Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Identity

Looks like Joe D is on board with the belief that the team needs an identity. A choice quote from the Pistons presser today:

"I've always prided us on being a team that whenever we stepped on the floor, every single night we would battle to win. Going through this transition this year, that wasn't the case. That bothered the hell out of me, that we weren't that team that battled every night like I thought we should. Before anything else can happen, we have to get back to that in terms of identity; that we'll be a team that'll battle you ever night and never give in."


Thank you, Joe. It bothered the hell out of me too. And every other Piston fan.
In other news, there's a rumor that New Orleans is shopping David West, and the Pistons are listening. I'm still more interested in Tyson Chandler, but West would certainly be an upgrade.

Speculation

Excellent article in mLive today on rebuilding the Pistons. Perhaps the biggest disappointment from the most recent Piston's season is that they didn't lose enough. I believe Joe D felt the Chauncey trade might actually lead to another deep playoff run, and there is certain logic to that. In ability, AI and Chauncey were quite equal at the time. Nobody expected the chemistry and morale to plummet so rapidly.

Dumars should've seen the writing on the wall back in January when the team clearly had no direction. He likely could've landed some decent deals for Tayshaun, who's stock was still relatively high. As it stands, the Pistons somehow managed to win 39 games, and that gets them the 15th pick. Last season, Chicago and Miami completely tanked it, and they were rewarded with Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, respectively. Now those two teams are still alive in the playoffs.

It seems to me that Joe's best plan of action would be to tinker somewhat with the lineup this offseason, but reserve the majority of the overhaul for 2010. For one thing, 2010 offers a better free agent class, and, if the Pistons tank next season, they could land a top 3 pick. Yes, it would mean another painful, losing season, but at least the team will have a direction. My guess is that players like Tayshaun and Rip have no desire to be part of a rebuilding process, so they'll likely be dealt.

With the plethora of talented guards on the Pistons roster, Dumars will need to focus almost entirely on big men, especially with the assumed departure of McDyess. Boozer is the likely target, and I've mentioned before my preference for Tyson Chandler. Either of those players would be dramatic improvements from the current lot. Having an actual inside presence should also help Stuckey's play.

And then there's Curry... Dumars evidently met with Curry yesterday, and Curry is still the coach of the Pistons. Retaining Curry only makes sense if Dumars plans to tank next season. If he wants to truly rebuild this summer, the team needs a real coach.

Stats

Fascinating game from the Tigers last night, at least from a statistical standpoint. Edwin Jackson threw 6 innings of shutout baseball. When the vaunted Tigers relief pitchers came to the rescue in the 7th inning, they proceeded to give up 10 runs. One of my favorite stats for relief pitchers is the IS% - Inherited Score Percentage. It's the percent of runners on base when a pitcher enters a game that subsequently score. This stat is more valuable than ERA for a reliever. If Nate enters the game with bases loaded and two outs and gives up a triple, who cares how many outs he gets after that? He gave up a freakin' triple, scoring three runs that get charged to the previous pitcher! Nate's ERA may remain low, but he's clearly not doing the job. Anyhoo, the Tigers bullpen and their respective IS%:

Juan Rincon 100%

Nate Robertson 75%

Brandon Lyon 63%

Eddie Bonine 60%

League Average 39%

Bobby Seay 20%

Countering that embarrassing statistic is Seay and Perry who are 10 for 10 in "Holds" - meaning they held the lead. And Rodney, somehow, is 4 for 4 in save situations. Either the Tigers are extemely unluckey with their IS%, or they're hanging by the skin of their teeth with these successful holds. My guess is that the more they have to rely on Rodney, the more they'll regret it.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

There will be blood

The Ducks beat the Sharks. An 8 beat a 1, but I suppose it's not that surprising, though I do feel sorry for the San Jose fans who once again saw their regular season-dominant team fall flat in the playoffs. For the rest of us, we get to look forward to a true rivalry series - Anaheim vs. Detroit.



It's a longstanding belief in hockey that the goalie is the most important playoff performer. While there is definite truth to that belief, in recent years I've come to believe that a dominant defenseman is actually more important. If a team possesses a player who can routinely thwart attacks, fire 100mph slapshots on the powerplay, and log 30+ min/game, that team will go far. Going back twelve years, I found only two Stanley Cup Champions who did not have a dominant defenseman who fit that bill - Tampa Bay Lightning in '03-'04 and Carolina Hurricanes in '05-'06. Those teams did, however, have the dominant goalies. The other winners:


  • '07-'08 Red Wings - Nick Lidstrom

  • '06-'07 Ducks - Chris Pronger

  • '02-'03 Devils - Scott Stevens / Scott Niedermeyer

  • '01-'02 Red Wings - Nick Lidstrom

  • '00-'01 Avalanche - Rob Blake / Ray Bourque

  • '99-'00 Devils - Scott Stevens (and Niedermeyer)

  • '98-'99 Stars - Sergei Zubov

  • '97-'98 Red Wings - Nick Lidstrom

  • '96-'97 Red Wings - Nick Lidstrom

  • '95-'96 Avalanche - Adam Foote

And the list could continue. The Niedermeyer/Stevens combo proved especially potent. This raises another question as to the true ability of Martin Brodeur. How much of Brodeur's success has been due to the great defense of Niedermeyer/Stevens? How much due to the trap? Statistically, Brodeur has fared well in the regular season without the two dominant d-men, but he's suffered dramatically in the playoffs. Since Stevens retired, Brodeur hasn't posted a sub-2 goals-against average. With Stevens, Brodeur achieved that stat seven out of nine times!


