at least 4 minor league starts. Two in "A" ball, and then if things were progressing, another in "AA" and then "AAA". Rehab is rehab. Doesn't matter if you're coming back from Tommy John surgery, or trying to get your head screwed on right. You can't rush it. Ricky was injured. He need time. The Jays said he was ready. He wasn't. Now what?
Don't get me wrong. I like James Reimer. I think he's a fine fellow and a darn good puck stopper. But he's not the complete package in net because he doesn't know how to play the puck. With his stick, that is. One of the main reasons the Leafs get into trouble in their own zone is their goalie's inability or unwillingness to make what seems like a simple play. Reimer seems scared out there. That's why when he DOES venture out of the cage, he plays the puck as if it were a live grenade. Then he overhandles it, which usually results in a yawning cage and a terrific opportunity for the player who just stripped him of the puck to score.
Think of all the times you've seen an opponent beat the Leaf defenseman to the puck after a dump-in. A confident puck-handling goalie would come out, play the puck on his forehand, and either advance it to a teammate, or shoot it out of harms way. Not Reimer. He stays deep in his crease, hoping his defenseman gets to the puck in such time that he doesn't get crushed by the hotly pursuing opponent. If it seems that Leaf defenseman are always losing the puck or getting knocked off the puck or getting dispossessed of the puck. The other night, Ryan O'Bryne thought he had plenty of time behind the net, but Jaromir Jagr was right on his tail. Reimer didn't even yell "Look out" to O'Byrne to warn him. 2 seconds later the puck was in behind him. Terrible communication out there. Look, I'm not saying Reimer has to be the second coming of Marty Brodeur, but come on! He's too timid with the puck.
And, lest you think I'm picking only on one facet of his play, consider what he does when he makes a save but the whistle doesn't blow. There's no opponent near him, yet his defenseman is three feet away. But instead of dropping the puck to his teammate, or advancing it, he freezes it. Duh! Now you've got a faceoff in your own zone against a team that's KILLING yours on faceoffs. If Ben Scrivens makes that save, he gets rid of the puck and puts the Leafs on the offensive. Not Reimer. He holds for a faceoff, which is the correct thing to do ONLY if your team is badly in need of a change.
Now, to suggest that Reimer is the only NHL goalie who suffers from these deficiencies would be incorrect. There are many others who let their puck-stopping speak for them. But the goalies who can act like an extra defenseman are invaluable to a team. For one, they prevent the opponent from dumping and chasing. For another, they keep the opponent wary of a stretch pass during a line change, or even a simple 10 footer from the goal line to a skater who's breaking out of the zone. But Reimer doesn't have the offensive skills to perform either move effectively, so he stays in his net and hopes to stop everything that comes his way. That style of goaltending may have worked 20 years ago for a stay-at-home goalie like Felix Potvin, but today's netminders need to be more versatile. Reimer's puck moving limitations could prove to be the Maple Leafs ultimate undoing. Either teach him to handle the puck or suffer the consequences.
The Bluejays cannot be trusted when it comes to Ricky Romero anymore. They lied to us and they lied to Romero. Everybody thought the club was crazy to bring back Romero last week, considering he had only pitched 7 inning of "A" ball. Now we know for sure. They tried to pull a fast one. No way was this guy ready for the majors. He should've had at least 4 minor league starts. Two in "A" ball, and then if things were progressing, another in "AA" and then "AAA". Rehab is rehab. Doesn't matter if you're coming back from Tommy John surgery, or trying to get your head screwed on right. You can't rush it. Ricky was injured. He need time. The Jays said he was ready. He wasn't. Now what?
Wednesday 8 May 2013
TIME TO MAKE HELMETS MANDATORY FOR PITCHERS
As soon as Toronto's JA Happ was hit by a line drive off the bat of Tampa's Desmond Jennings, my wife, watching on TV commented "Why don't pitchers have to wear helmets?" It's a good question. Player safety should be of paramount importance. This year, a newer, safer batting helmet was made mandatory by Major League Baseball. It's made of carbon fibre, and offers way more protection than the old helmets. Since 2008, helmets for base coaches have been mandatory in MLB, to protect them from line drives. This came after a minor league first base coach, Mike Coolbaugh, was struck and killed by a batted ball during a game. So, let's raise the question: What player is most vulnerable to being hit by a batted ball? The pitcher, of course. Never mind what it's like to be hit by a 95 mile-an-hour fastball while you're standing on two feet, how do you handle a 100 mile-an-hour screamer at your head while you're in a vulnerable, unbalanced position and only about 50 feet from the batter?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfQcPZYAQfg
Luckily, Happ is OK, and that's good news for MLB, which has an opportunity to make player safety a priority by legislating mandatory head protection for pitchers. I'm sure there's a carbon fiber insert that can be placed inside the crown of a baseball cap. We have the technology. If pitchers have to wear protective cups, uncomfortable as they may be (see Stieb, Dave), then protecting the noggin should be priority number one.
