This weekend, I was invited to a mini-high school reunion/get-together in south Florida.    One of my best buddies and future subject of tennis elbow surgery, Mario A, invited me down a day early for a Florida Marlins game.  (Mario and I once played tennis alongside the Swedish national team featuring Mats Wilander and a young Stefan Edberg, bombarding them with newly released, over-sized tennis balls… but that’s a story for another time).  As it’s unlike me to refuse a free ticket to a sporting event of any kind, I cordially accepted his invitation and off we went to Dolphin Stadium to see Florida take on the NL West leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

Starting for the Marlins was (7-4) Ricky Nolasco.  Despite the fact that the Marlins were recently swept by the best team in Florida, the Rays, they seemed likely to bounce back against D-backs’ starter Micah Owings, who must be allergic to hitting 90 mph on the radar gun.

Now I know it’s a Friday night in South Florida and there’s plenty to do, but let’s just say the reported 15,290 spectators in the crowd was an EXTREMELY generous figure.  In fact, there were so few people in the stands, every fan had the luxury of having their face on the Jumbotron… TWICE!  And on Venezuelan appreciation night, even the pretty Marlin media rep walking around the stadium asking fans random trivia questions honored Venezuelan heritage by mispronouncing the name of infielding great Luis Apar-A-cio.

After attending a game in Fenway Park earlier this season, Friday night’s Marlins game really had the feel of a triple AAA contest… and this is with two of the better teams in the National League playing.  Despite the fact that the young Marlins are having a fantastic season (currently three games over .500, 1 ½ games back in the NL East), their fan support is sorely lacking.  How south Florida can approve funding for a new stadium is beyond me.  Perhaps I should inform whichever governing body approved that move that I have a bridge to sell.

Those who chose not to attend the game missed an outstanding pitching performance from starter Ricky Nolasco.  Nolasco had a rough first inning.  After giving up ten pitches and a base hit to lead-off hitter Stephen Drew, Nolasco tallied 33 pitches in the first inning.  Drew eventually scored on a misplayed fly ball by Marlin left-fielder Josh Willingham.  It looked like it was going to be a short night for the starter in teal.

Then Nolasco settled in nicely.  Combined with a perfectly called game by his battery mate Matt Treanor, Nolasco’s command soon became dominant.  Nolasco retired 19 of the final 22 batters he faced and 12 of his last 13, six of which he struck out.  Nolasco has been on a tear lately, easing comfortably into the role of Marlin’s ace.

When the Marlins finished batting in their half of the eighth, Mario and I questioned whether the Marlins manager would let Nolasco pitch the ninth for a shot at a complete game.  We also wondered if we were the only two in the stands thinking that.  Although having thrown 120 pitches, Nolasco was in total control of the Diamondback lineup.  He had allowed one sharp hit in the eighth, but otherwise was keeping opposing batters off balance with a nice mix of fastballs (still hitting 92 on the gun) and off-speed pitches.

Mario and I couldn’t recall the last time we had seen a complete game live, or if we ever had.  Which got me to thinking…. with such concern about a pitcher’s longevity, where does the modern game rank in terms of complete games and innings pitched compared to years past.

Simply put, there is no comparison.  In this respect, the game has changed dramatically.  No pitcher in either the American or National League has double digits in complete games since 1999, when Randy Johnson led the majors with twelve.  For the eight years before that, at least one pitcher in either league finished in double digits in complete games.  And for every year since the turn of the century prior to 1990, whoever led their league in complete games had at least ten.  By comparison, last year C. C. Sabathia and Aaron Harang led the majors with six.  The complete game is unquestionably a lost art and if managers and ownership had their way, perhaps a forgettable one.

Similarly, innings pitched among starters are down.  The last starting pitcher to hurl 300  innings in single season was Steve Carlton in 1980.  No pitcher in either league has thrown that many innings since Lefty, but for the twenty years prior to 1980, whoever led the majors in innings pitched totaled over 300.

