Golden State needed an overtime last night to beat the Jazz, but a win is a win.
The Wolves lost by 20. Any chance that Minnesota could get Luke Walton to be their coach next season? He did a great job with Golden State this season while Steve Kerr was out. Everybody says how talented these Wolves are, maybe it's the right opportunity for both...
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Twins
The Twins pitching the last week or so in spring training has been fantastic. Sano hit another home run yesterday and his on-base percentage is near .500 for the spring.
The problem? I now have the highest of hopes for the Twins this year. I don't like going into the season this optimistic. It's easier going into the season jaded and then being surprised later. Kind of like the Vikings this past year. When you have expectations, when you have hope, you set yourself up for disappointment.
If Nolasco ever figures out what made him good in the first place, I think the Twins can challenge just about anyone this year. If Sano isn't as horrible as spring training in the outfield, the Twins will be a force.
You see what I mean? That kind of thinking is dangerous. I'm setting us all up for failure and disappointment.
Want something worse? There are major analysts throughout the sports media scene who are telling us it's Byron Buxton, not Sano, who will be the next Bryce Harper or Mike Trout. They all agree that Sano should hit lots and lots of home runs, but it's Buxton who is the great one.
I don't need that kind of pressure.
The problem? I now have the highest of hopes for the Twins this year. I don't like going into the season this optimistic. It's easier going into the season jaded and then being surprised later. Kind of like the Vikings this past year. When you have expectations, when you have hope, you set yourself up for disappointment.
If Nolasco ever figures out what made him good in the first place, I think the Twins can challenge just about anyone this year. If Sano isn't as horrible as spring training in the outfield, the Twins will be a force.
You see what I mean? That kind of thinking is dangerous. I'm setting us all up for failure and disappointment.
Want something worse? There are major analysts throughout the sports media scene who are telling us it's Byron Buxton, not Sano, who will be the next Bryce Harper or Mike Trout. They all agree that Sano should hit lots and lots of home runs, but it's Buxton who is the great one.
I don't need that kind of pressure.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Twins
The Twins decided to keep Oswaldo Arcia and Danny Santana on their final major league roster. They weren't prepared to release either since both were out of options. Carlos Quentin, the former star of the White Sox was granted his release because he did not wish to go to the minors.
Tyler Duffy and Ricky Nolasco are still "battling" (poorly) for that last starting job. Both had awful springs, BUT Nolasco is still owed $25 million over the next two seasons. The Twins would like to use him in the bullpen against he and his agent's wishes. With Duffy stumbling he still might get that fifth spot.
Duffy was asked to work on his change-up this spring, and even though he was great without it last year, he tried and looked just awful doing it. It was assumed Duffy was a lock for a starting job when spring began, but the pitching coach messed him up terribly. Kind of what happened to Phil Hughes last spring.
sigh
Tyler Duffy and Ricky Nolasco are still "battling" (poorly) for that last starting job. Both had awful springs, BUT Nolasco is still owed $25 million over the next two seasons. The Twins would like to use him in the bullpen against he and his agent's wishes. With Duffy stumbling he still might get that fifth spot.
Duffy was asked to work on his change-up this spring, and even though he was great without it last year, he tried and looked just awful doing it. It was assumed Duffy was a lock for a starting job when spring began, but the pitching coach messed him up terribly. Kind of what happened to Phil Hughes last spring.
sigh
Monday, March 28, 2016
A Syracuse-Shaped Monkey Wrench
A number 1, two number 2s and a number 10.
That's the NCAA men's final four. Obviously, I'm rooting for the biggest underdog. So will most of the country, but my point is still valid.
Imagine an NFL playoff where all the wild card teams and division winners earn playoff spots by playing winning football throughout the entire year, and THEN the Detroit Lions are also given a slot and then THEY get hot and win a couple games in a row and find themselves in the NFC Championship game with a chance to go on to and win the Superbowl. Wouldn't you feel that the teams that got beat by Detroit got ripped off? It's not good enough to play great in the playoffs, you had to EARN your spot to get there.
The playoffs are a reward for the best teams. Even having an opportunity to play for the title when you had an average regular season is wrong. That's what March Madness has become, a potential reward for teams who get hot at the end, without having the season to back it up.
On the other hand, the UConn women's basketball team won their elite 8 NCAA tourney game last night by a score of 98-38. UConn is so much better than any other team in women's college basketball that no one can even come close to beating them. They always have their pick of the best girls in high school every year so no one else has a chance. When you're that good you cease to be interesting. You only watch their games hoping they get beat. And after they get a big lead, you stop watching.
I hope UConn gets beat. That won't stop the best girls in the country from going there, though. You're virtually assured of 4 years of championship final games if they accept you.
I prefer the men's current tourney to this situation.
That's the NCAA men's final four. Obviously, I'm rooting for the biggest underdog. So will most of the country, but my point is still valid.
