Miscellaneous Ramblings

I know, it's been far too long since my last DITr posting, but my energy level has been pretty low lately and I haven't had much motivation to write. So, here are some of my most recent thoughts.

Awhile back I mentioned that the two days I look forward to the most once the World Series is over were the first day of spring training and the day the new Lahman database is released. The 2005 database was released a few weeks ago. The first query I always run is to get the career batting totals for the rox. Helton is the franchise leader in hits and doubles, while Walker is the leader in home runs, rbi, runs and games. Helton, Walker, Castilla, Bichette and Galarraga make up the top five in all of these categories. If you enjoy statistics and know how to use MS Access, then you can have a lot of fun with this database. In the four years I've had it, I've only scratched the surface on what information it has. You can download the database for free at www.baseball1.com.

I have to admit, there isn't a single thing I like about any of the other teams in the NL West and when they make improvements it really chaps my hide. Even with that said, it doesn't make any sense what the snakes(Diamondbacks) are doing. Earlier this year, new managing partner Ken Kendrick met with MLB officials to plead with them to forgive their $80 million loan or they might have to declare bankruptcy. With $55 million in deferred payments due in 2005 alone and debt currently at $100 million, they signed Troy Glaus for 4 years/$45 million and Russ Ortiz for 4 years/$33 million. All of this in the face of Selig's supposed tough stance on enforcing a debt/equity level that Arizona is in violation of.

For every player that says "it's not about the money" there is a player like Charles Johnson that proves it IS about the money. Given the opportunity to be traded to a team where he will actually play, he demanded another guaranteed year be added to his contract to approve the trade. The two teams that were interested pulled their offers and now CJ will ride the pine with the rox and take up a spot on their roster until he is eventually released.

My pick for the most exciting bowl game this year: Liberty Bowl, Louisville vs. Boise St. on December 31. Louisville ranked first in the country in scoring at 50.3 points per game and Boise St. was second at 49.7. The two teams combined to average more than 1040 yards of offense this season.

This was the first time in history that two teams had teammates that were finalists for the Heisman Trophy. It seems fitting that those two teams will be playing for the national championship. In my opinion, there is no BCS controversy this year.

This is from the "Comes back to haunt old team" category. In order to stay in the hunt for the AFC West title, Denver needed to win and San Diego to lose. San Diego was in a dog fight with Tampa Bay, the game tied until SD intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The quarterback who threw the interception: Brian Griese.

Why is it that athletes are routinely criticized for getting paid so much money to "play a game" when other entertainers seem to be largely exempt from the same criticizm? I saw recently that Barry Manilow signed a deal with a Las Vegas casino to perform 365 shows for $55 million. This was the richest contract since Elton John's $50 million deal for 75 shows.

Approximately 61 days until spring training.