The game has changed.  For the better or for the worse is up to the fan to decide.  Mario and I are of the old school.  Nolasco was dealing in the eighth!  Sure, maybe the bullpen needed the work.  Congratulations to Kevin Gregg by the way on his mesmerizing yet otherwise meaningless 14th save of the season.  I understand that owners and management must think long term about a pitcher’s career.  But they also should have given the four thousand fans in attendance something other than the victory to cheer about.  Unless, of course, Mario and I were the only two in the stands aware that Major League Baseball still keeps stats like complete games.  Or do they?

With modern athletes in better shape than their predecessors, pitchers should have the stamina to go the distance.  With the Marlins up 3-1 going into the ninth and the Diamondbacks still reeling from Nolasco’s impressive performance, Gregg shut them down in order.  That’s like Gregg getting to go home with the girl that Nolasco bought drinks for all night long.  From this fan’s perspective, seeing a CG on the back of Nolasco’s baseball card would have been much more impressive, and entertaining, than any S under Gregg’s.

I wasn’t in the dugout.  I don’t have the luxury of knowing whether Marlin manager Fredi Gonzalez asked Nolasco if he wanted to pitch the ninth.  It is much more likely that that decision has become automatic and predetermined.

In the discussion of untouchable records, people are quick to mention Ripken’s consecutive games played and Dimaggio’s hitting streak.  But in this day and age, one record that will NEVER be broken is Cy Young’s 749 career complete games.  No active pitchers are even in the top 100 in that category.  On a beautiful night in Miami, little did Mario and I know how close we came to witnessing rarity in person.

I was sitting in a bar the other night, post-game, sipping on my usual beverage of choice, when an odd thing happened.

Near closing time, one, extremely drunken female, apparently Florida born and bred, and becoming increasingly less attractive with every spoken word, began mouthing off with others in the bar.  It wasn’t long before she spouted out a common racial epithet that begins with the letter ‘N.’  There was no need for it, as if there ever is.  She just decided to openly display her ignorance in sloppy and inebriated fashion.  It was 1 a.m., in a dive bar in Florida, with a scant few remaining in the saloon.  While such language is not necessarily commonplace, it was a setting where one certainly wouldn’t be entirely surprised to hear it.

Suddenly, the gentleman she was jawing with from across the billiards table did something unexpected indeed.  Let me set the scene.  The guy was middle-aged, skinny and white, wearing a camouflage trucker cap, t-shirt and flip flops, tapping his toe to whatever random country song someone had recently requested on the jukebox.  He smoked Marlboros, hadn’t shaved in a while and also spoke with a heavy, Southern accent.  While the rest of the bar collectively rolled its eyes at this woman’s blathering, choosing to ignore her rather than enlighten her, this man opted for the high road.  He spoke up and told her that using that term was not right.

Imagine that.  Now I’ve seen everything!!!

Now don’t get me wrong.  His mini-sermon, no matter how inspirational yet oddly out of place, fell on deaf ears.  This woman was three sheets to the wind at that point and it was doubtful any sense or logic could have penetrated her stupor or demeanor.  Not surprisingly, I also overheard she was on probation.  But when a person, who by appearance, you’d likely expect to USE that term turns around and tells someone else that using that word is WRONG… well, to me, that’s an indication that we as a whole are, at least slowly, taking baby steps along the path to accepting and respecting one another’s differences, whether they’re racial, religious, socioeconomic or whatever else you care to throw in the mix.

This brings us to Willie Randolph.   The collapse of the 2007 New York Mets will live on in infamy.  Last year, on September 12, the Mets held a seven-game lead with 17 games left to play.  In a choke job for the ages, they ended up losing that division to the Philadelphia Phillies and missing the playoffs entirely.  These very same Mets have the third highest payroll in baseball.

After the collapse, Mets manager Willie Randolph was quoted as saying. "When you have the opportunity to seal the deal and you don't capitalize, it can come back to haunt you.”

Well, those words are ringing true and the Mets are still struggling a year later.

In response to his recent struggles, Randolph has played the race card.  He has implied that he’s a victim of extra criticism, not because his team is grossly underachieving, but because of the color of his skin, just as he claims Herman Edwards and Isiah Thomas experienced while also coaching in New York.  He was also careful to point out that Isiah did a poor job with the Knicks.  FYI, Randolph has significantly more talent on his roster relative to what Thomas or Edwards ever had on theirs.

