Archive for May, 2006

I’ll bet John Nash is one happy camper today.

Nash won’t return as Blazers’ general manager

The Blazers are so dysfunctional, who in their right mind would want that job?

It occurs to me that The Fan used to get a lot more comments when we were still on Blogspot. Comments have slowed to a trickle since the move to our own domain and the WordPress platform. Don’t know why that is, and don’t have time for serious navel-gazing over it, but just in case it’s not obvious, here’s how easy it is to comment via WordPress on The-Fan.org:

1. First, register to comment here. It’s free and quick.

2. When a password is emailed to you, come back and login here.

3. When you login, you’ll be able to change your password to something much easier to remember. And you can comment to your heart’s content!

Really. It’s that easy. So start commenting. Plus, when I get to the point where I need/want to add new writers, it’ll be much easier to find good people from all the intelligent comments you’ve left.

Watching any baseball in the Metrodome is depressing, but the weekend series the Mariners had was downright ugly. Never have I seen a team play such consistently stupid baseball day after day. The base running mistakes, the stupid bunts and fake bunts, poor managerial decisions (was there any doubt Guardado was going to lose Sunday’s game?) … terrible.

If that wasn’t bad enough … how depressing is this bit from John Hickey in today’s P-I:

The 4-5-6 spots in the lineup — generally first baseman Sexson, DH Carl Everett and third baseman Beltre — went 1-for-11 Monday and have combined for 16 homers, 67 RBIs and a .225 average coming into Monday night.

That is the worst RBI total of any 4-5-6 grouping in either league.

Shoot me now.

Veteran Chicago writer Sam Smith thinks the Bulls should trade for Ray Allen rather than use their No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft. But like just about everyone who ever plays Armchair GM, Smith overvalues the Bulls’ goods and undervalues the Sonics’ goods. Here’s his suggestion:

So here’s the deal, and to me it makes great sense for both teams: The Bulls’ No. 2 pick and a player–probably Michael Sweetney–to Seattle for Ray Allen. Maybe the No. 16 pick, too, if necessary.

That somehow doesn’t seem like enough for Allen, a six-time All-Star and probably the NBA’s best shooter. But the Sonics, who have said they don’t intend to trade Allen, are in financial trouble with a sale or move or both possible.

Please. I don’t know whether or not the Sonics would be inclined to deal Ray Allen, but I think I can say with certainty it’s gonna take more the #2 pick and some guy named Michael Sweetney.

Meanwhile, there’s lots of other N’west hoops stuff in that column, including some comments on the Blazers’ new (and stupid) media policy. Speaking of the Blazers, and the Bulls, and possible trades, over in a separate column, Smith says the Bulls might want to deal for Zach Randolph.

And lastly, as Smith hinted in the Sonics/Allen column, Marlen Garcia says the Bulls may have their eye on UW’s Brandon Roy with that #2 pick in the draft.

As far as readiness, Roy is viewed as the most complete guard in the draft. He’s someone who can help a team right away, which should continue to raise his stock by the time the June 28 draft rolls around in New York.

“He can contribute immediately,” ESPN analyst and former UCLA coach Steve Lavin said of the Pac-10 player of the year. “He’s the readiest at both ends of the court.”

You knew it had to happen. When the worst team in the NBA fails to get the top pick in the draft, the conspiracy theories start popping up. Sam Smith lays it all out before backing off and admitting there’s no conspiracy theory. He’s just having fun, is all.

Oh, yeah, and I see Adam Morrison’s and Brandon Roy’s names mentioned in there, too.

I don’t pay a ton of attention to college baseball, but how is it that I’ve gone the entire season and am only now finding out that the Huskies have a pitcher whom ESPN.com says might be the #1 player taken in the draft next month?

Art Thiel, ever aware that he is being paid to get a reaction from readers no matter what, suggests the Mariners should sign Barry Bonds as DH next season, urging Mariner fans to cheer loudly for baseball’s current freak show when the Giants come to town next month:

“If he makes it to Seattle on June 16, please cast your vocal vote for sports spectacle over conscience.”

Thiel’s main piece of evidence is one Carl Everett. The Everett signing was roundly panned because of Everett’s past behavior, but he’s been “so far, pretty good,” Thiel says.

Here’s a healthy dose of reality for Mr. Thiel: The comparison of Everett’s past behavior and Bonds’ past behavior is apples and oranges. Everett is just an ass. Bonds is a cheater.

I still don’t like seeing Everett wearing a Mariners’ uniform, but when he contributes to a win, I cheer because it’s good for the team. I can watch and root for the Mariners even with Everett on the roster.

If Bonds becomes a Mariner? I’ll stop watching and stop rooting for them. Not kidding.

The OSU Beaver baseball team is having another stellar season. They’re in the Top 10 in four different college baseball polls (do we really need that many?), including Top 5 rankings in the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls.

It’s great to see a new baseball power being born in the N’west….

I like Yuniesky Betancourt. He’s a big upgrade over everyone else the Mariners have put in the 6 spot in the past couple years. As soon as he learns some patience at the plate and how to hit to all fields (see Lopez, Jose), he’ll be a more than adequate hitter for a SS. He’s made some fantastic plays in the field and seems like a sure bet to be on plenty of defensive highlight reels for years to come.

But how can the Mariner broadcasters and studio experts legitimately call him, as they continue to do, “the best defensive shortstop in the American League”? By what measure? What’s the evidence? He may have defensive skills that are comparable with any other A.L. shortstop, but if he’s not making the plays, how can he be the best? Isn’t making plays what matters?

After today’s game, he’s one of nine A.L. shortstops with 5 errors of more. One of nine — that sounds more like “average” than “best in the A.L.” to me. But, Yuniesky has played more games than all nine, so let’s look at fielding percentage. Betancourt is tied for 5th (with Angel Berroa and Michael Young) among regular SSs with a .972 FP. In other words, he’s one of seven with a .972 FP or better. Again, that’s closer to “average” than anything.

You’d think … you’d hope that the M’s broadcasters would see these numbers and dial down on the hype machine. YB has skills, for sure. But he’s not making enough plays to be called “the best defensive shortstop in the American League” at this point. Maybe someday, but not now.

Hysterical list from The Onion.

My fave? Rickey.

Hat tip to Phil for the link….