This brings me to Chris Pronger - perhaps the most dominant d-man in the game today. Since trading Pronger in '04, St. Louis hasn't challenged for the playoffs let alone the Cup. In his one year with Edmonton, Pronger led them to the Finals. Then they traded him to Anaheim, and they won the damn thing. Edmonton hasn't been to the playoffs since. Suffice it to say, Pronger is damn good and damn effective. He brings the pain on defense and provides the power on the power play. Assisting Pronger will be perhaps the best overall defense in the NHL, including Scott Niedermeyer. The Red Wings counter with the former best d-man in the league, Lidstrom. He's got help too, in the form of Rafalski and Brad Stuart and, up-n-comer, Nick Kronwall. While the fans and pundits will be comparing the travails of the goalies, Osgood and Hiller, the Cup will be decided by the d-men.



Public enemy #1

Monday, April 27, 2009

Ovechkin... wow.

Another gem from Ovechkin. No doubt he's the most talented goal scorer in the world. Perhaps the most exciting player since Lemeiux? (and this is coming from the Pav4Hart fan!)

Worst. Season. Ever.

It's difficult to remember the last time it was this painful to watch the Pistons. I'm not sure how other fans react, but I simply choose to not watch. I successfully avoided all 4 playoff games. I would check in on regular intervals, but it was the same thing I'd seen all season. The opposition had more energy, motivation, and skill.

The '08-'09 Pistons stunk.

In an article on detnews.com today, Chris McCoskey lists just six players that will likely return next year: Stuckey, Hamilton, Afflalo, Bynum, Maxiell, and perhaps Kwame. Missing on that list is Tayshaun. If Dumars does indeed blow up the roster, it seems to be a year or two too late. The Chauncey trade yielded cap space, but what could Tayshaun bring in return? Last summer, he was playing on the Olympic team - no doubt his stock was infinitely higher. I wonder also if Dumars secretly investigated trading Stuckey last offseason when his stock was through the roof. Now he's just an average young guard. As the only player with a safe spot on the roster, Stuckey played like he held the weight of the world on his shoulders. Perhaps his teammates resented his "golden boy" status? Either way, not one player consistently clicked with Stuckey. I think he has potential to be great if Dumars finds a way to surround him with decent (and motivated) talent.

In two months, the Pistons will pick 15th in the NBA draft. My guess is that, if Tay is traded, it'll be on draft night. Likely, Dumars will offer Tayshaun and #15 for Bosh. I doubt that'll get it done. It will be a long, arduous offseason, but at least we never have to watch this bunch again. While I appreciate the tremendous run of success, I'm absolutely shocked how quickly they fell. The lack of spirit displayed by this team turned off the Piston fan-base (evident by the awful playoff attendance). They'll return if they believe Dumars has a plan for rebuilding. He's got five months.

Stat of Note
In the 4-game sweep, the Pistons shot 58 free throws. Lebron, by himself, shot 59.

The "other" Draft
Yes, the unavoidable NFL Draft was this weekend. The Lions picks were quite offensive. My grade: "F". Is that too harsh? Consider this... New England - a team that actually already has a decent run defense - found it necessary to draft 3 defensive linemen. The Lions - the worst defense in the league, by a large margin - felt they only needed 1. In the 4th round. With such bad run defense - the most crucial element to a football game, surely they must've stocked up on Linebackers, right? 2 Linebackers. Instead, the Lions blew their 1st round picks on a QB and a TE. It's possible the TE is the best in his position, but that's a luxury pick. Draft a TE when your run defense is not 32nd in the league. Draft a QB when your running game is not ranked 30th. This team has too many holes to be wasting time with these skill players. Stafford is doomed to fail as a Lion. He'll have no protection. But he'll have 4 years of guaranteed money.

So, why, besides general idiocy, did the Lions make these picks? They went with a QB because they didn't want to have so much money tied up in Aaron Curry, a LB. Conventional wisdom is that LBs are not #1 overall picks. Who cares if the Lions have the worst run defense in the league? Who cares if the Lions have nobody fast enough to cover a TE? NFL "experts" say you don't draft a LB #1, so I guess it's gotta be an underclassman QB. Sorry, fellas, Millen may be fired, but, with picks like these, it's like he never left.


New Grade
I was wrong. The Lions actually get an "A+" for this draft. I just read that the Lions picked up Northwestern defensive tackle, John Gill as a free agent. He will help this team.


Future Lion.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Another Curry

With just one day to the NFL draft, I suppose it's okay to start talking about it. For those that don't live in the Detroit area, you might be surprised to find out that the draft has been topic #1 on radio, in print, and on TV, since the Lions lost to the Falcons in week 1. This is no exaggeration. After the first week loss, fans knew immediately that this team was destined for the first overall pick, and it's been hot-and-heavy ever since - eight straight months of draft discussions.

Exhausting.

Thankfully, the fateful days is almost here. Draft Day - the Superbowl for Lions fans. Most NFL pundits agree there's no surefire #1 pick, but that's not true - at least not in Detroit. In the D, the fans clamor for one player more than any other - Aaron Curry, the LB from Wake Forest. He has all the tangibles (speed, strength) and intangibles (instinct, intelligence, character). With a defense that allowed teams to run against them at will, a linebacker seems the obvious choice for the Lions. Furthermore, there's a report that Curry has already agreed to terms! So what the heck is the problem? The problem is that this is the Lions, the worst run organization in all of sports, the first ever team to go 0-16, the franchise with 1 playoff win in 50 years, the management that drafted 4 WRs in the 1st round, the team that sent Barry Sanders to an early retirement because he'd rather get do nothing than make millions as a Lion...

The Curry pick just makes sense. He fills a need from a positional standpoint, but he would provide something infinitely more valuable. The Lions desperately need a direction and a leader - and that man is Aaron Curry. In 24hrs, we'll find out if the Lions agree.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Coaching



When a team blows, the coach gets canned. It's an unfortunate fact in sports. The common thinking is that the owner can't fire all the players, so he/she fires the next best thing. Sure, it's not always fair, but, more often than not, the firing has a positive effect.

