Odd Man Rush Comments http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com Dallas Sports from Dallas Guys Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:02:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Scott McBryde http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2009/06/29/asg-2009-who-you-should-be-voting-for/#comment-20 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:22:43 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2009/06/29/asg-2009-who-you-should-be-voting-for/#comment-20 I did my duty to vote for those that should be in the All Star game. Then I voted for all Texas & Houston players so that should cancel out my good neutral intentions. I did however fail to write in Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens respectively. I did my duty to vote for those that should be in the All Star game. Then I voted for all Texas & Houston players so that should cancel out my good neutral intentions. I did however fail to write in Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens respectively.

]]> by: John http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2009/04/08/rangers-8-indians-5/#comment-19 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:18:16 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2009/04/08/rangers-8-indians-5/#comment-19 I think Saltalamacchia was lightheaded because he carries that name around on the back of his jersey all the time. I think Saltalamacchia was lightheaded because he carries that name around on the back of his jersey all the time.

]]> by: OMR http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2009/03/18/i-love-the-world-baseball-classic/#comment-18 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 02:05:56 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2009/03/18/i-love-the-world-baseball-classic/#comment-18 Interesting, but who else were they supposed to choose to manage? Nobody that's got a major league team right now, that's for sure. Surely baseball has to be reinstated...right? They have room for skateboarding, they should have room for baseball. Interesting, but who else were they supposed to choose to manage? Nobody that’s got a major league team right now, that’s for sure. Surely baseball has to be reinstated…right? They have room for skateboarding, they should have room for baseball.

]]> by: John http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2009/03/18/i-love-the-world-baseball-classic/#comment-17 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:30:22 +0000 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2009/03/18/i-love-the-world-baseball-classic/#comment-17 I really like what Jim Caple has to say on the matter. Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2009/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=4007488 I don't quite know who's to blame here. Is it the big name players who aren't playing? Is it the media for not reporting enough on it? Is it the timing? I mean it has to go up against March Madness, that might be part of it in the U.S. Or is it whoever selected an out of work manager who ended up blowing the whole thing? Regardless of who's fault it is, this does not bode well for baseball coming back as an Olympic sport. I really like what Jim Caple has to say on the matter. Here’s the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2009/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=4007488

I don’t quite know who’s to blame here. Is it the big name players who aren’t playing? Is it the media for not reporting enough on it? Is it the timing? I mean it has to go up against March Madness, that might be part of it in the U.S. Or is it whoever selected an out of work manager who ended up blowing the whole thing? Regardless of who’s fault it is, this does not bode well for baseball coming back as an Olympic sport.

]]> by: Robert http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/07/20/a-fuller-definition-of-sport/#comment-16 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:56:27 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/07/20/a-fuller-definition-of-sport/#comment-16 A new spin on this discussion. I heard someone say today that he doesn't respect sports that can be done better by other animals, like swimming, track, or competitive eating. Three hilarious quotes during this conversation: 1. "Horses suck at basketball." A discussion that ensued about the height advantage a giraffe would enjoy, except for their lack of hand-eye coordination. 2. "Bears would own at competitive eating." 3. When asked about poker, this guy said, "$&*# yeah! You ever seen a tiger take down a pot with suited connectors? That's entertainment!" A new spin on this discussion. I heard someone say today that he doesn’t respect sports that can be done better by other animals, like swimming, track, or competitive eating. Three hilarious quotes during this conversation:

1. “Horses suck at basketball.” A discussion that ensued about the height advantage a giraffe would enjoy, except for their lack of hand-eye coordination.
2. “Bears would own at competitive eating.”
3. When asked about poker, this guy said, “$&*# yeah! You ever seen a tiger take down a pot with suited connectors? That’s entertainment!”

]]> by: Robert http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/08/16/from-a-jerry-crasnick-article-on-espn/#comment-15 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:42:44 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/08/16/from-a-jerry-crasnick-article-on-espn/#comment-15 I know that JD cognitively "gets it." You'd have to be stupid not to understand the situation. What JD lacks is the ability to stick to the plan. Every June or July, the Rangers look at the standings, see that they are 6 or 7 games out of the wild card, and decide to go for it. (There was a much publicized debate between JD and Nolan Ryan about this in June.) Last year was an exception, and the Teixeira deal was a steal, but what did we net for it? A shortstop and a catcher. I would submit to you that we are set at only 4 positions - catcher, second base, shortstop, and now center field. I thought we did great grabbing Kason Gabbard for Eric Gagne, but the problem is that we decide that we want to win now (when we clearly can't) and we call up all of our prospects when they're not ready for the bigs yet and possibly ruin them psychologically or otherwise. Kason Gabbard has helped the big league club, but honestly he should still be in the minors honing his craft, getting ready to make a splash on the scene next year. It's the same song, 108th verse with all of the other prospects. I know that JD cognitively “gets it.” You’d have to be stupid not to understand the situation. What JD lacks is the ability to stick to the plan. Every June or July, the Rangers look at the standings, see that they are 6 or 7 games out of the wild card, and decide to go for it. (There was a much publicized debate between JD and Nolan Ryan about this in June.) Last year was an exception, and the Teixeira deal was a steal, but what did we net for it? A shortstop and a catcher. I would submit to you that we are set at only 4 positions – catcher, second base, shortstop, and now center field. I thought we did great grabbing Kason Gabbard for Eric Gagne, but the problem is that we decide that we want to win now (when we clearly can’t) and we call up all of our prospects when they’re not ready for the bigs yet and possibly ruin them psychologically or otherwise. Kason Gabbard has helped the big league club, but honestly he should still be in the minors honing his craft, getting ready to make a splash on the scene next year. It’s the same song, 108th verse with all of the other prospects.