Now you know why the Leafs and their fans wanted so badly to play the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs. The Habs are unraveling faster than that sweater your grandma knitted for you last Christmas. Not only did they blow a two goal lead in the pivotal fourth game of their series with Ottawa, they went and blamed the officials (again) for a couple of alleged missed calls. Face it, Montreal is a wreck (although not as bad as the Vancouver Canucks). They've allowed the Senators to get into their heads, and now it's become a case of finger pointing among the players and widespread panic among the fan base. Maybe that crack by Brandon Prust about Ottawa coach Paul McLean's physical appearance was a mistake. Ya think?
And they were doing so well during the regular season.
The Leafs have proven all season that they have the capability to bounce back after a poor performance. Even though they lost 5-2 the other night, I thought they played pretty good hockey, save for a couple of BIG mistakes. I expect they'll come back tonight and even the series with the Bruins. If James Reimer can make the big save at a key point in the game, Toronto will prevail. All they need to do is pepper Boston with another 47 shots, and they'll be just fine.
Oh, and speaking of bad calls by officials, did you see the one last night on Daniel Sedin?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thHu-wgRXXE
That is just wrong! The game is in overtime. The two players were battling for the puck. Sedin was perfectly within his rights to body Tommy Wingels and it was NOT a hit from behind or boarding. Certainly not in overtime. The refs need to put their whistles away and let the player's play. Even some of the San Jose players sheepishly admitted that it was a "close call", which is code for saying "I can't believe they gave him a penalty for THAT". Please, let the players decide the outcome.
As soon as Toronto's JA Happ was hit by a line drive off the bat of Tampa's Desmond Jennings, my wife, watching on TV commented "Why don't pitchers have to wear helmets?" It's a good question. Player safety should be of paramount importance. This year, a newer, safer batting helmet was made mandatory by Major League Baseball. It's made of carbon fibre, and offers way more protection than the old helmets. Since 2008, helmets for base coaches have been mandatory in MLB, to protect them from line drives. This came after a minor league first base coach, Mike Coolbaugh, was struck and killed by a batted ball during a game. So, let's raise the question: What player is most vulnerable to being hit by a batted ball? The pitcher, of course. Never mind what it's like to be hit by a 95 mile-an-hour fastball while you're standing on two feet, how do you handle a 100 mile-an-hour screamer at your head while you're in a vulnerable, unbalanced position and only about 50 feet from the batter?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfQcPZYAQfg
Luckily, Happ is OK, and that's good news for MLB, which has an opportunity to make player safety a priority by legislating mandatory head protection for pitchers. I'm sure there's a carbon fiber insert that can be placed inside the crown of a baseball cap. We have the technology. If pitchers have to wear protective cups, uncomfortable as they may be (see Stieb, Dave), then protecting the noggin should be priority number one.
Now you know why the Leafs and their fans wanted so badly to play the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs. The Habs are unraveling faster than that sweater your grandma knitted for you last Christmas. Not only did they blow a two goal lead in the pivotal fourth game of their series with Ottawa, they went and blamed the officials (again) for a couple of alleged missed calls. Face it, Montreal is a wreck (although not as bad as the Vancouver Canucks). They've allowed the Senators to get into their heads, and now it's become a case of finger pointing among the players and widespread panic among the fan base. Maybe that crack by Brandon Prust about Ottawa coach Paul McLean's physical appearance was a mistake. Ya think?
And they were doing so well during the regular season.
The Leafs have proven all season that they have the capability to bounce back after a poor performance. Even though they lost 5-2 the other night, I thought they played pretty good hockey, save for a couple of BIG mistakes. I expect they'll come back tonight and even the series with the Bruins. If James Reimer can make the big save at a key point in the game, Toronto will prevail. All they need to do is pepper Boston with another 47 shots, and they'll be just fine.
Oh, and speaking of bad calls by officials, did you see the one last night on Daniel Sedin?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thHu-wgRXXE
That is just wrong! The game is in overtime. The two players were battling for the puck. Sedin was perfectly within his rights to body Tommy Wingels and it was NOT a hit from behind or boarding. Certainly not in overtime. The refs need to put their whistles away and let the player's play. Even some of the San Jose players sheepishly admitted that it was a "close call", which is code for saying "I can't believe they gave him a penalty for THAT". Please, let the players decide the outcome.