Now, I don’t live in a vacuum and I’m aware that racism still exists and might always.  I’m sure Randolph has experienced bouts of racism throughout his career.  But the last time I checked most fans criticized Isiah Thomas not for the color of his skin, but for his ineptitude as a coach and his decision to sexually harass his employees.

Willie, you were a beloved sports figure with the Yankees.  When the Mets hired you, that move was lauded nationwide.  I know of few Mets fans that were not ecstatic about that hire.  In fact, they still want nothing more than for you to succeed.  Management has given you the tools with which to win and yet, your team struggles.  Had you not recently swept the A-Rodless Yankees, many speculated it might have meant your job.  If you can’t turn things around, it still might.

Inexplicably bringing race into the picture shifts the blame elsewhere when it should ultimately reside with you and what’s wrong within your clubhouse.  The Mets don’t stink because of the color of your skin, coach.  The Mets underachieve because you can’t get them to play together.  Playing the race card probably won’t do the trick.

Look, if Willie can point to something, someone, a journalist, a fan, a member of the organization that has specifically suggested racial overtones, then by all means, let it out and let the court of public opinion crucify this individual for their ignorance.  Until then, his comments smack of desperation and of a man who has lost touch of his ballclub.  Baseball fans expected better which is why we’ve expected his team to succeed.  We’ve held him to a higher standard.

I’m no Mets fan, but best of luck righting that ship.  And if you want to see some real racism, come on down to Florida.  Although you might just be surprised which characters champion the cause.

Recently, the four-letter sports network came up with yet another ‘Greatest of All-Time’ list in an attempt to fill air time…. err, entertain its viewers.  The flavor of the month this time around is ‘The Greatest Highlight’ of all-time, hosted by Chris Berman.  Months ago, the website listed 100 of the most famous moments in sports history and allowed contributors to vote on what they thought were the most memorable.  They narrowed it down to sixteen and are currently having an elimination bracket to determine the greatest highlight of all time.

Now, I don’t necessarily have a problem with that, and it’s hard to argue against any of the highlights they’ve included, i.e., Willie Mays’ catch, Doug Flutie’s pass, ‘the band is on the field,’ Bill Buckner’s error, Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception, Kirk Gibson’s, Babe Ruth’s, Carlton Fisk’s and Hank Aaron’s landmark home runs.  I think as sports fans, we all could view, and review, these moments over and over again.

What I DO have a problem with is Chris Berman RE-ANNOUNCING THOSE HIGHLIGHTS!!!  Listen, very often, much of what makes a highlight memorable is Marv Albert shouting “A spectacular move by Michael Jordan!!” or Al Michaels screaming “Do you believe in miracles?!?” or Vin Scully’s “I don't believe what I just saw!!!”  Instead, the four-letter opted to have Chris Berman, who by judging from the blogosphere, most of us are well tired of, announce the highlights as we're viewing them.  Do we really need to hear Chris Berman shout “He… could… go… all… the… way!” when Franco Harris catches the deflection and runs it into the end zone?  Harris caught that ball in 1972 before there even WAS an ESPN!!!  Can’t they just pipe in the regular audio and let the fan relive the moment without imposing their influence?  Had Havlicek’s steal made the top 16, would we be forced to listen to Berman’s blathering over Johnny Most’s historical recount?

When ESPN replayed Hank Aaron's 755th home run, I was forced to hear Berman shout a totally contrived “GONE!!!” at the top of his lungs.  Isn’t that defacing and defaming history?  While you’re at it why don’t you just take a can of spray paint and initial the side of the Lincoln monument?  Or better yet, have Berman re-announce the “I Have a Dream” speech.  “Here comes Dr. King… stepping up to the podium… back back back back back.”  Didn’t ESPN think this through?  Didn’t some exec suggest this might be a bad idea?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for celebrating the finer moments in sports history.  It helps take our minds away from what’s wrong with sports today.  But let’s do it properly and with taste, shall we? 

