LSU's Lack Of Player Respect, Costing A National Title

LSU Tiger Football just took a huge hit today (pun intended), and a bit earlier in the week. It is official, LSU Tiger quarterback Jordan Jefferson and starting linebacker Josh Johns. Also, adding in the suspended and multi-talented Russell Shepard (think Dexter McCluster, the tandem brother combo at Oregon State (last year), or even Tyrell Pryor). These three players, all hammered, and justifiably so, by the NCAA and the LSU school, have not only jeopardized their own futures, but they just dashed the hopes of a National Championship, for sixty-five (plus) other teammates. Jefferson and Johns were both charged with 2nd degree battery, and both players bailed out on $5,000 bond. Though, Jefferson found out thru a text message/tweet, that he was wanted by the law, and he did walk in on his own, this is something that made Les Miles and the Tiger Staff to take action, suspending both players from all football activity indefinately.

LSU football will survive. They already have a quarterback (thought without the talent of Jefferson), in Jared Lee, in the wings who can fill in to the position. The second string quarterback, is a transfer, who just got to LSU in January, and the coaching staff had already admitted, that he was at least a year away, "though his arm strength is ready now." Johns, the linebacker, was just a back-up linebacker, but he has the same 2nd degree battery charge behind his name. However, the loss of Jefferson and Shepard, from the number four team in the land, is more than the Tigers and Les Miles can afford. The lack of respect of the institution (giving these players, OVER other deserving applicants), lack of respect for the law and the recipient of the "battery" (details are sketchy on who got hit and what went on, for sure), and then the lack of respect for themselves and their "teammates", it begs to question on whether Jefferson (especially), desierves another chance (after constant and other troubles with people in the law and life, counting 4 instances, to date, that are known). Especially, with (#4) Tigers versus (#3) Oregon Ducks (some think is the best team in the land), rolling into town on opening weekend. This game should be a precursor of things to come and the only question left:

Can LSU even make a bowl game this year, or do you start rebuilding, now?

Copyright. DMAN @ TheThoughtSpigot.Com
http://www.thethoughtspigot.com/

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Why Viking Are 1-2 & Good NFL Teams Are Down, Chiefs 3-0

The Chiefs 3-0, Vikings 1-2, Why Good Teams Are Diving

Living in the Midwest has it's drawbacks, but it also has it wonderful perks, as well. As a rule, people who follow sports, live and die with the team around their city, and even if they are not fans, they love to follow and bash them (See: K. C. Royals, Chiefs, Cleveland Indians, Browns, Denver Nuggets, etc..etc...). Hence, this article was born. Sports is not just a bunch of gifted and "bigger" than the normal people, with skills, and those skills propel them to win (See: K. C. Royals in '85, Cardinals '83, N. Y. Jets '09, Boise State, the last three years). Hence, the term/saying, "There is no "I" in "TEAM." These are team sports, and there are several reasons why a team, like the K. C. Chiefs (this year) are 3-0, while Bret Favre's Vikings are 1-2 (with their win, over Detroit, who's RB was hurt the second half and their #1 draft pick, last year, is done for the year). Kansas City should go 10-6 this year, while the Vikings should go 9-7. K. C. will get a wild card seat, and Minnesota will just miss the playoffs.Regardless of team sport, the only way they will win year in and out (Patriots, Lakers, Devil Rays, Jayhawks) is thru playing as a team and as individuals, knowing your role and shutting your mouth. Sticking with the Chiefs and Vikings, as the rule/example, this is glaring right now. For the Vikings, they have Sidney Rice (http://sidneyrice.com/) out for the first half of the season, Brett Favre is not healthy, and the Defense (Jared Allen) are playing as individuals, period.

The Minnesota Vikings (http://minnesotavikings.com/) were one game away from the Super Bowl, last year, but that was last year. The Chiefs (http://kansascitychiefs.com/) were not good last year and were not picked above the Chargers (who they beat in the opening game) and Denver, much less having a 3-0 start. The Chiefs, unlike the Vikings, players know their roles, as of now. Dexter McCluster, one of the Chiefs top picks, out of Mississippi, this year is serving as a fast slot receiver, running back, special teams return guy, and he gives 100% every snap. Matt Cassel, unlike Favre (http://brettfavre.com/) who should not have come back this year, is making the short passes, not turning the ball over and is making a big play when he has it (42 yard strike to Bowe) and also checks down/throws the swing pass/looks for 2nd and 3rd options. The stats from week three games, of both the Chiefs and Vikings, tells the story of the two QB's, right now:Favre 23 of 34, 231 yards, 1 TD, 2 int's Cassel 16/27 251 yards, 3 TD's, 1 IntAnother example of the difference from the Chiefs and Vikings, is they are not playing like every play is their last play.