Coaching at the collegiate level obviously differs significantly from the pros. Regardless of the sport, college coaches possess more authority, as the players are more malleable. At the professional level, though, the players tend to have more confidence in their own judgment and ability. Coaching morphs into part-strategist, part-psychologist. Watching Phil Jackson over the years, it was easy to doubt his coaching acumen. With the Bulls, hand the ball to Jordan. With the Lakers, hand the ball to Shaq... then hand the ball to Kobe. He's coached perhaps 3 of the top 5 players ever. How hard is that? Evidently, harder than it appears since the coaches before him failed.

In Detroit, not a single Piston fan wanted Flip Saunders retained after last season. Yet, today, there's not a single Piston fan who wouldn't take him over Curry. It's true Curry inherited a tough situation, but he's failed in what I believe is the most important aspect of his job -- an area in which the entire Red Wings management excels. The most important job for a coach is to put his players in a position to succeed. In Game 2, Michael Curry inserted a lineup of Kwame, Dice, Sheed, Tayshaun, and Rip. That's three power forwards, a small forward, and a shooting guard. How can that team succeed?

At the same time, the Red Wings won three straight games using two players, Darren Helm and Jonathan Ericsson, who played a combined 35 NHL games this season. How could Jonathan Ericsson, the very last pick of the 2002 draft, step in and contribute on a marquee team? And Helm... just ten days ago he was playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Then Draper went down with an injury. The system works because the Red Wings implement a consistent scheme throughout their major and minor league teams. The players grow up with the system and have to work their way onto the senior squad. Ericsson's been in the system for seven years. When he steps onto the ice, Babcock knows his strengths and weaknesses, and it's his job to accentuate those strengths. This ability eludes Michael Curry, and it's eluded the entire Lions organization my entire life. They continually draft players and ask them to play a different position (which is exactly what they'll do with Aaron Curry if he's picked #1). Or they rush a player on the field too quickly (which is exactly what they'll do with Stafford).

Put the players in a position to succeed. That's the job. It seems overly simple, but I believe coaches get weighed down by the pressure of the management and fans. That leads to bad decisions (see: Rip as a sub). If the coaches possess the confidence to stand by the unpopular decisions, the results are usually beneficial (see: Michael Curry as a starter).

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Curse Strikes Again

The very day that I praise Armando Galarraga, he proceeds to struggle mightily against the Halos. He did manage to pitch out of a few jams, but the Tigers' bullpen lost the game - specifically, Brandon Lyon. Most Tiger fans are ready to send that dude packing, but I think that's a bit hasty. Yes, this is the 2nd loss of the season for Lyon, but, sandwiched between those two losses, were three appearances with no runs allowed. The Tigers don't have the luxury of dumping semi-effective pitchers. With Lyon, I would avoid putting him in close games. Have him eat up innings in blowouts.

I'm a bit surprised that Leyland didn't go with Robertson, who hasn't pitched since 4/11. Nate's been a bit more reliable this season than Lyon, but perhaps it's a case of lesser of two evils.

Two Games Left
Only two games remaining in the Detroit Piston '08-'09 season - a season that will go down as perhaps the most disappointing in my lifetime. It's on par with the '08 Tigers, but not quite as bad as the '03 Tigers or the '08 Lions, which are in a class of their own.

Lebron and the Cleveland Cavaliers have proven to be absolutely unbeatable. The meager Pistons have no chance and are playing as if they know it. Where's the heart? Where's the desire to compete? Where's that supposed Piston pride? Did it leave with Chauncey? I wonder if Fox Sports Detroit will start airing the Nuggets games once the Pistons are eliminated...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Logo

One year's worth of work

The Detroit Lions unveiled their latest logo yesterday. Mimicking the same work ethic as their auto-industry brethren, the Ford-run Detroit Lions evidently spent over a year crafting this masterpiece.
The unveiling elicited a mixed response. The fact that an 0-16 team can elicit any response should qualify as a small victory.

Los Tigres
Excellent MLive piece today on Armando Galarraga. Somehow this guy continues to fly under the radar. He was the Tigers best pitcher - by far - last season, and, despite his 0.68 ERA this year, he's overshadowed by Porcello and Edwin Jackson. If the little cat continues on this pitching tear, he will no doubt get some massive pub. He pitches tonight against the Halos.

Monday, April 20, 2009

He is Mr. Big Shot

The good 'ol days.


Joe D made a big mistake. Sure, he freed up a trillion dollars of cap-space, but he grossly underestimated Chauncey Billups. And Billups continues to prove his worth. Last night, he scored 36pts (including 8/9 from 3pt land) to lead the Nuggets in a blowout win over Chris Paul and the Hornets.

When the trade went down, I received a frantic text from Dub in Denver, who was overjoyed that Billups was coming to town. "Chauncey makes those around him better - AI makes everyone worse." Too true. The Pistons would've been better off trading anyone BUT Billups. Is the trade worse than the Darko pick? No. But it's darn close.

Joe D's biggest GM blunders:

  1. Darko (if you click on the link, you'll see a very apropos headline referring to Darko as "No. 2")
  2. Iverson
  3. Curry
Those three are hardly open for debate. Perhaps a distant 4th is the Rodney White pick. Joe Johnson and Richard Jefferson were still available, but that 2001 draft class was not exactly loaded with talent (unlike Darko's year).

