Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The Chalk Talk

How about some sports talk? The kind of stuff that doesn’t really matter in the Grand Scheme of things, but can still pass the time in an enjoyably adversarial way. At least for some of us. . I’m a huge Mets fan, been so all my life. And I carry on the NY tradition of choosing one of the NY teams and generally despising the other. When you hear a NY sports fan say “I root for both teams”, (Mets/ Yankees, Giants/Jets, Rangers/Islanders) you know they really don’t root for any team, they just want to hop on the hot team, or are too namby-pamby to make a choice and stick with it. Any real NY sports fan will back me on this.

I think the Mets have a serious problem whether or not Carlos Delgado’s injury is short or long term. Even if he’s back in the line up quickly, he’s going to be playing with some discomfort because at his age the body just doesn’t heal as completely as quickly as it did when it was only 25 years old. And Delgado’s importance to the Mets was shown last year when he had a dreadful season for the first three months or so (and not coincidentally so did the entire club) then got hot as Hades the rest of the way. And you know the ending to this story. I believe he’ll be diminished the rest of the way and that is beddy, beddy bad as an ex-Met used to say. And if the injury is long term toss in a few more beddys. So, do the Mets have anyone on the bench to at least spell Delgado more than usual? No. I think the Mets have got to reach into the Wilpon coffers and get a proven 1B to be the everyday starter and use Delgado (if possible) to spell the new guy. The good thing for the Mets is right now there are a number of good 1B’s who could be had without moving into luxury tax land. My personal choice – Nick Johnson of the Nationals. Washington is awful and looking to jump start the rebuilding by trimming the payroll by dumping a few expensive vets. Johnson fits the bill. He’s in his walk year and is making 5.5 million. If Delgado looks good by year's end the Mets can let Johnson walk. If Delgado starts looking his age the Mets can re-sign Johnson or try to. It’s up to GM Omar Minaya, and the health of the Wilpon balance sheet.

There are reports all over the place that the Hamlet-of-Hattiesburg, Brett Favre is going to have surgery on a tendon in his throwing arm. After last season, when Favre had a big drop off in performance after Thanksgiving until the season was over, it was revealed that he was playing hurt. The upcoming surgery will “release” the tendon, which in orthopaedic speech means cutting the tendon through. Expected to perform the surgery is Dr. James Andrews, probably the most well known name in sports medicine. Andrews has said recovery will take 6 to 8 weeks. As the rest of the story goes, Favre will then sign with the Vikings. So Brett finally gets what he wants, a shot to beat Green Bay, at Lambeau Field. Every employee who feels that he has be discarded unjustly, inside somewhere, wants to get a little payback on his former boss. And Favre is no less human than any of us. How many examples are there across professional sports of fine accomplished athletes who stay on too long. Even though Favre and the Jets were having a decent season before he got hurt, in first place in the AFC East for a few games, he wasn’t the Brett Favre of his prime (who could be?) or even the Brett Favre of 2008. I guess it just a desire to have the last word. The Vikings are solid on defense, and on offense Adrian Petersen is in anybody’s top 2 backs in the league, plus the receivers are talented and the offensive line is better than Favre had with the Jets. But I don’t see Minnesota making a deep playoff run. If Chicago surprises, and Jay Cutler makes their offense his, and if Aaron Rodgers has a better year as a sophomore starter in Gree Bay, the Vikings may not even reach the postseason. But the NFL is a place where almost any team can catch fire and have a terrific run of success. At some point Minnesota is going to have to fish or cut bait regarding Tavaris Jackson’s ability to lead the team through a full season. Signing Favre allows them to dodge the issue for another year. If the 40 year old can stay upright.

The ESPN booth for the 2009 Monday Night Football schedule is getting a lineup change. Jon Gruden will replace Tony Kornheiser. Kornheiser stepped down because he has a well known fear of flying and after looking at the MNF slate, he was looking for ways to “extricate” himself.. I was so-so on Tony K. The TV show he hosts with Mike Wilbon,Pardon the Interruption,is okay with me in small doses, but I didn’t think he added much to MNF. I did see John Gruden on somebody’s draft coverage and wasn’t impressed. But he’s owed the benefit of the doubt. He’s smart and certainly knows the game. As a coach I thought he knew how to turn a phrase. We will see.

10 comments:

DonnieBallgame said...

The Mets are pond scum. Always have been. Always will be. The last two season make me smile everytime I think about the el-foldo's. Yankees rule!!!!!!!!!

Auguste Ballz said...

Hello Friends, I'm Marlin Perkins, Welcome to Internet Wild Kingdom. Today, we've got something exciting to show you. A new species of a smelly family of animals. Look up and take a look at....The Sports Troll! As with all trolls, when you come upon them, remember Never Feed The Trolls! Unless you've got pie handy.

Gil Hodges said...

Delgado's going to have the hip operated on. The Mets better get moving on getting somebody fast.

Flushing Meadows said...

Maybe Konerko (White Sox) or Helton (Colorado)? I don't either of them is a free agent at the end of the season.

Auguste Ballz said...

Delgado has undergone the surgery and it was successful. So getting a new 1B is going to happen. I don't think it should be an AL guy (Konerko or the Orioles guy name escapes me) I still like my first choice.

Auguste Ballz said...

Because an AL guys will take a while to learn the NL pitchers. Forgot to mention that. Sorry.

LOL in the Bronx said...

I've got the soultion for the Amazin's, go get Julio Franco! He's only what 67 or so by now? 40 games in, and we can bury the Mets.

Auguste Ballz said...

Franco's unavailable. he doesn't want to screw up his Social Security checks by having additional income. By the way Laughing Boy, the Yanks ain't exactly cock of the walk in the AL East. Buon appetite!

patti said...

i don't follow anything but college football. i always thought baseball was for playing more so than watching, so i'll let the experts wax on...

Auguste Ballz said...

patti, for lots of reasons baseball is probably more talked about than any other sport. In a 162 game season, you've got to do something besides eating hot dogs. :) And baseball fans will throw statistics back and forth like tennis balls at Wimbeldon. And don't ever get a baseball fan started on the infield fly rule. Baseball parks were the first public chat rooms. And like you, I'm a football fan more than baseball. Glad you moseyed back.

Post a Comment