An Ill-Advised Holliday?
Tipsheet is skeptical about the Cards’ bid for Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday, who is just one season removed from free agency.
Super agent Scott Boras represents Holliday, so extending his contract will be difficult. Boras will hit financial home runs with Manny Ramriez and Mark Teixeira this off-season and Holliday is a similar talent.
Holliday hit .332 with 23 doubles, 15 homers and 59 RBI at home last season. On the road, he hit .308 with 15 doubles, 10 homers and 29 RBI. Hmmm . . .
“I’m not sure that anyone gives up the necessary package for a one-year Scott Boras client with a big home-road split,” one American League executive told ESPN.com.
Here how SI.com’s Jon Heyman sized up the situation: “Any teams interested in acquiring Holliday understand that they will be getting him for only one year. Several teams have shown interest, including the A’s, Mets and Rays, but so far it appears the Phillies may have the best chance among those teams.”
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while Kenneth Darby learns how to read Alex Barron’s blocks:
- Now that Lee Stempniak finally found the net, will he relax and regain his 25-goal form?
- Can Alex Pietrangelo accomplish enough on the power play to stay in the NHL?
- Will Chris Mason pull himself together and help the Blues’ cause? Or is he will he become the Next Hannu Toivonen in St. Louis?
RAKING THE LEAF
So much for this Ryan Leaf feel-good story. The NFL washout had found second life as a coach, working with quarterbacks and golfers at West Texas A&M.
Leaf resigned both posts after asking a football player to give him pain medication to help him deal with an old NFL wrist injury.
According to the Associated Press: “Canyon police Chief Bobby Griffin says the investigation is in its preliminary stages, but confirmed the allegation was that Leaf obtained a controlled substance by fraudulent means.”
Sad.
CRAZY ATHLETE OF WEEK
Deadspin’s Rick Chandler made this plea: “There has to be some way to get Andre Luis to the U.S., get him in a Dallas Cowboys , , , or better yet, Cincinnati Bengals, uniform, and sit back and watch the fun. Here’s my favorite video of the week so far, which shows the Botafogo defender objecting to receiving a yellow card in the Copa Sudamericana soccer match against Argentina’s Estudiantes in Rio de Janeiro.”
And here is another episode:
SPEAKING OF DRUGS
Chatty Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter wondered why Jaguars receiver Matt Jones was still playing in the NFL while appealing his drug-related suspension. Jones entered a drug treatment program after a summer bust for cocaine possession.
“I don’t even know why he’s even thinking about me,” Jones said. “I mean, maybe he likes other men and sits up and thinks about stuff, so I don’t know . . . Is Joey Porter the commissioner? Then why would I even worry about it?”
WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?
Here are the first two paragraphs of an Arizona Daily Star story:
The day UA coach Lute Olson announced his retirement, his ex-wife threatened the coach’s doctor by placing a sheet ridden with bullet holes in his office, according to a restraining order granted against Christine Olson on Tuesday.
The order was obtained by Dr. Steven D. Knope and signed by judge Susan Bacal, saying Christine Olson was to have no contact of “any sort” with Knope.
Of course, this his a long and twisted story. The Daily Star has the details.
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “What’s worse than being 1-4 in the SEC? The Volunteers just got turned down by the Duke coach. Gladys: Are we out of arsenic?”
Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com: “We can elect an African-American as our country’s 44th president and put not one, but two, exploration rovers on Mars, but we can’t devise a college football playoff system that makes everyone happy?”
Dan Daly, Washington Times: “News item: NBA announces plans to hold the 2010 All-Star Game at the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium. Comment: Not to be outdone, the WWE says it will stage WrestleMania XXVI on Wimbledon’s centre court.”
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Santonio Holmes, Steelers’ wide receiver, is stopped by cops while he’s driving. They find Holmes smoking a cigar with marijuana inside it. Let that be a lesson for you kids: When shopping, make sure you read the list of ingredients on every package. Holmes will probably claim he was using the tobacco and marijuana to cover up the smell of his garlic fries.”
Schultz again: “If Mike Singletary is going to get caught with his pants down, shouldn’t he be playing in the 49ers’ secondary?”
MEGAPHONE
“When you go in with a full deck of cards, everybody in their starting positions, you go in with a lot of energy, high expectations, as we did earlier in the year. It seems like one by one, at different positions, guys have been going down. It’s very unfortunate, but there are two halves to the season.”
Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens.
Horrible loss by the Blues last night. You can’t go ahead twice in the third and give up the tying goal. They skated and played hard last night, and the effort was fanstastic. This team is going to drive me crazy this year. It is obvious that we have some good young talent on this team, and I know it is still raw and underdeveloped, but that is what makes them so frustrating. You know they have skills so it’s hard to see a game like that unfold. One thing to temper my frustration is the sudden explosion of penalties called in the last half of the third period. What the hell was that all about?
Someone better teach Ben Bishop to stay in the goal a little more. I think teams are picking up on that more and more. Nothing wrong with cutting down the angle, but he ends up way out of position if the puck ends up on the side of him.
American Dad wants you all to know he blames the policies of George W Bush for the Blues loss last night.
Good to see that Gordo is skeptical about acquiring Matt Holliday. I thought he was losing it yesterday when he wondered if the Cardinals should take a long look at Brad Penny (”paging Dr. Paletta”).
Typical Cardinals. Let’s see….we need middle infield help and pitching galore but have a surplus of young outfielders. Let’s go after Holliday. Yeah, that’s it. Left fielder that hits about as good as the guys on our team, but will be free agent eligible after one year. That way, the fans think we went out and signed a big named player while doing nothing to fill our needs. Unbelievable. Why do people support this team?
Dill Bewitched asks “why do people support this team”. Well, I can’t speak for everyone but the Cardinals have brought me a lot of enjoyment over the years. I followed the birds since the forties and with an exception of a very few years have seen a competetive organization that always appealed to their fan base. Despite what those like Dill believe, in a baseball world of frequent imperfection, St. Louis has more than their share of success in personal planning.
One thing for certain, Dill, people will continue to support this team as it will most certainly will continue to be competitive and provide their fans with reasons to support. You should understand however, that there is no law saying that you have to be a Cardinal fan. Considering your unhappeness as a card fan, I’m sure the Cubs would welcome Dill Bewitched into their dyfuctional bunch anytime you wanted to go.
Ken says he’s been a Cardinal fan since the 40’s,well I have been a fan that long too. I enjoy the Cards & baseball in general,but some things just don’t make sense.We have an IMPACT HITTER in Ludwick,in fact his power numbers were better than Holliday’s.Ludwick is also a better defensive outfielder.Ask yourself,why did they take Holliday out late in games when they were ahead in the 2007 playoffs.The reason was to get a better defensive outfielder to help hold their lead.Do you think Holliday could be trusted to play center when needed,the answer is no,but Ludwick can. This is just another stupid idea that the Genius came up with,saying we need another IMPACT BAT.If you trade Ludwick you lose one of your IMPACT BATS,and you haven’t gained a thing except unnecessary extra salary.