Because I always try to be fair, Joe D's greatest GM achievements:
  1. Ben Wallace
  2. Rick Carlisle
  3. Rip
The Ben Wallace trade was only possible thanks to the kindness of Grant Hill. Hill knew he was bolting the Pistons, but agreed to a sign-and-trade, which allowed the Pistons to obtain Big Ben and Chucky Atkins. We gotta give Joe D the credit for at least recognizing some potential in Big Ben, who at that time was a bit player. As for Rick Carlisle, Joe D plucked him from relative obscurity. Prior to Carlisle, the Pistons were floundering, and Carlisle instilled the defense-first mentality that lasted until this past season. And then the Rip trade... it was shocking that Joe D would trade the team's best player and leader, Stackhouse, but Hamilton proved to be an All-Star waiting to burst. Stackhouse's career never truly recovered, and Hamilton is still going strong.

It's about defense

It's what I've been saying all season. Despite solid defensive statistics, the Pistons defense is the weak link. They're soft. They have no enforcer. And it was reinforced against the Cavs. Lebron easily penetrated the paint, where he was 8 of 9.

I'm convinced the Pistons possess the talent offensively to move to the next level, but they desperately need a recommitment to defense. They're tough to watch right now, as they're a team in transition, but the losses would be easier to stomach if there was a plan in place. What's the plan, Joe?

Santiago

In 2003, Ramon Santiago's only season as a full-time starter, he notched 29 RBIs. In one of the greatest trades in Tiger history, Dombrowski traded those 29 RBIs for Carlos Guillen. In Guillen's five seasons with the Tigers, he' averaged .308, 72 RBI (despite two seasons injured), and made three all-star teams. Seattle released Santiago after the '05 season, and he happily re-signed with the Tigers. Now 29 years old, Santiago is fulfilling his potential. Mr. 29 RBI already has 11 RBIs in a mere 7 games. Obviously, he's not going to set the world on fire with his slugging, but, while we criticize DD for the signings of Willis, Robertson, Renteria, and the mighty Sheff, we need to acknowledge his brilliant moves as well.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Lucky

Make no mistake - the Wings got lucky. Early in the 1st period, Stuart muffed a pass and the Blue Jackets pounced on the loose puck deep in the Wings' zone. The first shot ricocheted off Osgood right back to Columbus. They shot again, but the puck found its way into Osgood's glove. Whether Osgood actually made the save or was fortunate enough to have the puck land in his glove is open for debate.

Later, another turnover - this time by Filpulla - resulted in a Columbus shot that hit the crossbar. Yet, on the Columbus end, the Wings had two goals result from fortunate bounces off Columbus players. I agree that the Red Wings dominated for long stretches and, in fact, played a superior game. I will also agree that luck plays a major role in advancing in the playoffs. I just hope that the team can avoid some of the bone-headed turnovers that lead to golden scoring chances. Stuart? You're supposed to be steady as a rock!

The good news is that the Wings came out aggressive. They were hitting the Blue Jackets like crazy and mucking it up in front of the net. It was great seeing the scrums in front of Ozzie's net. That never happened during the regular season. Even Pav4Hart got into it. Major props also to Jonathan Ericksson. Kid's first playoff game and he nets the winner. Also played 15min of solid D. But the first star of the game has to be Ozzie. He was unbelievable. He thwarted every decent Blue Jacket chance. Kept his team in the game, and, in short, played his best game since last season.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Bad Boys

Mercifully, it's over. 39-43. Last season, the Pistons won 59 games. That's a shocking 20 fewer wins this season, with roughly the same cast. The entire organization, from Joe D to Walter Sharpe, should be embarrassed. They didn't deliver, and they turned-off a huge chunk of the fanbase.

Can they rebound? The short answer is yes. They could certainly tank the next few seasons and build the team through the draft. That would at least point the team in a tangible direction. My guess is that Joe doesn't want to sacrifice any more seasons, especially after this year's debacle. What has he learned? What can help this team regain contender status?

  • Rodney Stuckey, though not a rookie, played like one. That's both a compliment and an insult. He was tremendously inconsistent - on 1/14/09, he scored 30 against the Pacers, and, in the following game aginast the worst team in the league (OKC), he scored 3. Yet, he did exhibit flashes of brilliance, especially in December, with a heroic 40pts against rookie of the year, Derrick Rose. Is he Chris Paul? No. But I believe he has the tools to be a great point guard, if he addresses one main concern in the offseason - limit the turnovers.
  • Will Bynum. Wow. What a great find. Assuming Joe D re-signs this guy (he's a free agent), he'll play a huge role in the upcoming years. Will possesses the skill and determination to be a consistent threat on both ends of the court. As Piston fans like to mention, he's more of a true PG than Stuckey. That may be true, but I also believe Stuckey's NBA-size grants him a bigger upside. Nevertheless, Bynum should get major minutes next season (20+).
  • Rip Hamilton is the face of the team. He's the best player and leader. After getting sent to the bench in favor of AI, Dumars should send Rip a bouquet of flowers. Rip is in his prime, and his style of play translates well to the post-season. Build around him. Don't screw with his head with worthless trade rumors.
  • Kwame Brown doesn't suck. He actually performed above expectations this season and may have a role going forward. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Maxiell. He proved effective in short bursts but invisible in the long haul. Maxiell was often on the court when the opposition would go on a run. As much as I like the guy's energy, that can't be ignored.
  • Dice rules. But, like Maxiell, only in short bursts. At 25 minutes a game, Dice can be amongst the most dominant power forwards in the game, especially on the glass. At 40 minutes a game, he'll fade faster than sunset in Ecuador. Dumars will no doubt try to bring him back, but, after this debacle, will he want to? I doubt it. Expect Dice to sign with Cleveland, Boston, or Orlando.

From my perspective, the Pistons are in decent shape at 1 & 2, especially considering Afflalo is a capable backup as well. The 3, 4, and 5 spots are huge question marks. Who knows what to make of Tayshaun? If ever there was a time to have a breakout season, this would've been it. The fact that he managed only 14.3 pts/game leads me to believe Tayshaun may never be more than a role player. He's a serviceable 3, but, if he's the starter, the team needs a backup that can score. At 4 & 5, the team needs defense. Most of the offseason news will center around Carlos Boozer and Elton Brand. Those dudes are often injured and don't play D. This team needs inside defensive presence like Tyson Chandler. He won't cost as much either.