]]> by: Brian http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/08/16/from-a-jerry-crasnick-article-on-espn/#comment-14 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:54:32 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/08/16/from-a-jerry-crasnick-article-on-espn/#comment-14 It's very fashionable to bash Jon Daniels and label him as a guy who doesn't get it. He's made two horrendous trades that resulted in the loss of two quality arms and an allstar first baseman. But I think Jon Daniels gets it. The Teixieira trade was highway robbery. Then you consider recent big drafts. And as a result, the Rangers are loaded in the minors with tons potential starting pitchers. We need five. We have between 5 and 15 potential all star caliber players. Will all of them pan out? Maybe not, but when you quality quantity it works out. JD gets it. It's just been too long of a road. It’s very fashionable to bash Jon Daniels and label him as a guy who doesn’t get it. He’s made two horrendous trades that resulted in the loss of two quality arms and an allstar first baseman. But I think Jon Daniels gets it. The Teixieira trade was highway robbery. Then you consider recent big drafts. And as a result, the Rangers are loaded in the minors with tons potential starting pitchers. We need five. We have between 5 and 15 potential all star caliber players. Will all of them pan out? Maybe not, but when you quality quantity it works out. JD gets it. It’s just been too long of a road.

]]> by: Brian http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/07/24/catch-22-the-state-of-soccer-in-the-us/#comment-13 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:28:06 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/07/24/catch-22-the-state-of-soccer-in-the-us/#comment-13 Excellent insight, sir. I personally have a hard time getting behind the MLS because the best players in the world play elsewhere, and because the United States doesn't seem to be too interested in expanding its' program. The whole thing just makes me tired. Excellent insight, sir. I personally have a hard time getting behind the MLS because the best players in the world play elsewhere, and because the United States doesn’t seem to be too interested in expanding its’ program. The whole thing just makes me tired.

]]> by: Robert http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/07/16/on-replay-in-baseball/#comment-12 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:08:41 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/07/16/on-replay-in-baseball/#comment-12 After thinking about it for a while, I agree with you, but not for the same reasons. I identify most with your tennis argument, because I can't stand the arbitrary rules that accompany the technology. If the umpire gets the call wrong twice, the player can't challenge it twice? I think the same thing, although to a lesser extent, with football. I also agree with Brian, though, that bad calls aren't what make the game great. Baseball has always been a sport of subjectivity. The strike zone is defined in the rulebook, but it is up to each individual umpire to interpret it. Remember the Questec system? I'm glad that didn't last long. Having said that, the home run is not one of those subjective rules. There is no borderline home run in the same way that there is a borderline strike. IF baseball figures out a foolproof way to impose replay for objective plays only (like the home run), then I am for it. However, the proposed system is far from foolproof, and seems to be nothing more than an umpire replacement. I say have a six-man umpiring crew at all games and don't do replay. After thinking about it for a while, I agree with you, but not for the same reasons. I identify most with your tennis argument, because I can’t stand the arbitrary rules that accompany the technology. If the umpire gets the call wrong twice, the player can’t challenge it twice? I think the same thing, although to a lesser extent, with football. I also agree with Brian, though, that bad calls aren’t what make the game great.

Baseball has always been a sport of subjectivity. The strike zone is defined in the rulebook, but it is up to each individual umpire to interpret it. Remember the Questec system? I’m glad that didn’t last long. Having said that, the home run is not one of those subjective rules. There is no borderline home run in the same way that there is a borderline strike. IF baseball figures out a foolproof way to impose replay for objective plays only (like the home run), then I am for it. However, the proposed system is far from foolproof, and seems to be nothing more than an umpire replacement. I say have a six-man umpiring crew at all games and don’t do replay.

]]> by: Brian http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/07/16/on-replay-in-baseball/#comment-11 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:28:36 +0100 http://oddmanrush.blogsome.com/2008/07/16/on-replay-in-baseball/#comment-11 I see where you're coming from. However, I disagree. If we can make the system perfect to the point where there are no bad calls, it needs to be done. I can't buy into the idea that bad calls are what makes the game great. Bad calls suck. Plain and simple, at least for me. But if this whole replay thing never gets done, then the system we have now will be the best system, and we won't have anything to complain about. I see where you’re coming from. However, I disagree. If we can make the system perfect to the point where there are no bad calls, it needs to be done. I can’t buy into the idea that bad calls are what makes the game great. Bad calls suck. Plain and simple, at least for me. But if this whole replay thing never gets done, then the system we have now will be the best system, and we won’t have anything to complain about.

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