Author: Christopher Glotfelty (Page 62 of 67)

      Garrett Anderson: World Series Champion, Potential Hall of Famer, Unemployed

      October 29, 2008 /

      AndersonThe Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Los Angeles Angels have failed to pick up veteran outfielder Garrett Anderson’s $14 million option for next season. At 36, Anderson has spent his entire career with the Angeles, and leads the franchise in numerous categories including games (2,013), runs (1,024), hits (2,368) and RBIs (1,292).

      The Angels will pick up club options for right-hander John Lackey ($9 million) and outfielder Vladimir Guerrero ($15 million). But Anderson, a Los Angeles native who has never played for another organization, will be bought out of his contract for $3 million — though the team has not ruled out re-signing him as a free agent.

      “We’re going to continue talking with him,” General Manager Tony Reagins said of Anderson, who hit .293 with 15 home runs and 84 runs batted in last season, when he made $12 million. “He still wants to play. He still thinks he can play a significant role, as far as getting 500 or 600 at-bats. We just need to determine whether we have that place for him.”

      That determination might not be made until well into the winter, depending on the progress of trade talks and free agency. So while friends say Anderson would prefer to stay in Anaheim, he might be faced with a deadline to accept a deal from another team before the Angels are ready to offer him a job.

      Anderson has always been one of my favorite ball players. In his 14 seasons, the three-time All Star has put up consistent numbers, been a solid fielder, and helped the Angeles win a ring in 2002. On top of that, he was never involved in any of the steroid discussion and has never been anything but an agreeable team player with a desire to win. His loyalty to his team is unmatched in professional baseball. These days, players rarely remain on one team for their entire career. Other than Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, I can’t think of any others off the top of my head. Even when Garrett was really hot from 2000-03, he refused to jump ship after being offered better contracts from other organizations.

      Unfortunately, I doubt the Angeles will sign him as a free agent. Chone Figgins may move into the outfield to make room for Brandon Wood at third base. That leaves outfielders Juan Rivera, Gary Matthews Jr., Vladimir Guerrero, and Garrett Anderson contending for a position. Since the Angeles are reportedly in the hunt for Matt Holiday, Anderson’s chances don’t look good, even with Guerrero in the DH spot.

      Fact is, Anderson is not a $14 million a year player, at least not anymore. At his age, he’s no Manny Ramirez, but he can still hit for 15 home runs and 80 RBIs a year. I think he’ll stay in the American League, signing for about $9-10million with a team looking for a solid bat.

      MLB

      AskMen.com’s Top 49 Most Influential Men

      October 22, 2008 /

      BoltToday, AskMen.com released their list of the world’s Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2008. Over 200,000 voters participated to help determine which men in the public eye most influenced the way they bought, dressed, and thought in the past year. Athletes made up 25 percent of the list, the most of any other category (music, politics, fashion, etc.). Their respective rankings are below:

      46. Alex Rodriguez – New York Yankees

      45. Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins

      41. Lewis Hamilton – Formula 1 Racing

      40. Brett Favre – New York Jets

      30. Rafael Nadal – Association of Tennis Professionals

      25. David Beckham – Los Angeles Galaxy

      21. Usain Bolt – 2008 Olympics gold-medal sprinter

      20. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers

      18. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers

      9. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United

      3. Michael Phelps – 2008 Olympics gold-medal swimmer

      While I’m not sure how much Michael Phelps affected how males bought, dressed, and thought over the past few months, these athletes have certainly garnered interest for what they represent, their sport. Although the criteria might have to be worded differently next time around (at #48, David Simon, creator of The Wire, definitely affected how our culture thinks), I agree that these individuals have helped sports in general more than their peers. For example, Lewis Hamilton broke Formula 1’s color barrier, Rafael Nadal has reinvigorated tennis, and both Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps momentarily united the world in celebration with their success in the Olympics.

      It’s pretty interesting to see how much sway Kobe and Favre still have while sports such as golf, UFC, and boxing lacked a representative on the list.

      General Sports

      Something else significant about this World Series

      October 22, 2008 /

      Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times has pointed out that the presence of black players in this year’s World Series will hopefully inspire future generations of African Americans to pick up the game.

      raysFor all the millions baseball has poured into reviving its sport in the inner cities of America, into trying to reclaim a place alongside football and basketball in popularity among young African Americans, the World Series has sent an entirely different message.

