The Sports Simpleton

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

To you Dad's out there. Sit back today, grab yourself a BEvERage, and watch a ball game. Heck, head out to Shea (oops, Citi) and watch it live. Maybe even take the kids with you. Sorry Yankee's fans, but the bombers are in Floriday today. Hope it doesn't rain on your Father's day.

Autographs, Anyone

2009-06-20T17:18:00.001-07:00

Autographs are amazing things. They are nothing but a scribble of ink, yet can be worth hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. To some, the memory of the moment is worth even more. Here is a quick article on how to get that autograph, and moment, from your favorite players...

How to get a Baseball Player's Autograph

"All Games Start At 1:30"

2009-06-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

I thought I might share a couple of my new designs for you Cubs fans out there....If your interested just click on the images or go to www.cafepress.com/sportsnoutdoors and look under the "pro sports" heading. There is a lot of stuff there, more than this, so take a few minutes and look around.

Little League Coaching

2009-05-22T19:02:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again. I have two boys playing baseball, and their games always seem to conflict with something, mostly each other. As I watch the coaches of both the high school teams and the little league, I wonder if we as parents and coaches haven't missed the point. Baseball has a lot of life lessons to teach us, and I, for one, think that we should get back to the basics. Having said that, here is a quick article on warming up a little league batter...

How to warm up a little league batter

Steinbrennerism is Dead or Bring Back Free Hot Dog and Peanut Night

2008-10-22T06:17:00.000-07:00

Phillies-Rays in the World Series. Whodathunkit.

What impresses me most about this baseball season really has more to do with who DIDN'T make it to the World Series than who did. Yankees. out. Red Sox. out. Dodgers. out. White Sox. out. Braves. out. Cardinals. out. Diamondbacks. out. Astros. out. (Notice i didn't say Cubs...It doesn't really surprise me that thier out)

These are some high dollar teams. Is the age of the buy-your-way-to-the-series baseball team over?? Steinbrennerism is dead?

I attended a minor league baseball game this spring with my family, and what a great experience. It was free Hot Dog and Peanut Night. Have you every seen that at a major league park? Or $10 behind home plate seats?

Next year, when you get the baseball bug, go to a minor league game. You wont see huge attitudes and huge salaries and huge egos. You will see kids gutting out every play because it's their only chance to stay in the league and on the team. You will see Hall of Fame players you watched as a kid coaching third base. And you'll get free Hot Dogs.

The Cubs

2008-10-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

I was flipping tv channels the other night, and stopped on the beginning of the Cubs/Dodgers series. Just as I stopped they threw up an interesting stat, and I apologize if the total numbers are off a bit. The Cubs and Dodgers, through the history of baseball, had played 2024 games before this playoff series started. The series was split 1012-1012. Thats incredible. The stat itself is not that significant, but for me its something I had never seen before...two teams so historically even. 2024 games is a HUGE sample for baseball. It did get me to thinking, after the Cubbies went down two games to none...Ive seen Zambrano throw a no-hitter, Ive seen DeRosa boot a few ground balls...it happens. It also happens that teams win three games in a row, which is what is going to have to happen for the Cubbies to stay alive. A three game win streak, even in the playoffs, is not that incredible. So take heart, Cubs fans, you don't even need a miracle to win this series.

Fantasy Baseball

2008-09-24T06:50:00.001-07:00

*update-season ended and I did end up in first place...I'm sure it was pure luck.

This week ends my first fantasy baseball season. Yes, first. I've been around it all my life, friends, family. I just always chose to stay away. Now I know why. I am a fiddler. I fiddle with lineups. I fiddle with stats. I've made close to 200 roster changes in this season. I'm specifically NOT doing fantasy football this year because, well, there's not enough opportunity for fiddling like there is in a daily fantasy baseball league.

Now all that fiddling has put me in first place...Or maybe despite all that fiddling I'm in first place, I'm not sure. I've had a successful season...and here's a few reasons why;

1) I picked first in the draft. A-Rod. A great long term option at third.

2) A-Rod got himself hurt and I needed another third basemen. Who is this Longoria kid?

3) I am a fan of the lowly Texas Rangers, so Hamilton, Young, and Kinsler were automatics. By the way, the Rangers are far from the best team in baseball, but their fantasy numbers are incredible. Don't forget that next year.

4) Baseball is a streaky sport. I focused on the 7 day and 15 day stat-lines to make roster decisions.

5) I love free agency. In a shallow league, you can almost use it like a bench.

I also made quite a few mistakes...but you don't need to know about those, right?? It was a lot of fun for the last 5 months, and I will definitely be doing it again next year. I think I already have my draft set...

Sports Honesty and the Number 81

2008-09-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

So T.O. is on TV the other day (that's a new one) before the Boys-Eagles game and the unbiased media ask him questions pertaining to the Eagles, Mcnabb, and all that stuff that went on in Philly.
Owens can do one of three things...

1) Not answer, duck the question...cliche the response and have the reporter move on.

2) Lie, answer the question but try to minimize the impact.

3) Answer honestly (these are, after all, his opinions).

T.O. chooses to answer honestly about how HE feels and what HIS feelings are. I can appreciate that. Then, later that day and the next, he gets crucified for not leaving this stuff in the past. So exactly WHO is responsible for keeping the past alive, is it T.O. or is it the media?

I just want to make one little observation that I'm sure most of the media out there are aware of...If you ask T.O. a question, you can expect an answer. That is all.

Here we go...

2008-09-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, here it is. These are just my opinions. Not Fact, Not Truth, just opinion. If you quote me, please give credit to the simpleton.