Football is truly a "game of inches." Read anything you can on Vince Lombardi (http://vincelombardi.com/), as he showed and coached every game, getting his team to buy into that kind of a mind set. The Chiefs are not playing every down this way, and it is truly because (my opinion), the days (for most players) of playing every down, play, pitch like it is your last, are over. Money and attitude has crept into ALL major league games, and into the colleges, giving coaches a harder time to pick the best players. Even in the interviews, OTA's, and all the tests they test players on, before drafting them, coaches and general managers choose players, as best they can. The Chiefs have a very young team, while the Vikings are made up of mostly veterans. The Chiefs are playing hungry, while the Vikings look like they are playing for themselves, stats and the "highlight play." With the exception of Adrian Peterson (http://adrianpeterson.com/) Shiancoe (TE) and E. J. Henderson (LB), as of now, are the only players who would "fit" on the Chiefs roster. This is due to age (Favre, Berrian), superstar attitudes (Allen), and poor execution and blaming others, after. The Chiefs being young and led by a quarterback not 100% tested (Matt Cassel, out for the whole season last year) they have a handful of plays a game, like the Vikings have, more than half the time. However, the Chiefs are playing hard, are winning in any way they can, and all the players are playing for time, for the win, but most importantly for the WIN. They are not "phoning in the win," like the Vikings look like this year (or the Saints looked like, last Sunday Night, week 3, who also, lost).

Last, the reason the Chiefs are a playoff team and the Vikings are not, is the Vikings have not made the choices, draft picks and trades to retool their team, but the Chiefs have. The Chiefs, grant it because they have struggled for a while, so they have had higher draft picks, have made the deals (Cassel, Thomas Jones, Chris Chambers), trades (getting rid of Jared Allen, for high picks and cash), and they have built the team thru the drafts and from the defensive side of the ball (Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, Eric Berry, etc..etc..). Yet, they have also made good on their late draft picks and the "signings" (meaning the team didn't draft the player, but every other team passed on them, and they picked them up in the supplemental draft, or just signed them as a free agent). In the third round, the Chiefs picked up tight end, Tony Meoaki, from Iowa in the third round. He is in the top five of statistics for all tight ends in the NFL, as a rookie, and wasn't "hugely" touted, coming out of college (at least not to the extent he is playing). Eric Berry, safety, is playing like his job is on the line, not like the number one pick of the Chiefs, who will play either way. This attitude comes from the coach, period. Everything starts from day one, with a coach who either gets it, knows his players (which ones to coddle, which ones to hammer, and those to leave alone, as they know what they did wrong, and those to praise). Todd Haley, the Chief's head coach, is doing a great job, in leading a team of first thru fourth year players. While, Viking's head coach, Brad Childress, has reigned in Brett Favre and the options he has at the line. A man who has not missed a game, since he started his first game in the NFL (http://nfl.com/), now has a leash on him? His nickname, the gunslinger, now has his guns put in his holsters? All this, after almost going to the Super Bowl, last year. Is this good coaching, while Jared Allen is celebrating "assist tackles," with his patented celebration?

I could write a novel on just these two teams, so I will end this with just three examples. However, when the Chiefs are in the playoffs, and the Vikings are at home for them, Favre retires, the Vikings have to have two to three years of "rebuilding" and the Chiefs start reloading, don't say that nobody spoke up, or had any idea. This did not just come out of the blue skies. All this and I am a Rams fan, and can't stand the Chiefs.

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1st Place Royals, Still Need To Focus On Future

Copyright. "The Thought Spigot"

" http:www.TheThoughtSpigot.Com "

The first month has come and gone, in Major League Baseball. Along with some great individual efforts (Zack Grienke, Carlos Quentin, Kemp, six stolen bases in a game, by Carl Crawford, and the list goes on and on) and major surprises in some teams records (Kansas City Royals, Seattle, & Toronto in 1st place in the A. L. and the Yankees, Angels, and D-Rays are looking up). There is some great young talent to emerge and solid veterans (like Michael Young) putting up great numbers, where some of the "superstars" (Ryan Howard, Mark Teixiera) who are not worth their salt, at the moment. However, one month into the season, there is not any person (aside from Peter Gammons), who can tell what is going to happen, who will win post season awards, and the World Series winner, so there is only two things ball clubs should be looking at: (1) winning each series (for record and winning their division) and (2) building a great ball club.

