June 2009 - Posts
This blog comes to an end today. It started eight years ago, during the Summer of Bonds. Now, my world is changing from baseball to football (new voice of the 49ers), and so it’s a good time for a change.
Talent most often prevails in baseball, thus this season’s NL Central race should be a replay of last year’s tremendous Cubs-Brewers duel. A synopsis of how this race should unfold.
CONTINUED >>
Six weeks ago, the NFL held its draft and no one wanted to pick in the Top 10. Too expensive, they said, were the top choices relative to their impact on a team’s fortunes. Teams actively sought to trade OUT of the top 10 and only one, the Jets, was willing to deal in. Rumor even spread that Detroit might pass on its first pick and choose later in the top 10 simply to reduce the signing bonus owed.
Last week, MLB held its draft and there was no doubt Washington, picking first, would choose Stephen Strasburg even with the cloud overhead of his agent being Scott Boras.
Why? Teams can’t trade picks, raising the question should they be allowed to deal?
After a lot of thought and some wavering, I have settled on no.
CONTINUED >>
The Santa Clara Swim Club has a proud history of producing elite swimmers and hosting a prestigious invitational every June. But they never had a June like this as their online ticket system crashed Saturday, lines to buy tickets snaked around the perimeter fence over an hour before Sunday’s first race, and they were forced to hire two full-time security people.
All because of Michael Phelps. He is swimmer as rock star.
CONTINUED >>
This week Freddy Garcia signed with White Sox, and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez signed with Texas. Both are low-risk minor-league deals. But both struck me in contrast to a visit to the Oakland Coliseum yesterday.
Minnesota was in town and we all know the Twins have thrived with a “home-grown” starting rotation (Francisco Liriano was acquired via trade, but was in Double-A at the time and was developed as a Twin). Oakland has emulated that mode by remaking its rotation around Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill, Vin Mazzaro, and Josh Outman, all of whom spent 2008 in the minors. Add Dallas Braden, a 25-year-old A’s draftee, and Oakland has a young rotation all of its own making.
CONTINUED >>
Is Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal the equal of or superior to the great John McEnroe-Bjorn Borg rivalry?
At present, I answer no, although Federer and Nadal still have time to surpass the now three-decade old battles between the brash New Yorker and stoic Swede.
CONTINUED >>
Roger Federer found his Holy Grail. Through the heavy drizzle and swirling winds of a strange late spring afternoon in Paris, Federer never blinked. Not even when an idiot intruded on the proceedings, approaching Federer on court, and summoning all too many memories of Hamburg 16 years ago.
Actually, there may have one moment when Federer showed nerves, when he bricked a 30-30 forehand volley put-away in the final game.
But that was a minor blip on a masterful day. Robin Soderling played the role of first-time Grand Slam event finalist as many have perfected. He was nervous, and never displayed the level that dominated Rafael Nadal seven days earlier.
CONTINUED >>
The French Open has been filled with high drama, and the final act, Sunday’s men’s singles final, could be the culmination of great tennis theater. Roger Federer seeks to complete a career Grand Slam, and in doing so match Pete Sampras’ record for most majors won (14). Robin Soderling, the No. 23 seed and not even on the radar when this major began, seeks to cap his improbable Roland Garros run with a title.
Federer has never played in a major like this, contesting every game rather than dominating. Rather than hovering above the field, allowing no mortal to challenge, he has been engaged in fierce battles, four times playing from behind to overcome opponents, the best of these efforts coming against Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the semifinals.
CONTINUED >>
Roger Federer’s streaks of reaching 20 consecutive semifinals in Grand Slam events, and the finals of 14 of the last 15 majors, are the tennis equivalent of Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak.
They are a test of both endurance and excellence. We will not live to see another player approach these marks, just as DiMaggio’s streak has had no threat for nearly seven decades.
CONTINUED >>
It struck me when the chair announced “6-1 Soderling” in the fourth-set tiebreak. Rafael Nadal was going down at the French Open. Not to Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or a veteran dirtballer, but to Robin Soderling, a Swede whose only career achievements of note have been indoors.
Nadal losing on clay to an indoor specialist?
CONTINUED >>