Monday 6 May 2013
MIGHT THE LEAFS BE OVERCONFIDENT?
What, are you out of your mind? Just because the Maple Leafs won a playoff game in Boston doesn't mean they think they can win the series. Or does it? Confidence has a lot to do with advancing in the playoffs. You don't think Phil Kessel has some swagger now? What about Kadri, JVR, Jake Gardner, James Reimer and Dion Phaneuf? They got the split they wanted. They beat the Bruins in a playoff game for the first time in over 40 years (I know, it seemed like longer). Their coach is being proclaimed as a genius for matching lines so effectively as the visiting coach in Boston. Imagine how well he'll do in the next two games when he gets the last change. Yes, it might be tough for the Leafs to stay within themselves. They've experienced playoff success, albeit for one game, and they want to keep the feeling going.
Of course, the Bruins have been chomping at the bit to prove that Saturday night's loss was just a blip. Since the Leafs pushed back quite strongly after their opening game debacle, there's no reason to think the Bruins won't be out to prove something tonight at the noisy Air Canada Centre. And just remember, the road team is supposedly less affected by the outside goings-on in a hockey mad city like Toronto. So, while Leaf players try to avoid family and friends with ticket requests, etc., the Bruins will be holed up in their hotel rooms, waiting to be released from their cages in time to exact revenge on the Leafs. The Leafs will have to channel their emotions positively, and not succumb to the playoff hype, and there is a LOT of it. I expect the atmosphere around the A.C.C. will be electric before, during and after the game. And don't forget, whichever team takes a 2-1 series lead tonight, things will be just as crazy over the next couple of days in advance of Wednesday's Game #4. I'm predicting a Boston win tonight because I believe this series will go the full 7 games. It'll be a war of attrition and I picked the Leafs to survive and advance to the next round.
Boy, do I ever enjoy watching the Montreal Canadiens blow up. I don't know what it is, but when the Habs whine and complain, it's music to my ears. Coach Michel Therrien, PK Subban, Max Patch, Brandon Prust, doesn't matter. They feel somewhat entitled, and if things don't go their way, they call out the other team's players and coaches. Why pick on Ottawa coach Paul MacLean's poor eyesight? Or his walrus-like mustache? Or the fact that he might be, like most middle-aged men, a few pounds overweight? Do the Habs really think he sent Eric Gryba out there to hurt Lars Eller and get suspended? Give me a break. MacLean is a smart coach and he knows how to control his emotions. Therrien would be wise to calm down a bit and play it cool. It says here he won't. I like the Sens in that series.
Congratulations to Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole from TSN, who have been lured down to sunny California by FOX Sports. According to those in the know, Jay and Dan will be the hosts of the 11 pm nightly highlight show. Better brush up on your U.S. college football and basketball boys! Best of luck in L.A.
What, are you out of your mind? Just because the Maple Leafs won a playoff game in Boston doesn't mean they think they can win the series. Or does it? Confidence has a lot to do with advancing in the playoffs. You don't think Phil Kessel has some swagger now? What about Kadri, JVR, Jake Gardner, James Reimer and Dion Phaneuf? They got the split they wanted. They beat the Bruins in a playoff game for the first time in over 40 years (I know, it seemed like longer). Their coach is being proclaimed as a genius for matching lines so effectively as the visiting coach in Boston. Imagine how well he'll do in the next two games when he gets the last change. Yes, it might be tough for the Leafs to stay within themselves. They've experienced playoff success, albeit for one game, and they want to keep the feeling going.
Of course, the Bruins have been chomping at the bit to prove that Saturday night's loss was just a blip. Since the Leafs pushed back quite strongly after their opening game debacle, there's no reason to think the Bruins won't be out to prove something tonight at the noisy Air Canada Centre. And just remember, the road team is supposedly less affected by the outside goings-on in a hockey mad city like Toronto. So, while Leaf players try to avoid family and friends with ticket requests, etc., the Bruins will be holed up in their hotel rooms, waiting to be released from their cages in time to exact revenge on the Leafs. The Leafs will have to channel their emotions positively, and not succumb to the playoff hype, and there is a LOT of it. I expect the atmosphere around the A.C.C. will be electric before, during and after the game. And don't forget, whichever team takes a 2-1 series lead tonight, things will be just as crazy over the next couple of days in advance of Wednesday's Game #4. I'm predicting a Boston win tonight because I believe this series will go the full 7 games. It'll be a war of attrition and I picked the Leafs to survive and advance to the next round.