Apparently, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree as, Hank Steinbrenner, the newly appointed leader of one of the Big Apple’s most famous institutions is following in his father’s footsteps.  In the midst of baseball’s current baseball steroids scandal, which prominently figures two of New York’s most famous pitchers, Steinbrenner has publicly questioned why his sport is being singled out by these investigations and why more attention isn’t being paid to the NFL.

Steinbrenner recently got off this ingenius quote.  "I don't like baseball being singled out…. Everybody that knows sports knows football is tailor-made for performance-enhancing drugs. I don't know how they managed to skate by. It irritates me. Don't tell me it's not more prevalent. The number in football is at least twice as many. Look at the speed and size of those players."  An NFL spokesperson quickly responded that the NFL began random testing for steroids in 1990.

Twice as many??  Does that mean if 75% of major league baseball players were on the juice in the 1990s, that 150% of the NFL was also?  Hank, it wasn’t the NFL that turned a blind eye to its rampant, drug problem for the sake of self-promotion.  Anyone that knows sports knows THAT!

Now with all this slander love that’s floating around between Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee, can’t the NFL get a little action on this?  One would think with allegations like that, the NFL could soon OWN the Yankee franchise.  Perhaps Baby Steinbrenner isn’t aware that the National Football League has consistently had one of professional sports’ most strenuous drug-testing policies around.  The league is also far more consistent in penalizing its players for such violations, which is more that can be said for major league baseball.  Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are currently being persecuted and having their legacies tarnished while others mentioned in a thoroughly incomplete Mitchell report are not being penalized at all???  How’s that for consistency and self-regulation.

Yes, the NFL’s players are generally larger in stature than those who play major league baseball; the sport calls for it.  Perhaps if these mammoths of men sported pot-bellies instead of bulging biceps, they could have tried out for their college baseball teams.  Instead these athletes opted for the NFL because… it’s a better league and a far more, exciting product.

So Hank, perhaps you should take a lesson from your father, who has mellowed out considerably over the years.  Growing up a Red Sox fan, as much as I hated King George, the respect he demands in baseball is undeniable.  At least we now have a new Steinbrenner to hate.  In the future, try thinking before you speak.  Oh, and don’t be surprised if you soon hear back from those ‘juiced up’ football players who you unwisely accused of wrongdoing.  I hope that works out for ya’.

"The banishment for life of Pete Rose from baseball is the sad end of a sorry episode. One of the game's greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts. By choosing not to come to a hearing before me, and by choosing not to proffer any testimony or evidence contrary to the evidence and information contained in the report of the Special Counsel to the Commissioner, Mr. Rose has accepted baseball's ultimate sanction, lifetime ineligibility." 

Statement by then Commissioner
of Baseball, A. Bartlett Giamatti,
August 24, 1989

It’s been nearly twenty years since late baseball Commissioner Giamatti uttered those fateful words.  And during that period, few sports stories have drawn as much media attention or polarized a fan base as the Pete Rose gambling scandal.  Hardcore Cincinnati Reds or Pete Rose fans will have you believe that Rose, because of his performance on the field as a player, should be allowed admittance into the Hall of Fame.  Rose was undoubtedly one of the greatest hitters of his generation.  He holds countless major league records.  His on-field legacy is undeniable and no one can take that away from him.  Those opposing his induction argue that Rose, as a major league manager, wagered on the outcome of baseball games, including those he was involved in, and thus violated the most basic and ethical rules of the sport.  As it stands right now, Rose is still banished from the sport and there are no indications he will be invited back any time soon.

The Rose story first broke in 1989, when baseball officials announced they were looking into alleged gambling violations by the former Reds superstar.  At that time, Rose was managing in Cincinnati.  In May of that year, Commissioner Giamatti received the infamous Dowd Report, a 225-page document outlining Rose’s alleged illegal activity.  In August, Rose agreed to a lifetime ban, all the while admitting he never bet on baseball.  In 1991, members of baseball’s Hall of Fame voted unanimously to keep Pete Rose off the ballot in his first year of eligibility.  In 1997, Rose applied unsuccessfully for reinstatement.

