Comments on: Tuesdays with Smitty: Remembering a Legend & Random Rumblings

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:12:48 +0000

Wally,

Your positive vibes about ND have me tongue-tied. Or should I say – keyboard-tied.

Let’s hope the USC / Ohio St. affair is a much better game than the much-ballyhooed Memphis / Tenn track meet last hoops season.

By: Chas

Chas — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:17:45 +0000

I’m in a bit of a grumpy mood. Maybe I make better arguments that way.

Oh, and, despite the “hype” that I referred to, I’m not saying he doesn’t stand a chance of winning it, just that I don’t think he should.

By: Wally

Wally — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:29:17 +0000

Any predictions on Michigan vs ND? I just got a dose of “enthusi-optimism” … where’d that come from? Strangely, I’m predicting an Irish victory … 24-17. ND is +2 in turnovers to carry the day. (Gotta have some luck to win this game

Wally

By: Wally

Wally — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:24:15 +0000

- On paper, the Ohio St vs USC tilt is “the game of the year”, but I suspect the actual game will be one-sided in SoCal’s favor. The week off to prepare is a huge factor, IMO.

- Re: MVP of the AL … let’s let the final 18 games or so play out. Charles’s argument for Morneau is compelling … the fact the Twins are even in the race is amazing … don’t have nearly the top-to-bottom talent as Boston. Quentin’s absence is killing the ChiSox … they are not hitting the ball with guys on base the last week.

- Manny: He sure is delivering the goods for LAD. I can’t help but think Boston will miss his unflappable, clutch bat in the playoffs. b/t/w … no RedSox player with two title rings will ever be forgotten, esp one who holds several Saux records. The playoffs are all about handling pressure … nobody has risen above the heat better than Manny in this era.

- The AFC is up for grabs, esp given the injuries to key players (Brady, Merriman, etc). I wouldn’t rule out either of their teams, but the race just got more interesting. The Steelers are due … and they have the talent to back it up … so far no injuries here.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:20:32 +0000

Chas
Way to cut to the chase – don’t sugar coat anything.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:09:15 +0000

I may be in the minority here, but I think Justin Morneau is hands-down the AL MVP. Here’s why:

-He’s one of only two good hitters in the Minnesota lineup, and he protects Mauer, so no one protects him.
-He has by far the most RBI of any player on a contending team, and he’s doing this for a team that is average, at best, offensively. Mauer may hit in front of him, but so did Carlos Gomez’s .289 OBP for much of the season.
-One of the arguments I’ve heard against him is that his OPS is considerably lower than some of the other candidates. Well, chew on this, the AL’s top ten in OPS+ (park/league adjusted OPS):

Bradley-TEX (171)
Rodriguez-NYY (160)
Quentin-CHW (149)
Huff-BAL (147)
Morneau-MIN (144)
Youkilis-BOS (143)
Drew-BOS (140)
Hamilton-TEX (139)
Ibanez-SEA (136)
Granderson-DET (136)

3 of the 4 players ahead of him are on non-contenders, and Carlos Quentin is done for the year. And, look at the two players below him…so forget about Dustin Pedroia, especially considering only a few weeks ago, Boston was trumpeting Kevin Youkilis’ candidacy.

The Dustin Pedroia for MVP talk is all hype. The Boston media can give the New York media a run for their money in that department.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:16:40 +0000

Belichik will use this opportunity to make his mark as the greatest coach of all-time.

It’s going to be tough to really erase Manny’s image from the minds of Red Sox Nation. He ranks fifth in Sox history with 274 dingers, 6th with 868 RBI, and 4th in slugging – .588. Oh yeah – he’s got two rings, and the guys ahead of him on those lists have none.

USC / Ohio St.? Yeah I might catch a quarter or two of that game.