SF Giants are band of misfits

A million years ago I played softball. We played once a week and sometimes played in tournaments. The tournament team wasn’t always the same one that played at Cobbs Hill every Monday. We would recruit other players and try to put together more of an all star team.

The Florida Marlins that won the 1997 World Series reminded me of a tournament team. They went out and got established players from other teams. Al Leiter, Bobby Bonilla, Darren Daulton, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Brown, Alex Fernanadez, Moises Alou, and Devon White were some of those that came together for a ring.

Fast forward to 2010. The San Francisco Giants are also a team put together of a lot of parts from other teams. But those parts don’t quite look the same as the ones scooped up by the Marlins.

Pat Burrell and Cody Ross were flat out released before being picked up by the Giants. Ross was the NLCS MVP. And the Marlins didn’t want him. Aubrey Huff wasn’t exactly seen as an All Star and leader while toiling for my pathetic Orioles. Freddy Sanchez was discarded by the Pirates. Juan Uribe, who has done nothing but smack big hits this postseason, let go by the White Sox.

What a motley crew. Certainly the Giants have some pedigree players on their roster with catcher Buster Posey and pitchers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. But look at the significant contributions made by the misfits mentioned above.  It’s crazy. It’s also one of the things I love about the World Series.

You never know who the heroes will be. Will the Giants win the Series? I’m not sure. Texas took Game 3 tonight and certainly could come back and win the ring. Regardless though, the Giants are a fascina

Vikings Coach Childress Rips QB Favre

“It is what it is”. One of my favorite sayings.  I’m also a big believer in the serenity prayer. Paraphrasing: change what you can, accept what you can’t change and have the wisdom to know the difference. Is this easier said than done? Yes it is. All right enough with the sayings already.

After the Packers beat the Vikings last night, Vikes coach Brad Childress forgot his note cards that reminded him of these sayings. He proceeded to go out to the parking lot and not only pull the bus into the press conference to run over Brett Favre, but he backed it up and ran him over again.

Childress talked about Favre’s bad decisions leading to three interceptions, leading to points for the Packers in a game that the Vikings lost 28-24. In other words he criticized Favre for, well quite frankly, for being Favre.  

Gee, Favre made risky decisions that led to interceptions. Really? Brad, have you not been watching the last 20 years? This is and always has been who Favre is. The same Favre that you begged to come and quarterback your team each of the last two years. The same Favre that you allowed to come late to camp each of the last two years.  The one you personally picked up at the airport to bring to camp last year, leaving a team meeting to do so.

You didn’t get stuck with Favre, Brad you asked for him. You got exactly what you asked for. I’m not a Favre fan. I think he is a diva and has held teams hostage. But Childress and the Vikings knew this and decided to accept it. And that’s fine. Just don’t complain when he delivers what you asked for.  

SF Giants' Panda: Sandoval lacking in Fundamentals

If she was watching the NLCS, I know that Allison Herholtz rolled her eyes and heard my voice as she watched the Kung Fu Panda fail to get back and cover third for the Giants in Game 5. So did Avery Share, Claire Simizon, and many other girls who played softball on teams I coached. They remember the freeze drill.

The defense would be set and I would hit the ball out of my hand from the plate. Right before hitting it, I would call out the situation. Where runners were and how many outs. The second the fielder touched the ball I yelled freeze. I then proceeded to go player by player and make sure they were in the right place. Then we did it again. And again. And again.  Rule #1? Every base is always covered.

 If the ball isn’t hit to you, then you get to where you should be. As soon as Halladay’s bunt stayed at home plate, Pablo Sandoval should have sprinted back to third base, Freddy Sanchez to second and Aubrey Huff to first. The second they realized the ball wasn’t coming to them. I preached it over and over and over again. Even the catcher. My daughter Emily knew to get out of her crouch and stand ready at the plate, even if the bases were empty and the ball was hit on the ground to first.

If I know that. If Allison, Avery, Claire, Emily and all the other girls know that, then how do major league baseball players not? A few years ago I was watching a game and saw the Royals’ Willie Wilson, one of the fastest men to ever play the game, go half way on a fly ball to the outfield. Why do I bring this up? Because Wilson was on THIRD! Trust me, Allison, Avery, Claire, and Emily would all have had their foot planted on the bag waiting for the ball to touch the glove and then would have scored. Wilson? He jogged back to third when it was caught and then stayed put as the throw came in. He could have walked home had he tagged properly.

Why are fundamentals so bad at the major league level? Good question. The obvious answer is that players are rushed and in the majors too soon. I don’t buy that. 12 year old girls know the fundamentals. I think great players are allowed to get away with relying on their overwhelming talent. As the Panda learned, that can cost you.