After lying to the public and his fans about his gambling habits for over a decade, Rose has in recent years come forth and admitted he did, in fact, bet on baseball.  In 2003, Rose, after years of deception, admitted that not only did he bet on the Reds every game, but he would wager as much as $10,000 per game on his team to win.  He said he did so because he always felt his team would be victorious.  Rose still claims he never bet against his team.  The Dowd report never uncovered any information indicating Rose bet against the Reds.

Before continuing, let’s review Major League Baseball rule 21(d), which is posted in every major league clubhouse and of which every major league ball player or coach is made aware: 

“Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.”

While we currently live in a society where professional athletes run wild, abuse (or allegedly murder) their spouses, physically confront fans, engage in random gunfire, use illicit or performance-enhancing drugs, house illegal gambling rings, make inane racial commentary, drive drunk and barter for tens of millions of dollars in annual salary, we are somewhat to blame for their behavior.  It is we the fans who put these athletes on a pedestal, then complain when they fail to meet the standards we set for them.  Although gambling pales in comparison to some of these aforementioned violations, it is still illegal in most parts of this country.

It is inarguably immoral to gamble on an event of which you can directly affect the outcome.  It is cheating.  Bottom line.  Just as insider trading is illegal on Wall Street, placing a wager on a professional or college sporting event when you are a direct participant is unethical.  Pete Rose did just that… and consistently.  Lying about it was just the icing on the cake.

Baseball’s Hall of Fame is reserved for the elite of the elite.  It is much more difficult to get into than its counterparts in Springfield, Massachusetts and Canton, Ohio.  And despite being the all-time hit king, major league baseball has done the right thing by continuing to exclude Pete Rose from induction into Cooperstown.  The rules are explicit.  He knew about them and he broke them.  To make an exception for Rose, simply because of his talent as a player would be inconsistent and inappropriate.  It would reward a man for cheating and lying. 

The Hall of Fame carefully selects its members based on “the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.”  Although Rose wagered on baseball as a manager and not as a player, you can not separate the ‘integrity’ and ‘character’ from the Rose the player and Rose the manager.  These men are one and the same.  To admit into the Hall Rose would be the equivalent of telling baseball fans nationwide that it is okay to cheat, as long as you’re good at what you do.  We can not redefine ‘permanently ineligible’ for Mr. Rose just because he holds the all-time hit record.

Pete Rose let down his teammates, his fans and himself by gambling on baseball.  For that indiscretion, he is now paying the price of a lifetime as Rose will not, and should not, be allowed to go to the window and collect that final winning ticket.

SHE SAID:  On Pete Rose

 HE SAID:  On the All-Star Game

SHE SAID: On the All-Star Game

HE SAID: On Grant Hill

SHE SAID:  On Grant Hill

The following point/counter-point article will hopefully become a running series between me and fellow Fox Sports contributor, Bluegrass Lady.  Much like those infamous duos who paved the way for us, i.e., Jane Curtain & Dan Aykroyd, Barbara Walters & Harry Reasoner, and Han Solo & Princess Leia, we will look to debate, discuss and provide alternative perspectives in the world of sports.

This week marks the mid-point of the major league baseball season, to be celebrated on Tuesday with the 78th annual All-Star Game in all its regalia.

Traditionally, baseball’s All-Star Game was strictly an exhibition game between the most popular athletes the American and National League had to offer.  That all changed in 2002 when the All-Star Game was declared a 7-7 draw after 11 innings.  Fans went into an uproar, asking how such a disaster could come to pass.  Commissioner Bud Selig took the brunt of the blame. 

That off-season, Selig decided to shake things up a bit.  The Commissioner proposed that the outcome of the All-Star Game (from here on out, there would be an outcome) would determine home-field advantage in the World Series.  The proposal was discussed in the 2002-2003 off-season and team owners voted unanimously to approve Selig’s suggestion.