Boy, do I ever enjoy watching the Montreal Canadiens blow up. I don't know what it is, but when the Habs whine and complain, it's music to my ears. Coach Michel Therrien, PK Subban, Max Patch, Brandon Prust, doesn't matter. They feel somewhat entitled, and if things don't go their way, they call out the other team's players and coaches. Why pick on Ottawa coach Paul MacLean's poor eyesight? Or his walrus-like mustache? Or the fact that he might be, like most middle-aged men, a few pounds overweight? Do the Habs really think he sent Eric Gryba out there to hurt Lars Eller and get suspended? Give me a break. MacLean is a smart coach and he knows how to control his emotions. Therrien would be wise to calm down a bit and play it cool. It says here he won't. I like the Sens in that series.
Congratulations to Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole from TSN, who have been lured down to sunny California by FOX Sports. According to those in the know, Jay and Dan will be the hosts of the 11 pm nightly highlight show. Better brush up on your U.S. college football and basketball boys! Best of luck in L.A.
Friday 3 May 2013
THE OVER/UNDER ON RICKY ROMERO
It's a big night for the Toronto Bluejays. Their decision to bring Ricky Romero up from Dunedin for tonight's tilt against Seattle could be the turning point of the season. The pressure to perform will be enormous. And the way the Jays starters have looked so far this season, anything that resembles 6 innings and three runs or less would be considered a great performance. But let's be realistic with the ROMERO-METER.
The over/under on how many pitches Romero will throw is 93. I'm going OVER
The over/under on how many walks Romero will allow is 4. I'm going UNDER
The over/under on how many earned runs Romero will allow is 5. I'm going OVER
The over/under on how many hits Romero will allow is 8. I'm going UNDER.
The over/under on how many outs Romero will record is 14. That's two outs in the fifth inning. OVER.
The over/under on how many times someone yells "Romero, you suck" is 35. OVER.
The over/under on how many trips J.P. Arencibia will make to the mound to talk to Romero is 6. UNDER.
The over/under on how many boo John Gibbons as he goes to mound to take out Romero is 11,235. OVER
The over/under on how many times Romero shouts "F*#K" into his glove in frustration is 4. UNDER.
For those of you scoring at home tonight, I'm happy for you.
Have a great weekend.
It's a big night for the Toronto Bluejays. Their decision to bring Ricky Romero up from Dunedin for tonight's tilt against Seattle could be the turning point of the season. The pressure to perform will be enormous. And the way the Jays starters have looked so far this season, anything that resembles 6 innings and three runs or less would be considered a great performance. But let's be realistic with the ROMERO-METER.
The over/under on how many pitches Romero will throw is 93. I'm going OVER
The over/under on how many walks Romero will allow is 4. I'm going UNDER
The over/under on how many earned runs Romero will allow is 5. I'm going OVER
The over/under on how many hits Romero will allow is 8. I'm going UNDER.
The over/under on how many outs Romero will record is 14. That's two outs in the fifth inning. OVER.
The over/under on how many times someone yells "Romero, you suck" is 35. OVER.
The over/under on how many trips J.P. Arencibia will make to the mound to talk to Romero is 6. UNDER.
The over/under on how many boo John Gibbons as he goes to mound to take out Romero is 11,235. OVER
The over/under on how many times Romero shouts "F*#K" into his glove in frustration is 4. UNDER.
For those of you scoring at home tonight, I'm happy for you.
Have a great weekend.
LARS ELLER; THE LATEST VICTIM OF "THE BIG HIT".
The playoffs are a different animal. What might be a clean, open-ice check in the regular season calls for a 5 minute major and a game misconduct in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Just ask Eric Gryba of the Ottawa Senators. His nose-crushing hit on Montreal's Lars Eller was perfectly legal, yet the severity of the injury and the crimson blood that spilled onto the white ice turned it into a shocking, horrifying crime. Sorry folks, it's the playoffs. Sometimes these things happen. Eller shouldn't have had his head down, but then again, you can blame Diaz, the Montreal defenseman who made the "suicide" pass. Sometimes, a hit like that can help your team, as it did the Senators last night. Sometimes, it can backfire on you. Ask Pat Quinn.
