The 2011 journey for the Boston Red Sox, from World Series penciled-ins to bust is almost complete (Think I don't have a good feeling about tonight?). There is one game remaining in the regular season. The Red Sox still have a mathematical chance to get into the playoffs and there is a very good chance there could be a playoff game between Boston and the Tampa Bay rays tomorrow if neither of the two teams are able to clinch tonight.
The starting pitching for the Red Sox has been terrible (insert John Lackey line here). I have no idea how many chances Tim Wakefield got for his 200th career win. Things have gotten so bad the Red Sox are considering a trade should a 163rd game be necessary. Right now reports from foxsports.com are centering around Bruce Chen, a lefty for the Kansas City Royals whose numbers (12-8, 3.98) whose numbers aren't spectacular. his wins would tie him for third on the Red Sox with Lackey and his ERA would actually be in the top 10 of the staff, not figuring having enough innings to qualify.
For all we know, Chen could help the Red Sox. His pitching could give other starters as well as the bullpen a rest. That is not the point. The point is the 2011 season is a lost cause. the Red Sox had time after chance after oppurtunity to wrap up the division, let alone clinch the Wild Card. They went from Major League Powerhouse to swooning choke artists.
This deal is bad for the team in so many ways. Chen is a free agent after the season. the Royals, perenial "Have Nots" when discussing the finances and economics of Major League Baseball, will be looking for cheap Major League talent that usually comes in the form of triple A prospects who are not far from being ready for the Bigs. The Red Sox will be giving up good minor league prospects for the ultimate example of a Rent-A-Player. This makes no sense for a team that stopped looking like a playoff contender at the end of last month.
It would be tempting to look at the standings and the schedule and the tribulations that the 2011 Boston Red Sox pitching staff has faced and say, "Let's do this deal." The harsh reality is, if they do make the playoffs, they will be dead on arrival. Chen could be gone and the Red Sox will have lost players that could have been useful cogs for the team down the road.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Bases Loaded
I have been playing video games for over 20 years. Most of what I play are sports games. I like the idea of being able to "own" a team. Build it into a contender, draft, sign free agents and win the championship.
Doing this with video games is a relatively new thing. The first games I owned allowed you to make trades, release players, and sign players from a limited pool of free agents. The closest you could actually get to a "draft" was creating a player and customizing him (sometimes even "her") by adding to attributes from a limited number of points allotted to you. This person was placed in the free agent pool and you could sign the player on your way to a championship season.
Thankfully, there are a number of websites today that allow you to relive those glory days. My favorite websites are arcadecow.com and nintendo8.com. These websites allow me to play two of my favorite old school sports games from the original Nintendo system. Nintendo8 features a game called Baseball Stars. This game allowed you to fire and sign players. You could even create players. You won money with every game you won. This money went to improving your players and signing free agents. If you wanted, you could even have girls play for your team. You could play a customized season and the Nintendo would calculate and record stats for you.
Another game I love to play is a game that I call the best baseball game not to be licensed by Major League Baseball. Bases Loaded is a game that features 12 fictitious teams. You play through a 163 game season. I love playing this game. The graphics and gameplay is a little primitive by today's standards but I loved playing it when I was a kid and I still love it. I have been looking for a website that has Bases Loaded 2. If anyone knows where I can find it. Please let me know.
If you own a Wii, you can go to the Wii Shop Channel, click on the "Virtual Console" and buy oloder games to play on your Wii console.
Doing this with video games is a relatively new thing. The first games I owned allowed you to make trades, release players, and sign players from a limited pool of free agents. The closest you could actually get to a "draft" was creating a player and customizing him (sometimes even "her") by adding to attributes from a limited number of points allotted to you. This person was placed in the free agent pool and you could sign the player on your way to a championship season.
Thankfully, there are a number of websites today that allow you to relive those glory days. My favorite websites are arcadecow.com and nintendo8.com. These websites allow me to play two of my favorite old school sports games from the original Nintendo system. Nintendo8 features a game called Baseball Stars. This game allowed you to fire and sign players. You could even create players. You won money with every game you won. This money went to improving your players and signing free agents. If you wanted, you could even have girls play for your team. You could play a customized season and the Nintendo would calculate and record stats for you.
Another game I love to play is a game that I call the best baseball game not to be licensed by Major League Baseball. Bases Loaded is a game that features 12 fictitious teams. You play through a 163 game season. I love playing this game. The graphics and gameplay is a little primitive by today's standards but I loved playing it when I was a kid and I still love it. I have been looking for a website that has Bases Loaded 2. If anyone knows where I can find it. Please let me know.
If you own a Wii, you can go to the Wii Shop Channel, click on the "Virtual Console" and buy oloder games to play on your Wii console.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
NFL Kickoff Returns
Another NFL season is beginning as I write this. Although I was confident there would be no work stoppage for the most popular professional sport on American television, I am glad the season commenced with little delay.
I was unhappy with one change in the rules. The change regarding kickoffs. Kickoffs this year will be from the 35-yard line. This is a move up from the 30-yard line, from where the ball has been kicked since the 1994 season.
The reason for the move was because of a concern for the safety of the players. Many people in the league are citing the kick return as the one play or situation where players are the most susceptible to injury.
Some people, including me, are sorry to see this rule change. While I applaud the NFL for looking out for the welfare of its players, I believe the return is one of the most exciting plays in football. Moving the ball up to the 35 gives an advantage to the kicking team. It makes it almost automatic that a team will begin at its own 20.
The kickoff return not only provides excitement for the fans and the players but it also gives a team a chance to establish field position. The return can make for an interesting game.
I was unhappy with one change in the rules. The change regarding kickoffs. Kickoffs this year will be from the 35-yard line. This is a move up from the 30-yard line, from where the ball has been kicked since the 1994 season.
The reason for the move was because of a concern for the safety of the players. Many people in the league are citing the kick return as the one play or situation where players are the most susceptible to injury.
Some people, including me, are sorry to see this rule change. While I applaud the NFL for looking out for the welfare of its players, I believe the return is one of the most exciting plays in football. Moving the ball up to the 35 gives an advantage to the kicking team. It makes it almost automatic that a team will begin at its own 20.
The kickoff return not only provides excitement for the fans and the players but it also gives a team a chance to establish field position. The return can make for an interesting game.
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