Yet, more than anything, the team needs a mental overhaul. They need to establish an identity. What's worked in the past will work again -- become the defensive juggernaut from year's past. Focus almost exclusively on dominating the paint. Detroit should never try to be the run-and-gun Lakers. The Pistons need to put aside the ranger - become who they were born to be - the freakin' Bad Boys.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Rasheed


In all likelihood, Rasheed Wallace will play only 5 more games for the Pistons. While his play has often been maddening, I, for one, will be sad to see him leave. While most fans care only about wins and losses, the NBA strives first to entertain. That credo exposes the league open to some widespread criticism (i.e. "superstar treatment"), but, from Jordan to Kobe to Lebron, the league has thrived - especially compared to its fellow secondary sport, hockey.


When viewing entertainment value as the core NBA commodity, Rasheed Wallace is an MVP. From his pre-game dance-a-thon to the bizarre facial grimaces after bad calls to his coining of phrases (this blog's namesake), Rasheed is an eternal wellspring of fantastic and unpredictable entertainment.


And his game aint too shabby either. When he came to Detroit in '04, he was known mostly as an offensive power forward. Yet, paired with Ben Wallace, he became a defensive powerhouse, flying around the court, blocking shots, launching threes, earning T's, and, in general, wreaking havoc. He served as a mentor to the younger players and was viewed as the consummate teammate. The label of "cancer" just didn't seem to fit. Sure, he's had his massive gaffes - none bigger than double-teaming Ginobli during Game 5 of the Finals in '05 that left Horry open for a 3 - but his positive impact will far outweigh the negative. And he's never failed to entertain. He's a true original and will be missed.
And just as a footnote, if Joe D and Rasheed decide to give it another go for '09-'10, I won't complain. Paired with a dominant big man, Sheed could still provide a spark.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Curry

20-31. That's the Pistons record in 2009. While it's easy to blame the coach, I watch enough basketball to know when a team is undisciplined. Yes, Curry seems to use his timeouts at the correct time, but I'm not exactly sure what information he imparts. Against the Bulls tonight, with the score tied, my guess is that Curry's play was for Stuckey to dribble around a bit and then dish to Rasheed for a double-pump 3pt contested shot.

Many of the current Pistons are former all-stars, but it's painfully obvious they require leadership. Neither floor-leader Stuckey nor head coach Curry provide that right now. For better or worse, the team is stuck with Stuckey, but they can easily dump Curry. I think we've all seen enough.

Inge=HOF (update)

This afternoon, Brandon went 0-3, with one strikeout, leaving 3 men on base. The "That Ball Don't Lie" curse continues...

Inge=HOF

The subject refers to a message board thread that's existed on the Tigers' ESPN website since, roughly, 2001. I rarely frequent the ESPN message forum, instead opting for MLive, but I had a feeling the infamous thread would still feature prominently. This morning, as I clicked on "Boards" from the Tigers Team Page, staring back at me as the top thread was "Inge=HOF!!!"

Granted, Inge=HOF!!! is a retooling of the original Inge=HOF, and the first message on the current thread is "might as well start it up again" dated October 2, 2006 - likely the night after one of Brandon's errors in the World Series. For the record, HOF stands for "Hall of Fame."


Why would Brandon Inge inspire an eight year thread dedicated to his status as a Hall of Famer? The answer is both obvious and nebulous. This is a guy who burst onto the Tigers as a talented defensive catcher with a rocket arm. His bat needed some work, but he had a knack for clutch hits. Even during the dreaded '03 season, Brandon notched a key hit off Roger Clemens to thwart his 300th win. The addition of Pudge Rodriguez pushed Brandon out of the catcher spot, but he responded with decent power numbers as a third-baseman in '06 (.256BA, 29HR and 83RBI).

The aforementioned errors in the '06 World Series signalled a downward trend for poor Brandon. In '07, he hit .236, and then a disastrous .205 in '08 - a season where he spent much of the year below the .200 mark. Not many major leagues earn another invite back to the club after hitting .205, and Brandon Inge, despite such gifted physical tools, seemed destined for Bobby Higginson ignominy. The popularity of "Inge=HOF" surged to great new heights in '08. His travails were fodder for this now-dripping-with-irony HOF thread.

But the story does not end with a quiet dismissal from Dave Dombrowski. Brandon Inge did indeed receive another invite back to the big club. In '09, he was promised he wouldn't be shuffled back-and-forth from catcher to utility IF/OF. He would settle back as the regular 3rd baseman - a bitter pill for long-time fans to swallow. And then something shocking happened... Brandon began the season with a homerun - and not just a rinky-dink pop fly that narrowly reaches the seats. Brandon absolutely crushed the ball. Then he did it again in Game 2, in the 9th inning to tie the game. Then he did it AGAIN in Game 3. And that brings us to perhaps the crowning achievement in the career of Brandon Inge - yesterday's game against the Rangers.

Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the 8th, Brandon Inge led off with an opposite field home run. That hit spurred a rally, and the Tigers would score 3 more runs to tie the score. After Gerald Laird struck out, Inge found himself at the plate yet again that inning, with the bases loaded and two outs. Brandon Inge - Mr. ".205" - screamed a liner right up the gut for a clutch two-run single.