It was April 2, 1969. Quinn was a 26 year old rookie defenseman, playing in his first playoff game. The Maple Leafs were at the Boston Garden for game one of their quarterfinal series. The Leafs were pretty much over the hill back then. The stars of the Stanley Cup teams of the 60s were getting long in the tooth, and the Bruins were an up-and-coming team featuring scoring leader Phil Esposito, goalie Gerry Cheevers and a young Bobby Orr, only in his third NHL season, but already a superstar in the making. He was revered in Boston. The second coming of Eddie Shore for long suffering Bruin supporters. And so, it was against this backdrop that Quinn made a name for himself, and almost got killed doing it. If you never saw Pat Quinn's hit on Bobby Orr, here's your chance. Click here and go in about 18 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKRnbQNSGEs
When I asked Quinn about the hit several years ago, he told me a great story about what happened AFTER he knocked Orr out cold.
QUINN: "I was in the penalty box with a 5 minute major for elbowing and Orr was being placed on a stretcher. The place was eerily quiet. When they finally wheeled him out at the end of the rink and they closed the door, the place went crazy, yelling 'Kill Quinn, Kill Quinn'. I was attacked in the penalty box by a bunch of fans and had to take refuge at center ice while debris rained down from the seats. Eventually, they escorted me off the ice and when I got back to the hotel there were death threats. Oh yeah, we lost that first game 10-0. My first playoff game ever! We played game two the next night and lost 7-0, and after the game, the rookies had to go and get the beer and get it on the team bus before Punch (Imlach) found out. It was my turn so I had to go to Jack Sharkey's Bar, named after the famous boxer, which was right across the street from the Garden. Now, here I go walking in, and the entire place just stopped cold. Here was the guy who almost killed Bobby Orr. I thought 'Oh boy, I'm going to die right here in this bar', but as it happened, the bartender was a big Irish guy like me, and he calmed everybody down, saying that he never met a guy named Quinn that he didn't like. Lucky, I got out of there alive."
Yes, but as Quinn soon found out, not everybody was willing to forgive and forget. Orr wanted his pound of flesh, and had to wait until the following season. Go in ten seconds for this great scrap!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA89fuARoiI
Of course, some might say that Quinn's hit on Orr woke the Bruins up. After clobbering the Leafs in the first two games, they took the next two one-goal affairs at Maple Leaf Gardens en route to a four game sweep. For the Leafs to avoid a repeat performance this year, somebody has to go after Zdeno Chara and knock him out. With a clean check, of course. Just like the one Gryba laid on Lars Eller and left him bloody mess. If that's what it takes to win in the playoffs, then somebody needs to step up and make it happen. If you're going to go down, at least go down fighting. Any volunteers? Anybody?
The playoffs are a different animal. What might be a clean, open-ice check in the regular season calls for a 5 minute major and a game misconduct in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Just ask Eric Gryba of the Ottawa Senators. His nose-crushing hit on Montreal's Lars Eller was perfectly legal, yet the severity of the injury and the crimson blood that spilled onto the white ice turned it into a shocking, horrifying crime. Sorry folks, it's the playoffs. Sometimes these things happen. Eller shouldn't have had his head down, but then again, you can blame Diaz, the Montreal defenseman who made the "suicide" pass. Sometimes, a hit like that can help your team, as it did the Senators last night. Sometimes, it can backfire on you. Ask Pat Quinn.
It was April 2, 1969. Quinn was a 26 year old rookie defenseman, playing in his first playoff game. The Maple Leafs were at the Boston Garden for game one of their quarterfinal series. The Leafs were pretty much over the hill back then. The stars of the Stanley Cup teams of the 60s were getting long in the tooth, and the Bruins were an up-and-coming team featuring scoring leader Phil Esposito, goalie Gerry Cheevers and a young Bobby Orr, only in his third NHL season, but already a superstar in the making. He was revered in Boston. The second coming of Eddie Shore for long suffering Bruin supporters. And so, it was against this backdrop that Quinn made a name for himself, and almost got killed doing it. If you never saw Pat Quinn's hit on Bobby Orr, here's your chance. Click here and go in about 18 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKRnbQNSGEs
When I asked Quinn about the hit several years ago, he told me a great story about what happened AFTER he knocked Orr out cold.
QUINN: "I was in the penalty box with a 5 minute major for elbowing and Orr was being placed on a stretcher. The place was eerily quiet. When they finally wheeled him out at the end of the rink and they closed the door, the place went crazy, yelling 'Kill Quinn, Kill Quinn'. I was attacked in the penalty box by a bunch of fans and had to take refuge at center ice while debris rained down from the seats. Eventually, they escorted me off the ice and when I got back to the hotel there were death threats. Oh yeah, we lost that first game 10-0. My first playoff game ever! We played game two the next night and lost 7-0, and after the game, the rookies had to go and get the beer and get it on the team bus before Punch (Imlach) found out. It was my turn so I had to go to Jack Sharkey's Bar, named after the famous boxer, which was right across the street from the Garden. Now, here I go walking in, and the entire place just stopped cold. Here was the guy who almost killed Bobby Orr. I thought 'Oh boy, I'm going to die right here in this bar', but as it happened, the bartender was a big Irish guy like me, and he calmed everybody down, saying that he never met a guy named Quinn that he didn't like. Lucky, I got out of there alive."