Selig has received considerable heat for this controversial change to the Midsummer classic.  Baseball purists continue to question why an exhibition game, played between players who might not play in the post-season, and managed by managers who will not manage in the post-season, should have any bearing on who gets an extra, October home game.

Consider the alternative, however.

Before 2003, home field advantage in the World Series was assigned arbitrarily by year and NOT by the team with the best overall record.  While home field advantage in the wild-card rounds and the League Championship Series is rewarded by merit to teams with the best records, prior to 2003, the extra World Series home game alternated by year, with the American League team getting the first two (and last two, if necessary) home games in even-numbered years and the National League awarded the extra game in odd-numbered years.  Sounds fair, doesn’t it?

While you might think home field advantage in baseball isn’t as important as in other sports, think again.  From 1990 through 2002, before the rule change, the team with home-field advantage won the World Series nine out of twelve times, with the only exceptions being the ’99 Yankees, the ’92 Blue Jays, and the ’90 Reds.  Over that same period, the team with the better regular season record only had home-field advantage in the World Series FOUR TIMES (’02 Angels, ’98 Yankees, ‘97 Marlins, ’91 Twins).  All four of those teams were crowned champions, meaning EIGHT times during that period, teams that held a better regular season record than their opponent did NOT receive home-field privileges in the World Series.

In 2001, the Diamondbacks had a worse regular season record than the Yankees yet received home field advantage because of the alternating years rule.  Arizona won that World Series in a seventh game in their home stadium.  In 1999, the Atlanta Braves had a better regular season record than the New York Yankees, yet didn’t have home field advantage to show for it.  In 1992, the Atlanta Braves won more games than the Blue Jays, yet Toronto was awarded home field advantage simply because it was the American League’s year.  Toronto also won that World Series.

Since Selig changed the rule in 2003, the outcome of the All-Star Game has had little bearing on who won the World Series.  While the American League has won the past four All-Star Games, National League teams have actually won two of the last four pennants (’03 Marlins, ’06 Cardinals).

So the argument that the All-Star Game should not affect the post-season does not hold water for it is clearly a dramatic improvement over the arbitrary and inequitable system that preceded it.

Selig’s intention by proposing this change was to add relevance to the All-Star Game.  In that respect, he succeeded.  The fact that the All-Star Game affects the post-season gives the contest new meaning.  Prior to that, the Commissioner was concerned players were taking the game lightly and not giving their best effort.  Clearly the decision has generated quite a bit of scuttlebutt.  It has probably affected how managers manage and players play out the contest.  That’s not a bad thing.

Commissioner Selig deserves plenty of criticism for his tenure over major league baseball, but not for altering this rule.  As seen recently, it has had little, if any, bearing on the World Series to date, and until another rule change is proposed, it is a dramatic improvement over the system that existed beforehand.

This way to She Said: On Selig

Links to last week's He Said/She Said:

HE SAID:  On Grant Hill

SHE SAID: On Grant Hill

For those of you who failed to tune in to Thursday's 'low'light of Yankees' Hideki Matsui's fracturing his wrist in a diving effort to snare a short flyball, you missed a gruesome sight.  For those of you who WERE unlucky enough to witness it, what was the first thing that went through your mind?

In the first inning of this week's rubber match between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, Hideki Matsui attempted to catch a short Mark Loretta blooper to rightfield... only to find his left wrist snapped by an unyielding collision against the righttfield grass.

Yet, amazingly, with his wrist dangling violently from his arm, seemingly contained only by the pinstripes of his uniform, Matsui's first instinct was NOT to writhe in pain, but to grab the baseball that had eluded his glove and try to make the play at second base.  However, national sportswriters and broadcasters have failed to mention this, citing only that the injury would cause Matsui to miss his next start, ending his consecutive games played streak at 518, the longest Yankee streak since Lou Gehrig.

Perhaps viewers and commentators should pay closer to attention to what truly matters: the fact that this athlete gave of his body, well-being and perhaps the remainder of his season in an effort to compete at the highest level.  For this, I commend athletes like Matsui, who give of themselves for our entertainment and enjoyment at their own expense.

Best wishes, Godzilla, for a speedy recovery!