Despite the lead, the Tigers still had to hold off the Rangers in the top of the 9th. The first batter bunted, trying to catch Brandon playing too deep at 3rd. The ball dribbled slowly up the 3rd base line, under the grasp of Fernando Rodney. Yet, like a bald eagle swooping down to catch a jumping salmon mid-flight, Brandon Inge bare-handed the grounder and whipped the throw to first to get the out. Late inning errors were Brandon's trademark, but not on this day. This was Brandon's Day. On April 12, 2009, Brandon Inge did equal Hall of Fame!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Consistency

"Finding that consistency has been really tough."
-Michael Curry, after the Pistons beat the Nets 4/10/09

It's extremely difficult to find any semblance of consistency when you're continually tinkering with the lineup. Case in point: Amir Johnson was a starter at the beginning of the season. Now, Amir's lucky to sniff the floor. Kwame Brown has gone from role player to starter to end of bench and then back to starter. Is it any surprise that it's been difficult to find that consistency, Coach Curry?

In MC's defense, his hand was somewhat forced. He's dealing with a spoiled fanbase that wants immediate results. He's also dealing with massive egos. But Curry's a professional, and he gets paid seven figures to get some wins. Perhaps his biggest mistake was the handling of Rip Hamilton. To coddle the AI ego, Curry sent Rip to the bench. Rip was a core member of the championship team and the only consistent offensive threat in the playoffs every year. Send him to the bench? Please. Yet, Rip swallowed his pride, and Curry eventually saw the error of his ways. But it's like Curry is learning on the job. Detroit fans need a seasoned coach, not a rook. Will Joe D fire Curry after just one season?

3-3
To avoid any potential jinx I may give the Tigers, I will avoid singing their praises after two straight wins. Instead, I'll expound upon my extreme disappointment in the fielding. Supposed "defensive-specialist" Adam Everett has two errors in five games. Both errors resulted in multi-run innings. When you're brought on a team for one purpose - fielding - you better freakin' field! Geez. Nevertheless, it's early, and perhaps Mr. Everett will go the rest of the year without an error and I'll eat major crow. If not, I'd rather see Santiago get some run at SS. At least he's a minor threat at the plate.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

That Ball Don't Lie Curse?

After singing the praises of the Wings and Tigers, both teams proceeded to lose their next games in inglorious fashion. It was the same old story for the Red Wings -- leading 3-1 late in the 3rd period, they gave up two goals and then lost in the shootout.

Is it bad defense? Bad goalkeeping? Perhaps a little of both. If other fans around the country are wondering why Red Wings' fans are extremely pessimistic about their team's playoff chances, look no further than this loss. With that said, Pavel Datsyuk, despite no points, still looked awesome. I stand by my call that he's Hart-worthy.

Opening Day
Tomorrow's the home opener for the Tigers. Despite the 1-3 record and complete lack of excitement about the team, the folks in Detroit still jump at any excuse to get loaded, and Opening Day is that excuse. In an odd development, a handful of church leaders in this area are raising a stink about Opening Day conflicting with Good Friday. It's the Tiger's faithful vs the actual faithful. Why can't folks go to church and then watch some baseball? The Tigers' fans will be suffering all day anyway.

RedHawks
And how about a shout-out to the Miami RedHawk hockey team?! They beat Bemidji St to advance to the Championship final. It's the school's first national title game in any sport. Miami will play Boston U or Vermont this Saturday on ESPN.

1-3

After last season's 0-7 start, I figured the Tigers would focus more on avoiding another slow April. Today's loss leaves the team at 1-3, including one gut-punch collapse.

They're playing with fire. The team does not have the luxury of saying, "it's a 162 game season." The fans are skittish. If they smell another loser, they'll abandon the team early, and Comerica will be empty from June through September. That's why these opening games are so crucial.

Bill Simmons on ESPN.com predicted a Tigers firesale within a few weeks. So far, the team is headed that way.

Swagger

Stones

"We'll definitely get our swagger back (in the playoffs)."
-Rasheed

I wish I had his confidence. Of course, what else is he going to say? "We're planning to get swept by the Cavs"? I like Sheed's mentality, but I just don't buy it. Despite last night's blowout win, the Pistons are playing out the string. They're not in the same situation as the Bulls or Charlotte or Philly. They're not building toward the championship. They're about to blow it up. The players know that. You can see it in their body language, and in the wins and losses.

The Chauncey trade blew up in Joe's face not because AI was so much worse than Chauncey. It was more a mental shift. The trade signalled that the run was over. The team needed to start anew and with a different cast. Without the support of the management, the team's chemistry (and goodwill) vanished. The losses piled up, and the entire situation spiraled out of control. That's the 2008/09 Pistons. With a renewed sense of confidence - and a defense-first big man - the Pistons of next season should be playoff-bound. Right?



Los Tigres

Gotta give them credit. The Tigers won in impressive fashion last night. It was the formula for success that should've earned them a win the night before too. Timely power hitting (thanks to Cabrera and, gasp, Inge!), solid starting pitching, and capable relief. Of course, it was the relief that let them down earlier. Leyland got a chance to see that Perry has major league stuff. And, even though I almost threw-up in my mouth when I saw Rodney warming up, he did not surrender a hit. Good win. Now do it again.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Switch Flipped

Pav4Hart
Lost in the shuffle of the monumental collapse of MSU and the gut-punch losses of the Tigers (more on that later) is the brief resurgence of the Wings. After losing three straight, the Wings have won two in a row in impressive fashion. Both games were against mid-level teams fighting for a playoff spot. The Wings, with nothing to play for but pride, limited Minnesota and Buffalo to 2 and 1 goals, respectively. Against Buffalo, Osgood had a 97% save percentage. He should cut out that news clipping.

Hossa notched his 40th goal to cap an absolutely stellar season, and Pavel Datsyuk is a mere 3pts from becoming the first Red Wing since Fedorov to garner 100pts. While he's hardly on the radar, Datsyuk should be in consideration for the Hart trophy (MVP). He's 4th in the league in scoring and is the reigning best defensive forward. Despite the team giving up a ton of goals, Datsyuk is a +38. Alex Ovechkin may be the best scorer in the league, but Pav may be the best overall player.