Yes, but as Quinn soon found out, not everybody was willing to forgive and forget. Orr wanted his pound of flesh, and had to wait until the following season. Go in ten seconds for this great scrap!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA89fuARoiI
Of course, some might say that Quinn's hit on Orr woke the Bruins up. After clobbering the Leafs in the first two games, they took the next two one-goal affairs at Maple Leaf Gardens en route to a four game sweep. For the Leafs to avoid a repeat performance this year, somebody has to go after Zdeno Chara and knock him out. With a clean check, of course. Just like the one Gryba laid on Lars Eller and left him bloody mess. If that's what it takes to win in the playoffs, then somebody needs to step up and make it happen. If you're going to go down, at least go down fighting. Any volunteers? Anybody?
Thursday 2 May 2013
ROMERO'S BACK. THE JAYS TROUBLES ARE OVER!
Since there's nothing new I can tell you about the Maple Leafs after their game one loss to Boston (Cody Franson has a bruised foot, didn't practise today), we may as well focus on the plight of your Toronto Bluejays, who are fast becoming the laughingstock of baseball. Considering all the "experts" picked them to be either near or atop the A.L. East standings, the Jays have been an abject failure.
But wait, it gets better. Today, the club announced that righthander Josh Johnson, who missed his last start with a triceps problem and was scheduled to start tomorrow, has been placed on the 15 day DL. His replacement on the roster is none other than Ricky Romero, who a month ago was curled up in the fetal position on the clubhouse floor in Dunedin, unable to find the strike zone in Grapefruit League games, split squad games, intrasquad games or even simulated games. Word was that he couldn't even play a simple game of "catch". His head was so screwed up that he was demoted all the way down to Class 'A' Dunedin, where he made one start last week, going 7 innings, giving up six hits and walking nobody. Obviously, Alex Anthopoulos feels that Romero is ready to go. I mean, why else would they ignore a couple of pretty decent pitchers at AAA Buffalo in favor of the fragile Romero?
Now, back to Josh Johnson. He's been awful, and now he's hurt. But why didn't the Jays put him on the DL a week ago when he first got hurt? Instead, they said he'd miss a start and signed Aaron Laffey to pitch in his spot in the rotation. Of course, Laffey got lit up against Boston. Johnson was supposed to start again tonight, but got moved back to tomorrow and now he's been moved to the DL. What the hell!! This trade with the Miami Marlins has become an unmitigated disaster. Johnson has been awful. Mark Buehrle, who pitched last night, just doesn't have it anymore. Seriously, you have to trade this guy right now. Brandon Morrow throws too many pitches, not enough of them for strikes. JA Happ started well, but he's barely good enough to be a 5th starter. Only R.A. Dickey, who has been somewhat mediocre in the early season, is a legitimate starter. Already gone and perhaps never to return are youngsters Kyle Drabek and Drew Hutchison, who must rehab from Tommy John surgery. In other words, there's not much left in the cupboard when it comes to starting pitchers.
So, did AA hit the panic button by recalling Romero after his trials and tribulations this spring? Yes. The team likely won't win the AL East, and even making the playoffs seems a daunting task at 10-18. Jose Bautista is hitting below the Mendoza line. Melky Cabrera isn't much better than Eric Thames was last spring and has no power whatsoever. Oh, and I would've benched him after he tried to stretch a single into a double down 9 runs and got thrown out by 60 feet. Remember, this guy cheated and got caught last year. That's why he hit .345. Second base and shortstop are huge problems and the manager doesn't want his team to steal bases or find other creative ways of manufacturing runs. The team is playing bonehead baseball, apparently unaware of the basic fundamentals like hitting the cutoff man, laying down a bunt and knowing how to read hand signals. Everybody must share in the blame. Management, the coaching staff, the players and yes, the team therapists and doctors. Too many guys are getting hurt, and it's only going to get worse if the starters can't go more than 5 or 6 innings. The bullpen will be dog tired if this keeps up. Maybe a complete game victory by Romero over King Felix Hernandez tomorrow night will right the ship. We can only dream.