Ravens' McClain a shining example

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. We learn more in defeat than in victory.  There is no question that being able to deal with adversity makes us all better people.  I’m in Syracuse and an Orange fan. Yet, I was surprised to find out that former Orange, Jameel McClain was the subject of an ESPN Radio interview that dealt with his going from being homeless to going undrafted to now being a starting linebacker on the best defense in the NFL, the 4-1 Baltimore Ravens.

I heard most of the interview and found McClain to be very well spoken and inspirational. He grew up in a rough area of Philadelphia and became the first person from his family to go to college. He was homeless for a year, but never gave up on his dream of going to college and taking football as far as it would take him. He claims that he knew he was headed to the NFL since the day he came out of his mother’s womb.

I feel like such a slacker and whiner. I’ll readily admit that I haven’t faced near the adversity that McClain has or many other people. And as someone in their mid forties, well late forties, OK OK 52 year old, I do struggle with difficult times, feeling sorry for myself. That I have it so rough.  I don’t.  I know that I am blessed.

As a parent, I know that I want my kids to have great lives. Smooth sailing. No problems. Not only is that not reality, I now realize that the difficulties that I want them to avoid, will end up benefitting them if handled properly. My daughter, Emily, is a senior in high school and preparing her college applications. She wrote her essay on how a bad event in her life ended up turning into a positive.

That event was her fourth concussion towards the end of the JV softball season when she was in 9^th grade. She was scheduled to be called up to varsity for the playoffs and then take over as catcher for the next three years.  That concussion ended her career 2 ½ years ago.

Her essay was terrific as she talked about learning to overcome the symptoms of the concussion that lasted a year and a half. How her junior year saw her get back on honor roll and earn induction into the National  Honor Society. That she realizes she can meet any challenge thrown her way in the future.  An amazing lesson that I learned as a parent. While I certainly am not hoping for tough times for my kids. I do realize that the bigger issue is how they are handled. And once they are, they can end up being a positive.

Patriot's Tom Brady: The 199th pick in the draft?

Nature vs nurture. No, this isn’t going to be about raising children, although any tips for dealing with teens would be greatly appreciated.  I’m wondering about the impact of draft position on the success of a player. Last night the Patriots’  Tom Brady became the fastest quarterback to 100 wins by leading New England over Miami in his 131^st career start.

It seems hard to fathom right now, but at Michigan Brady battled Drew Henson for playing time and was generally not considered as good as Henson. The Patriots drafted Brady in the 6^th round. The rest is history and he may very well be the best draft choice of all time. What impact did his draft position have on his professional career?

Last night Brady played pretty late into the game, considering the Patriot’s throttling of the Dolphins. ESPN’s Ron Jaworski commented that Brady told him he virtually gave back up Brian Hoyer no practice reps. He is the Patriot’s quarterback, it’s his team. Not in a bad way.

3 Super Bowl rings, 3 year contract at $18 million per year, gorgeous wife. Sure sounds like a recipe for letting up. Many would. Not Brady. He still has that fire in his belly to succeed.  Can’t coach that. Is it fueled in part by where he was drafted?

It’s an interesting question. Did Lloyd Carr and the Michigan staff not see it? Please explain to me how the NFL experts picked 198 players before Brady in the 2000 draft. It’s amazing to me that Ryan Leaf, Rick Mirer, Akili Smith, Jamarcus Russell and Matt Leinart just to name a few were all drafted in the top ten.  I know that talent comes into play here, but I do wonder if along with a high draft position comes a sense of entitlement. What role does that and a fat contract play in the amount of fire in the belly of a player?

Griese, Singleton, McRae, Perez et al..... What does it mean?

Americans love lists. Rankings. Polls. Well you know what, I came up with a list and I don’t think I’m too fond of it.

It started with Brian Griese. Yeah that got me thinking. Damn, I hate when that happens. Chris Singleton. Brian McRae. Eduardo Perez. TV sports analysts? Oh no, that would be too simple. Brett Boone. Aaron Boone. For all I know, Daniel freaking Boone!

Ok, ok take Daniel Boone off the list. David Bell. Ken Griffey Jr. Jalen Rose. There, I’m done. Well actually I’m not sure, I’ve just given up thinking about anyone else who might make this list.

You know these are all former professional athletes. I guess all baseball players except for Griese and Rose. Not sure what that means.  

Fine, I’ll tell you what it is. I’m really old, that’s what it’s about!! I told you these are former professional athletes. All have retired from their sport. What they have in common is that I remember their fathers playing!

Players that I remember have had their sons play and RETIRE! I know that players “retire” from their sport in their late 30’s and even in their 40’s, but it’s still a shocking realization to come to. It just doesn’t seem possible to me.

How is it possible that my “baby” is 14 and in high school? It’s shocking to see those around you aging, when you don’t think  you are. Fine, I am. I hate lists.