Focusing on the second, as the first point (winning each series), is self-explanatory. If a team wins two of three games, or three of four games, they will end with a record of around .700-.750, which will win any division. Therefore, the focus should be on creating and building, from farm system to the "big club." The Oakland A's, have been a staple, with Billy Beane at the helm. Beane, the A's G. M., has become a baseball team building phenom, on a general team salary of "small market team" (Royals, Twins, Brewers, teams who can't have a $200 million pay roll, like the Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox). The formula was keeping their own farm system, cultivating all stops in the major leagues, and signing those guys to longer contracts for middle money. Through the late 1990's-2004, the A's and Beane, brought up pitchers from their own system (Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder) and position players (Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, & Miguel Tejada). They held onto these players, long enough for an impact and their second contract to expire, before they dealt them and became less than their previous selves.

The Royals, in 2009, they should be building for the future, not reveling in today. They have a solid nucleus, of complete farm and draft picks (Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Zack Grienke, Joakim Soria and David Dejesus), all who make under $3.75 million a year. The pick up of Gil Meche, Jose Guillen, and others are stop gaps, and that alone. Look at Mark Grudzelaniak, last years Royals second baseman (soon to be Jose Guillen and Gil Meche next year), is gone in favor of Willie Bloomquist and Albert Callaspo. As it stands, the additions of Mike Jacobs and Willie Bloomquist are not the cornerstones of a playoff team. They are mediocre players, who have a handful of years left.

Therefore, what is the difference between the Royals of today and the A's of the late 90's? Commitment, value of the dollar based on the player being considered, and the fact the Royals (and other teams) can't evaluate and pull the trigger to sign their farm/minor league picks to longer term deals (in the 4-6 year range, after the original draft contract is over). The Royals have to find a way, not only to pay (Gordon, Butler, Soria, Grienke and maybe Callaspo), plus enhance a line up with players who are not past (within 1-2 years) their prime and are assets for 3-5 years. These 3-5 year enhancement players have to be like Coco Crisp (who will steal 25-30 bases, hit .275, and lead off for 4-6 years, if the Royals can do the right thing). They also need to do a better job with the "Rule 5" draft players, free agents in the $5-9 million a year range, and finally David Glass and the "Front Office" must open their wallets. The Royals have made excellent strides with their drafts, but they must focus on signing their big players first, while continuing to add on, with some mid-level talent (especially starting and relief pitching).

This year it is great for the Royals to be in first place, after over a month of baseball. Yet, Royals fans and the people Kansas City need to look to the next three years, not this year. This year the Royals are a .450-.475 winning percentage team, at best. This is not good enough for first place in the Central Division, and they will not sniff the "Wild Card," as the East will have the wild card pick. In three years, the Royals could not only be a cellar dwelling team, but they will have one of these top players left, after free agency and teams picking the Royals apart. Gordon, Butler, Dejesus, Soria, Grienke, Callaspo, Aviles, and even Jose Guillen and Meche will be gone. Outside of the box thinking, for the future, and just a little bit more cash out of David Glass' wallet, will be the only thing to save the Royals. They have no Billy Beane and they continue to lose farm talent, to teams who will pay. Continuing to leave the Royals, every five to seven years, on the brink of going to the top of the Central and being a basement team.

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CoCo Crisp, Over "Sentimentality" & Rookies.....

Copyright. "The Thought Spigot" http://thethoughtspigot.com/ Where a lot of fantasy baseball players go wrong, is drafting/playing rookies and using the "sentimentality players" (name recognition) rather than going with players with 2-3 years experience, or a player just past his prime. Players like Chris Carpenter (who is a great talent, when healthy, but when comes at a price), Troy Glaus, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, Dmitri Young, Jose Guillen, are all sentimental picks, or picks which may have been solid just a year/two ago, but are now players which should be stayed away from, with every fiber of your being. Cameron Mayebin, David Murphy (Texas), Matt LaPorte (Indians) & David Price (D-Rays), are all going to be good to great players, but they are not going to get a chance to contribute (absent injury), until half the season is gone, to maybe even September.

Where the first players are to stay away from at all cost, even as spot starters, there are plenty of options where people will allow you to keep the solid players you have and go get some players to produce (in case of injury, a bad draft, or something else unforseen). Let's just say, you do not take Glavine, Hampton and Guillen, who would be a great substitute and everyday player? How about these three, are still in most leagues Jeremy Guthrie (SP-Orioles Opening Day Starter, threw 200+ innings and under 4.00 ERA), Gil Meche (who is often overlooked for Grienke, but another 200 inning guy, at the end of his prime), and/or Jason Marquis, Braden Looper (two other guys who play for winning teams, will thro 175+ innings and will get you stats). They are not Clemens/Smoltz, in their primes, but they do get enough stats (definitely more, over rookies).