Since there's nothing new I can tell you about the Maple Leafs after their game one loss to Boston (Cody Franson has a bruised foot, didn't practise today), we may as well focus on the plight of your Toronto Bluejays, who are fast becoming the laughingstock of baseball. Considering all the "experts" picked them to be either near or atop the A.L. East standings, the Jays have been an abject failure.
But wait, it gets better. Today, the club announced that righthander Josh Johnson, who missed his last start with a triceps problem and was scheduled to start tomorrow, has been placed on the 15 day DL. His replacement on the roster is none other than Ricky Romero, who a month ago was curled up in the fetal position on the clubhouse floor in Dunedin, unable to find the strike zone in Grapefruit League games, split squad games, intrasquad games or even simulated games. Word was that he couldn't even play a simple game of "catch". His head was so screwed up that he was demoted all the way down to Class 'A' Dunedin, where he made one start last week, going 7 innings, giving up six hits and walking nobody. Obviously, Alex Anthopoulos feels that Romero is ready to go. I mean, why else would they ignore a couple of pretty decent pitchers at AAA Buffalo in favor of the fragile Romero?
Now, back to Josh Johnson. He's been awful, and now he's hurt. But why didn't the Jays put him on the DL a week ago when he first got hurt? Instead, they said he'd miss a start and signed Aaron Laffey to pitch in his spot in the rotation. Of course, Laffey got lit up against Boston. Johnson was supposed to start again tonight, but got moved back to tomorrow and now he's been moved to the DL. What the hell!! This trade with the Miami Marlins has become an unmitigated disaster. Johnson has been awful. Mark Buehrle, who pitched last night, just doesn't have it anymore. Seriously, you have to trade this guy right now. Brandon Morrow throws too many pitches, not enough of them for strikes. JA Happ started well, but he's barely good enough to be a 5th starter. Only R.A. Dickey, who has been somewhat mediocre in the early season, is a legitimate starter. Already gone and perhaps never to return are youngsters Kyle Drabek and Drew Hutchison, who must rehab from Tommy John surgery. In other words, there's not much left in the cupboard when it comes to starting pitchers.
So, did AA hit the panic button by recalling Romero after his trials and tribulations this spring? Yes. The team likely won't win the AL East, and even making the playoffs seems a daunting task at 10-18. Jose Bautista is hitting below the Mendoza line. Melky Cabrera isn't much better than Eric Thames was last spring and has no power whatsoever. Oh, and I would've benched him after he tried to stretch a single into a double down 9 runs and got thrown out by 60 feet. Remember, this guy cheated and got caught last year. That's why he hit .345. Second base and shortstop are huge problems and the manager doesn't want his team to steal bases or find other creative ways of manufacturing runs. The team is playing bonehead baseball, apparently unaware of the basic fundamentals like hitting the cutoff man, laying down a bunt and knowing how to read hand signals. Everybody must share in the blame. Management, the coaching staff, the players and yes, the team therapists and doctors. Too many guys are getting hurt, and it's only going to get worse if the starters can't go more than 5 or 6 innings. The bullpen will be dog tired if this keeps up. Maybe a complete game victory by Romero over King Felix Hernandez tomorrow night will right the ship. We can only dream.
Wednesday 1 May 2013
THANK YOU KESSEL!
That's what Bruins fans will be shouting tonight in Beantown when the Leafs and Boston square off in game one of their opening round series. Phil Kessel is a marked man, and he must perform if the Leafs hope to win the series. Unfortunately, since being traded to the Leafs for two first round draft picks (Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton), Kessel has been abysmal against the Bruins. That has to change. Kessel has been averaging a point a game with the Maple Leafs the past two seasons. He has 15 games of post season experience (with Boston) and has 15 playoff points. He's fast and he's shifty but he's going to have to avoid the long stick of Zdeno Chara, his personal nemesis on the Bruins. I think he can do that, and if Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri and JVR can create scoring chances and if James Reimer stands on his head, and if Randy Carlyle can outcoach Claude Julien, the Leafs will win the series in 7 games. That's my pick. Just like 1992-93 when the Leafs beat Detroit in 7, taking the finale on the road in overtime (remember Nik Borschevsky?). Yup, Leafs in 7. It's gonna happen.