Los Tigres
More of the same from our beloved Tigers last night. Since the past few posts have been stat-heavy, I'll continue the trend.

2009 Tigers
Blown Save Percentage = 100
Bullpen ERA = 11.1

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Stats

Baseball is all about stats. When I was a yoot, I would pore over the stats page in the sport section. In fact, my interest in sports began with a fascination with baseball stats. Other sports try to mimic baseball's mastery of meaningless (and some very meaningful) stats, but they pale in comparison. Football has the YAC, but baseball counters with the WHIP, OPS, and IBB. Stats and Baseball are like chocolate and peanut butter... Lennon & McCartney... Oates & Hall. They can exist apart, but they're infinitely less interesting.

Without further adieu, some prime stats for your 2009 Detroit Tigers:
Team ERA - 13.50
Team BA - .235
Opponent BA - .405

Monday, April 6, 2009

Bring on Baseball!



Interesting factoid from our beloved '08 Detroit Tigers:

After Todd Jones was bumped from the closer role, the Tigers blew 61% of their save opportunities.

Oh, the memories.


Bynum & Next Season

In a season of utter disappointment, Will Bynum has provided a pleasant surprise. In many ways, he's the point guard that fans want Stuckey to be. Those comparisons, I'm convinced, are unfair. Being a big, sharp shooting guard, Stuckey will always face critics who feel he's a shooting guard, playing out of position. Chauncey faced those same critics -- he wasn't a true point guard, he's too slow, he doesn't move the ball on offense, etc. Nobody in Detroit is saying that about Chauncey now. Without Chauncey running the point, the team went from 58 wins to 38. Thems the facts. So, Stuckey has the right skill set to play point, and, thankfully, he's got the skill set to play 2 when Bynum's in the game. And what more can be said about Bynum... from a journey-man bit player to scoring 26 points in ONE QUARTER? That's amazing. He's perhaps the best bargain in the NBA.

Assuming Dumars signs Bynum (big assumption), Bynum proved he's worth 20+ minutes either as a sub or starter. The Pistons could rotate between 4 solid guards with Bynum, Stuckey, Rip, and Afflalo. Yet, there are glaring holes at the other positions. Tay & Maxiell are under contract, so they will likely return. Unfortunately, that's hardly a competitive team. Dumars will need to find starter-worthy players for the 4 and 5 spots, and a competent backup for Tayshaun (something that's eluded Joe D for five years). Kwame Brown proved he can hold his own, so I wouldn't complain if he signed on again, but the team desperately needs a real big man threat.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Franzen's Goal

Just an amazing goal from Franzen in a losing effort last night. Falling down, the dude manages to sneak the puck in the net.

April Showers Bring May Showers

It's going to be a depressing Spring. We've become accustomed in this area to endure the dreary winter months on the hope that Spring would yield exciting, lengthy playoff runs by the Pistons & Wings. In recent years, we've even had reasons to be hopeful about the Tigers. In fact, the Tigers had the entire city decked out in Tiger caps and uniforms for opening day '08. I hadn't seen that much excitement for April baseball since '84.

This year will be starkly different. Opening Day will have its share of patrons, but they'll be there for tradition, not to see the baseball team. Any bullpen with Rodney as closer has to be considered a candidate for last place. The team is back to early-2000 levels of poor contract management. Following the buy high, sell low practices that once yielded the albatross contracts of Damion Easley and Bobby Higginson, Dombrowski now wakes up every morning staring at $14million for Sheffield (released), $10million for Dontrelle (anxiety disorder), $7million for Nate (long reliever?), and $6.3million for Inge (.205 BA). All that would be forgotten if they actually won. It'll take a miracle (or an actual closer).

Last year's Stanley Cup champions the Red Wings find themselves losers of 4 of 5. In the past two losses, they've given up 3 goals in the 3rd period. They are 20th in the league in Goals-against - though, to be fair, they're first in the NHL in goals-scored (by quite a significant margin). But it's not goals that win the Stanley Cup. They'll never escape the first round with the defense in its current state. There's hope they'll flip the switch and somehow provide the suffocating defense of years past, but they've shown no signs of that level of commitment this season. And Osgood and Conklin look about as reliable as my Buick.

On to the sorriest state of affairs - my beloved Pistons. The franchise simply attracts drama. Yet, this season, instead of a championship run, followed by a summer of drama, it's going to be a sub-500 finish and perhaps a major implosion at 5 Championship Lane. We all know Curry should be let go, but is Dumars job safe? The hiring of Curry, followed by the disastrous trade for AI, and the continued mismanagement of Richard Hamilton would be grounds for dismissal for a lesser GM. I'd say Dumars deserves another year. Can he parlay the cap space into a big man? Does he have the cajones to fire his bud, Curry? Can he find a coach to actually help Stuckey improve? The team is in shambles, and, for the first time since George Irvine, the players look like they hate their job.


So, let's hope for sunny weather this Spring, cuz there aint no reason to stay inside!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Soccer, Soccer, Soccer, Hey!

Last weekend, the US men's soccer team played El Salvadore in a World Cup Qualifier. While they continually pressured El Salvadore, they rarely came close to scoring. El Salvador's counter-attacking gameplan worked like a charm, and, after 70min, El Salvador found themselves shocking the US with a 2-0 lead.

The second goal woke the US up, and they subbed out ineffective Heath Pearce and Sacha Kljestan and inserted Jozy Altidore and Jose Torres. Those two had an immediate impact, and, thanks to a rejuvenated Frankie Hejduk, the US scored two goals, and the game ended in a draw. Many folks would think the US should destroy a small minnow like El Salvador, but we know that just isn't how things go in World Cup qualifying. Every team, on their home soil, play inspired soccer, and the conditions usually favor the home squad dramatically. Even in 2009, it's no shame to draw with El Salvador. Disappointing? Yes. But not unexpected.