The "Love of Rookies" is something long lived in Fantasy Sports, probably because guys want to "get the next great thing/be the first." However, how many rookies, true rookies, actually come in and make a huge impact, or enough of an impact to validate taking of a spot (for 1/2 a years worth of stats)? No very many, are there, let me keep you from checking. Rookie and players who have less than two full seasons, under their belt, are not worth saving spots for, as a rule, when you can go out and get some good waiver talent. (The only reason to commit to a rookie, this early, is if he is coming out of AAA/AA ball, raised up, rather than kept up, after spring training. Thinking "whole seasons stats" (rather than you loving "your man"/"you wanting to pick up A-Rod/K-Rod, before the A.S. Break), in fantasy sports, you have to get the most points out of each slot. "CoCo Crisp" is the example for the whole year, and why he is.

Crisp lost his slot in Boston, where he was completely uncomfortable (after a couple of shaky plays in the outfield) at Fenway, to the Kansas City Royals. First plus, is Coco does not feel the need to go out and win everyday, he can just go any play. He will be given the green light to steal, bunt and play his outfield, with the newly renovated Kauffman Stadium (a traditional medium size park, without any wall jags/jets out). Most of all, he is going to play every single day in center field, in a park that is rain out friendly (arti-turf), and is not to hot in the summer, but doesn't cost you/him games in the spring and fall.

So, instead of Camerin Maybin, Matt Laporta, and Matt Joyce giving you a 1/2 to 3/4 season, hitting .260'ish, 20-25 HR, 5-10 steals, and noting much else. Crisp will get a team, 500 AB's, .270-.290 Avg., 10 HR's, 55-70 RBI's and 25-30 Steals. It is pretty obvious why a Coco Crisp, David Murphy (once it heats up in Texas, and the ball starts to carry), Ryan Church (if he continues on), Scutaro, Jay Bruce (when everyone drops him). Long term thinking, especially in MLB and NBA, is the only way to look and win, being they have the most games and are more intricate, as a rule.

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Evan Longoria, The Next Mike Schmidt?

Copyright. "The Thought Spigot"

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

Evan Longoria is the third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is also one of the poster boys for major league baseball. He is a five tool player (hits for average & power, runs, fields, and has a sizzling arm across the diamond), and he is drawing major comparisons to a Hall of Fame third baseman, Mike Schmidt. Longoria is a Tampa Bay favorite, is active in charity work, plus he is a man among men, when he steps between those chalk lines.

Today, where the headlines bleed stories on HGH, steroids, "greenies" (speed pills, allowing players to be "fresh" everyday), players putting themselves over team ("Manny being Manny" & A-Rod articles looking like a soft porn shoot), Longoria is far away from the scrutiny and works to be the best player he can be (naturally, no less). One example, of Evan's dedication and differential from other ball players, is in his pre-game regiment. The T. B. third base coach and Evan have a routine, after all of the other drills are done. He hits Longoria 10 ground balls, as hard as he can. If Longoria fields all 10 of the balls without any mistakes, then the coach makes him a "smoothie." However, if Longoria bobbles, drops, or flat out misses any ball, then Longoria is the "smoothie maker." Quite a difference, from "Manny being Manny," riding a three wheel bike (when he has a pulled hamstring, at Dodgers spring training) for the cameras.

The whole Rays staff and coaches (some older players and announcers) are drawing a flattering comparison, "Evan Longoria looks like a young Mike Schmidt, but better." Mike Schmidt, the Hall of Fame third baseman (for the Philadelphia Phillies), was nothing short of an offensive monster and a perennial "Gold Glove" winner, so this is high praise for a player who has just one season under his belt. However, the statistics do not lie:

Mike Schmidt's 1st Full Year (1973):
G-132, AB-367, Hits-72, Runs-43, 2B-11, HR-15, RBI-52, SB-8, AVG-.182, SLG%-.373

Evan Longoria's 1st Full Year (2008)
G-122, AB-448, Hits-122, Runs-67, Doubles-31, HR-27, RBI-85, Avg-.272, SLG%-.531

Looking at these eye popping numbers, in a rookie season (compared to Schmidt and other Hall of Fame players thru the years), the only thing possibly to side rail Longoria, is injury, or Longoria himself. Over the course of a 20 year career, there is going to be bumps, bruises, or some other act of God. However, Evan Longoria is the real deal.

It is very early to call him a Hall of Famer, but Longoria is on the fast track (with David Wright). On the Ray's roster, with the table setters of Carl Crawford, B. J. Upton, and the stability of power hitters around him (Carlos Pena, Matt Joyce, & Pat Burrell), he is in the best of situations. Only time will tell, on the injury front, but this smooth handed, laser armed, power hitting phenom has nothing except sunny days and big numbers ahead of him. In twenty years, he could be the best "true third baseman" (A-Rod came up and split his career at shortstop) to play the game. He is that good!

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