As for the Jays, I don't think they can continue allowing John Gibbons to make these managerial miscues. I know the players aren't helping, but you've got to put a lineup together and stick to it for 5 or 6 games. Make a decision on second base and shortstop right now. Between Kawasaki, Bonifacio and Izturis, pick two starters and make one the bench guy. Don't be shifting players around, like last night in the 7th when Gibbons replaced Bonifacio with Kawasaki (I have no idea why). That meant Izturis, who started at shortstop, had to move to second while Kawasaki played short. The first chance they got, they botched a potential double play ball that would've gotten the Jays out of the inning. Then, to compound the problem, Gibbons took lefty Aaron Loup out and brought in Steve Delabar to pitch to Dustin Pedroia. He walked him and then had to face Big Papi with the sacks drunk. Yikes. 3 run double. Sox lead. If Gibbons would've left Loup in to pitch to Pedroia, even if he walked him, you'd have lefty versus lefty, Loup against Ortiz. That would've been a much better matchup, don't you think?
As it is, EE bailed out his manager big time. The 5th deck shot was one thing, but that two-run blast in the 7th to give the Jays the lead for good was some kind of clutch hitting. With Bautista hitting 3rd and EE fourth in the Jays batting order, things will definitely improve. As for the pitching, Brandon Morrow was once again disappointing. He throws way too many pitches out there. Tonight Mark Buehrle needs to show that he's worth all the accolades and the money he's getting. This is where veteran players earn their keep. It's not April anymore, so you can't use that "slow starter" nonsense. You need to get 7 solid innings from Buehrle, and you need to get more than 5 innings out of JA Happ in tomorrow's finale. And by the way, can the pitchers and catchers get their signals straight out there? I've never seen so many visits to the mound to make sure the battery knows what's going on. C'mon. 1 is a fastball, 2 is a curve, 3 is a slider and 4 is the splitter or whatever odd pitch the guy has. It's not that difficult, even though the Jays have made it seem that way. One game at a time Jays fans.
That's what Bruins fans will be shouting tonight in Beantown when the Leafs and Boston square off in game one of their opening round series. Phil Kessel is a marked man, and he must perform if the Leafs hope to win the series. Unfortunately, since being traded to the Leafs for two first round draft picks (Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton), Kessel has been abysmal against the Bruins. That has to change. Kessel has been averaging a point a game with the Maple Leafs the past two seasons. He has 15 games of post season experience (with Boston) and has 15 playoff points. He's fast and he's shifty but he's going to have to avoid the long stick of Zdeno Chara, his personal nemesis on the Bruins. I think he can do that, and if Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri and JVR can create scoring chances and if James Reimer stands on his head, and if Randy Carlyle can outcoach Claude Julien, the Leafs will win the series in 7 games. That's my pick. Just like 1992-93 when the Leafs beat Detroit in 7, taking the finale on the road in overtime (remember Nik Borschevsky?). Yup, Leafs in 7. It's gonna happen.
As for the Jays, I don't think they can continue allowing John Gibbons to make these managerial miscues. I know the players aren't helping, but you've got to put a lineup together and stick to it for 5 or 6 games. Make a decision on second base and shortstop right now. Between Kawasaki, Bonifacio and Izturis, pick two starters and make one the bench guy. Don't be shifting players around, like last night in the 7th when Gibbons replaced Bonifacio with Kawasaki (I have no idea why). That meant Izturis, who started at shortstop, had to move to second while Kawasaki played short. The first chance they got, they botched a potential double play ball that would've gotten the Jays out of the inning. Then, to compound the problem, Gibbons took lefty Aaron Loup out and brought in Steve Delabar to pitch to Dustin Pedroia. He walked him and then had to face Big Papi with the sacks drunk. Yikes. 3 run double. Sox lead. If Gibbons would've left Loup in to pitch to Pedroia, even if he walked him, you'd have lefty versus lefty, Loup against Ortiz. That would've been a much better matchup, don't you think?
As it is, EE bailed out his manager big time. The 5th deck shot was one thing, but that two-run blast in the 7th to give the Jays the lead for good was some kind of clutch hitting. With Bautista hitting 3rd and EE fourth in the Jays batting order, things will definitely improve. As for the pitching, Brandon Morrow was once again disappointing. He throws way too many pitches out there. Tonight Mark Buehrle needs to show that he's worth all the accolades and the money he's getting. This is where veteran players earn their keep. It's not April anymore, so you can't use that "slow starter" nonsense. You need to get 7 solid innings from Buehrle, and you need to get more than 5 innings out of JA Happ in tomorrow's finale. And by the way, can the pitchers and catchers get their signals straight out there? I've never seen so many visits to the mound to make sure the battery knows what's going on. C'mon. 1 is a fastball, 2 is a curve, 3 is a slider and 4 is the splitter or whatever odd pitch the guy has. It's not that difficult, even though the Jays have made it seem that way. One game at a time Jays fans.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)