Imagine an NFL playoff where all the wild card teams and division winners earn playoff spots by playing winning football throughout the entire year, and THEN the Detroit Lions are also given a slot and then THEY get hot and win a couple games in a row and find themselves in the NFC Championship game with a chance to go on to and win the Superbowl. Wouldn't you feel that the teams that got beat by Detroit got ripped off? It's not good enough to play great in the playoffs, you had to EARN your spot to get there.
The playoffs are a reward for the best teams. Even having an opportunity to play for the title when you had an average regular season is wrong. That's what March Madness has become, a potential reward for teams who get hot at the end, without having the season to back it up.
On the other hand, the UConn women's basketball team won their elite 8 NCAA tourney game last night by a score of 98-38. UConn is so much better than any other team in women's college basketball that no one can even come close to beating them. They always have their pick of the best girls in high school every year so no one else has a chance. When you're that good you cease to be interesting. You only watch their games hoping they get beat. And after they get a big lead, you stop watching.
I hope UConn gets beat. That won't stop the best girls in the country from going there, though. You're virtually assured of 4 years of championship final games if they accept you.
I prefer the men's current tourney to this situation.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Two Number Ones Fall
But it was to number two seeds, so no biggie. Oregon looked sluggish in the first game.
The second game got off to a really slow start, with the "stars" of both teams having a combined THREE points at half. At least it was close.
Me? I went to bed early last night. We had a big morning of shopping and an afternoon double feature of movies. Batman Vs. Superman was better than critics suggested, (though I understand why most disliked it) The first forty minutes made me dislike both characters immensely. Superman, too quick to jump to conclusions. Batman, too heavy handed, too out of control. These aren't spoilers. They needed a reason to fight. Plot holes? Yes. Way more than needed.
It took two DC universe tales, one by Frank Miller and one by Dan Jurgens, both of which took months to tell, and they combined them into one 2-hour film. It was too much. It was too gritty, too grim, too dark, with too many explosions. They gave us glimpses of future events and dream sequences when they should have concentrated on what was happening now. Come to think of it, maybe I didn't like it that much...
The second movie was the first Captain America film which was on FX. It was so much better than its DC counterpart. It was heroic in every sense of the word. DC should take a step back and figure out how to make their heroes more likable. Even Iron Man, a real jerk, can charm you with his humor. DC forgot the humor. And to fill the plot holes.
The second game got off to a really slow start, with the "stars" of both teams having a combined THREE points at half. At least it was close.
Me? I went to bed early last night. We had a big morning of shopping and an afternoon double feature of movies. Batman Vs. Superman was better than critics suggested, (though I understand why most disliked it) The first forty minutes made me dislike both characters immensely. Superman, too quick to jump to conclusions. Batman, too heavy handed, too out of control. These aren't spoilers. They needed a reason to fight. Plot holes? Yes. Way more than needed.
It took two DC universe tales, one by Frank Miller and one by Dan Jurgens, both of which took months to tell, and they combined them into one 2-hour film. It was too much. It was too gritty, too grim, too dark, with too many explosions. They gave us glimpses of future events and dream sequences when they should have concentrated on what was happening now. Come to think of it, maybe I didn't like it that much...
The second movie was the first Captain America film which was on FX. It was so much better than its DC counterpart. It was heroic in every sense of the word. DC should take a step back and figure out how to make their heroes more likable. Even Iron Man, a real jerk, can charm you with his humor. DC forgot the humor. And to fill the plot holes.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Elite Eight
Syracuse (a 10 seed) and Notre Dame (a 6 seed) are still in it. All the number one seeds are still there, and two number 2s.
In other words 6 of the eight teams projected to be in the elite eight made the elite.
I guess they could have just started with the elite eight.
Too many average teams, too many meaningless games.
The only teams to benefit from the entire tournament? Syracuse and Notre Dame.
Now that they are there, I'm rooting for them. And at least their fans are happy. Upsets are always fun. And them winning is the only way to validate the over-sized tournament at all. I don't expect it, but weirder things have happened.
It's time to start watching.
About watching...
The CBS ratings for Thursday night's games averaged 6.3 million viewers for the entire evening. Their normal Thursday night ratings average close to 9 million viewers. So the last two Thursdays (the basketball tournament ones) are CBS worst two Thursday night ratings of the year, by a large margin. Last Thursday? About 4.5 million viewers for the evening.
In other words 6 of the eight teams projected to be in the elite eight made the elite.
I guess they could have just started with the elite eight.
Too many average teams, too many meaningless games.
The only teams to benefit from the entire tournament? Syracuse and Notre Dame.
Now that they are there, I'm rooting for them. And at least their fans are happy. Upsets are always fun. And them winning is the only way to validate the over-sized tournament at all. I don't expect it, but weirder things have happened.
It's time to start watching.
About watching...
The CBS ratings for Thursday night's games averaged 6.3 million viewers for the entire evening. Their normal Thursday night ratings average close to 9 million viewers. So the last two Thursdays (the basketball tournament ones) are CBS worst two Thursday night ratings of the year, by a large margin. Last Thursday? About 4.5 million viewers for the evening.
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