      That changes tonight, when Rollins and the Philadelphia Phillies open the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

      In the 2005 Series, the Houston Astros had no black players. The Colorado Rockies last year had one, an obscure relief pitcher.

      But this year, the competing teams both feature African American stars, to the delight of the players involved and to the officials charged with luring black youth back to the baseball diamond.

      “It’s got to be huge, just to see these faces on TV,” Tampa Bay pitcher David Price said, “so young African Americans can relate and see something to shoot for.”

      Blacks accounted for 8.2% of major league players last season, according to a diversity study by the University of Central Florida, the lowest annual percentage since the study began in 1990.

      Growing up, I remember admiring guys like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Frank Thomas, Kirby Puckett, and Ozzie Smith. There are still many great African Americans in the game, but the sport has become a cultural blend of talent, rather than a stage for only one or two ethnicities. Still, it’s startling how rapidly baseball’s popularity has decreased amongst African Americans, as they are more likely to play football or basketball.

      On a broader scale, we’ve seen the same thing happening with American males and tennis. Kids want to relate to the athletes they admire, and the fact that there hasn’t been a dominant male American tennis player in this century has hurt the sport. The same is happening with African Americans and baseball. I recommend watching the current Costas Now on HBO. He interviews Hank Aaron and Willie Mays and the two legends field questions and listen to opinions from the likes of Jimmy Rollins and Dave Winfield about the current African American presence in baseball.

      MLB

      Athlete Profile: Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson

      October 17, 2008 /

      Chad JohnsonThere are few athletes whose trash talking can be a pleasure to listen to. Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson has one of those tireless big mouths that will tackle any subject anytime and anywhere. Thankfully, his diatribes are usually injected with a touch of humor and his words always reflect a genuine passion for the game of football. He publicly calls out players and instantly defends himself when criticism comes his way. When his own cousin, Keyshawn Johnson, expressed disappointment with Chad’s persona when the two sat down for an interview, Ocho Cinco stood his ground. In short, he’s never been known for mincing words, but he has talent to back them up.

      If a career in football hadn’t panned out, Ocho Cinco could have found himself some easy work in public relations. He’s successfully turned himself into a business, marketing his flamboyant character in creative ways. During the 2005 season, Ocho Cinco created a checklist, entitled Who Covered 85 in ’05, which acclaimed the defensive backs that successfully covered him. As a result, in 2007, Degree and Yahoo! created an online version of the checklist, available for viewing at TrashTalk85.com.

      Love him or hate him, it’s virtually impossible to ignore this five-time pro bowler. Now in his eighth season, Ocho Cinco has sported a gilded grill, diamond earrings, a bleached blonde mohawk, and just recently, a Bengals jersey with “Ocho Cinco” on the nameplate. (For this latest stunt, the League fined him $5K.)

      However, none of these actions have sparked more ire than Ocho Cinco’s elaborate touchdown celebrations, for which he has also been fined.

      Given his already productive career, Ocho Cinco is lucky to even be playing football. Growing up, he repeatedly fared poorly in school. His biggest role model was his grandmother, Bessie Flowers, and she urged Johnson to pursue football as an outlet. Unfortunately, due to his academic performance, Johnson was not qualified for Division One schools. He attempted to play for Langston University in Oklahoma, but was immediately expelled for fighting. Shortly after, he was charged for domestic violence in a dispute with his then-girlfriend. Thankfully, he found refuge in the football program at Santa Monica Community College. It was there that he met coach Charles Collins. For two seasons, Collins mentored Johnson, employing a “no tolerance” policy against any of Chad’s future transgressions. Collins’ strategy worked, and Johnson was later recruited by Oregon State University, where he continued to improve his game.

      Preferring not to play his senior season, in 2001, Chad Johnson was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2nd round (36th overall). Since then, Johnson has become quite the star, breaking a few NFL and Bengals’ franchise records along the way. In 2006, he became the only NFL player ever to win a fourth consecutive conference receiving yards title. During the next year, Ocho Cinco moved into the all-time Bengals receiving yards lead, ahead of Isaac Curtis (7,101). He finished that year with 8,365 career total yards.