So, it was with renewed determination that the US met Trinidad & Tobago last night in their 3rd of 10 qualifying games. Despite the draw with El Salvador, the US was atop the hex, with 4 points. Mexico and Costa Rica were in second, with 3pts each.

Bob Bradley figured the Heath Pearce experiment at left back was finished, so he tested Damarcus Beasley there. Altidore, on the strength of a strong performance (and goal) against El Salvador, got the nod at striker with Brian Ching. Otherwise, it was the usual suspects for the US. No doubt, the home soil inspired the yanks. They came out on fire, with Ching almost scoring from a sharp angle within 5 minutes. It was Ching again in the 12th minute who took a long pass from Bocanegra and flicked it to an onrushing Donovan. LD chested the ball down and sent a low cross into the box. Altidore was the first to it and buried it home for a 1-0 lead. The US did not ease up. Dempsey and Donovan were zig-zagging all over the field and springing Hejduk and Beasley with heel passes and nifty flicks. Honestly, it was a level of skill rarely seen from the US.

Despite countless chances (including Altidore missing at point-blank range - somehow putting the ball over the crossbar), the first half ended 1-0. T&T came out of the locker room determined to get the equalizer. For about 20min, they brought the game and managed a few shots on goal. Tim Howard, though, was not severely tested, and Jozy notched his 2nd goal of the night on another assist from Donovan. At that point, T&T's already lax defense threw in the towel. They let the US run all over them. A few minutes later, Michael Bradley found himself alone out wide. He passed across the field to Donovan, who, like a good gentleman, waited for the T&T defense to recover, then passed to Altidore. Altidore one-timed the shot low and scored his 3rd of the night. The poor keeper, shellshocked from the constant pressure and with a heavy heart due a sick sister, should've made the save. I felt sorry for him.

Nevertheless, it was a dominant performance by the US. Quite a rebound from the El Salvador game. Donovan, while hardly a factor the previous game, excelled at left midfield. Beasley performed admirably in his first stint at left defense. And Altidore - what more can be said? He's 19 and notched a hat trick. Sublime performance.

Right now, the US is on track for another World Cup appearance. Keep winning the home games and get draws on the road. That's not going to raise to many eyebrows in Europe, but it gets the job done.

The Nets

In case you needed any more proof that the '08-'09 Pistons are a team in shambles, I submit last night's game against the Nets. With the playoffs in the balance, the Pistons proceeded to get beat down by a 31-43 team. No focus.

Joe really has his work cut out for him in the summer. His hope was to take a gamble on Iverson for this season, free up cap space, and then add one or two key pieces for the following season. Looking at the team now, they are more than just one season away. My guess is they'll need perhaps 3 or 4 seasons to regain elite status - and that's if everything goes right (Stuckey becomes an All-star, Afflalo develops into a competent 2, Hamilton remains reliable, they find some gems in the draft, and they land a prominent big man who can defend). That's just too much to hope for. I don't see it happening. It's more likely the Pistons will wallow in mediocrity for the foreseeable future.

For the record, Iverson is now saying he'd rather retire than come off the bench. This is after TWO GAMES as a non-starter. Geez. At least Hamilton waited until the team went 4-12 with him as a sub. I thought Iverson would do whatever it took to help the team win? Yes, he comes out looking like an egomaniac, but I think he's rallying a bit against the anti-Iverson sentiment emanating from the Palace. Piston beat writers have been writing anti-Iverson articles for weeks now. It's a sad situation. If I've learned anything about the Pistons over the years... it's that they're full of drama.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Ugh, Lions news (in April!)

More news about Cutler this morning. The Broncos are *officially* soliciting trade offers. If I were the Lions, I would part with the 2nd round pick and nothing more, and there's no way Denver would accept anything less than a 1st. Tons of Lions fans feel Cutler is worth the 1st overall. The theory is the 1st overall is as much a burden as a gift. Teams are forced to pay 1st overall picks an exorbitant amount of money. That's not the right way of looking at it.

The Lions need to realize that they have an opportunity to pick any freakin' player they want! Imagine if they could go back in time and select Julius Peppers? Jake Long? Mario Williams? They need to focus on getting the best possible player. And I don't think that player is Cutler. His antics bely a personality that wouldn't fit great in the D. Besides, if Cutler aint happy in Denver, why would he be happy at 0-16 Detroit? Just keep the pick, and get the best player. I don't want to hear that 1st overall money is too much to spend on a LB. If Curry is the best player, then draft him. This team does not have the luxury of picking for position. They need everything.

They Try

Yet another frustrating game against the Cavs last night. They try and try but can't seem to get over the hump. The key point of the game came with about four or five minutes to play -- Bynum brought the ball up with the Pistons up 1. He turned it over, and Lebron streaked down the court for a fast break. Bynum grabbed him, but not enough to prevent Lebron from doing a 360 twirl, nailing the shot and one.

That play spurred an 8-0 run that effectively shut the door on the Stones. The Pistons proceeded to turn the ball over three more times. This crunch time collapse (specifically with the turns) is where they miss Chauncey the most. Both Stuckey and Bynum have shown flashes of brilliance, but they'll never lead their team to consistent wins without protecting the ball. I'm still very much in favor of those two as point guards, but ball-possession should be their main focus this offseason.

In other news, Nate got bombed yesterday. It's possible he's still feeling the effects of a hand injury or perhaps he just blows out of the bullpen. Either way, he's not yet regained '06 form. The good news is that Porcello pitched extremely well as the starter. What I find interesting is that they haven't stretched Porcello to six or seven innings. If he's gonna make the roster as a starter, shouldn't he be ready to pitch past the 5th?