      Undoubtedly, Ocho Cinco has become a significant asset, one that could help any team win a Super Bowl. After a tedious offseason dispute, that team will continue to be the Bengals—at least through 2011. Either way, regardless of what team he’s on or what the name is on the back of his uniform, Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson is someone you’ll be hearing about.

      “Ocho Cinco” on the Web

      Johnson’s Official Site
      His own website with a bio, photos, and his blog.

      Cincinnati Bengals: Official player page for Johnson
      Team’s official page; contains short bio, stats, and links to recent video highlights.

      Chad Johnson’s Touchdown Celebration Showdown
      Site where fans can submit their own touchdown dances.

      Latest on “Ocho Cinco”

      After legally changing his surname to “Ocho Cinco,” Chad and the Bengals have gotten off to a rough start this season. But he’s poised to have another great year, looking forward to his sixth straight Pro Bowl appearance.

      News and Commentary

      SportsIllustrated.com: Bengals’ Chad legally adopts ‘Ocho Cinco’ as last name
      The final step in becoming “Ocho Cinco.”

      ESPN.com: Chad Johnson to cough up 5K for ‘Ocho Cinco’ Stunt
      Wearing “Ocho Cinco” on the back of his jersey has its consequences.

      FanIQ.com: Chad Johnson’s next end zone dance to have corporate sponsorship
      How his celebrations will help a charity.

      FOXsport.com: Johnson may have learned a painful lesson
      “Ocho Cinco” gets serious about his injuries and his team’s poor play.

      “Ocho Cinco” Says

      On the media

      “I was labeled selfish and a cancer, and it hurt. Fingers were pointed at me this year. If the team and the organization wants to further itself, I think you need to get rid of the problem. It hurt me. To do me that way and not to have my back. Things were said, and nobody came to my defense.”

      On the 2008 Season

      “Of course, I’m going to have fun. I’m going to do things within the rules. I’m not going to be a distraction to my team or my teammates. You know, I’m going to make the game interesting, week in and week out.”

      On Michael Phelps

      “Where I’m from, Liberty City, I know a couple people that can beat Michael Phelps right now. Seriously, I’m telling you, and I’m one of them.”

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      The Numerology of the Cy Young Award

      October 15, 2008 /

      Calling all stat-heads! Fire Ned Colletti Now has just done an in-depth piece on the 2008 NL Cy Young Award. They detail who should win the honor using statistical analysis, but they justify their reasoning along the way. If you’ve every been confused by how terms such as WHIP, VORP, and FIP actually factor into this type of decision making, give it a read.

      Tim LincecumAs far as what I will measure the pitchers by, I feel that the most important statistics are ERA, WHIP, and VORP. ERA’s importance is even recognized by the most staunch traditionalists. It measures the pitcher’s primary reason for being out there: to prevent runs from scoring. WHIP is a “new” statistic by mainstream standards, but when explained, I think traditionalists would agree it makes sense as well. It’s a statistic that revolves around a pitcher’s control and ability to limit hits. Less baserunners is obviously a good thing for the pitcher. VORP is where things get cloudy for a lot of baseball writers. It’s one of those magical and mystical statistics that seems to daze and confuse them. I think it’s valuable because it shows, in the scope of total contribution, how effective a pitcher has been at preventing runs from scoring. If you don’t already understand, you’ll see what I mean later on.

      One thing you’ll notice is that I don’t mention wins anywhere. Yes, I am one of those guys who thinks that it is a worthless statistic as far as measuring the worth of a pitcher’s performance. If you disagree, feel free to tell me about it. However, please do so by explaining why Livan Hernandez (13-11, 6.05 ERA) is a better pitcher than Jake Peavy (10-11, 2.85 ERA) in 2008. Thanks. I await your input, John Kruk.

      All year, my gut instinct has been that Tim Lincecum should win the NL Cy Young. However, history has shown that players on struggling teams usually don’t win either the Cy Young or MVP. These are the same statistics used by the Baseball Writer’s Association of America, so it’s interesting to see someone break down why Lincecum is the best pitcher in the league. At 23 years-old, this kid is going to be in high demand after his five years with the Giants.

      MLB

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