Now that I am no longer officially connected with the University Athletic Association, I can say some things that I never could or chose not to before out of loyalty to the athletes and coaches that I worked with. And out of a general sense of loyalty to the Gators. Not that I am going to reveal any deep dark secrets. If I did know something, I would never tell, and I don't so you don't have to worry!
No, this is a general response to Saturday's game in the Swamp. Gator fans are supposed to be some of the best in the country. We make the swamp one of the toughest places to play in America with the noise and the heat and the...... Wait, did I say heat? There have been hotter games than this past Saturday, so if heat is what kept fans away, then something must have been wrong with the thermometer. Maybe if you fraternity guys and gals would stop trying to be Auburn or Alabama and give up the wearing of long sleeved button downed shirts and ties and semi-formal dresses then you wouldn't be so hot or have to take off your shirt completely before halftime! I promise that I heard a young lady sitting next to me for about five minutes before it was just too hot to stay say more about the colors the players were wearing than the game itself. What was worse was that the guy she was with was into that conversation more than the game. If you care more about a color scheme than a defensive scheme, please give the ticket to someone else and stay home and watch style shows on TV!
Now it was hot and I know that the students have to stand in the hot sun the entire game, but I did it this week as well. The point to the UAA is that if you want to keep the swamp as one of the most intimidating places to play, then you might want to take a look at improving the student side of the stadium as well. Maybe you should make sure the concessions don't run out of stuff before the end of the game and maybe create some easier access for entry and exit of the stadium. Some cold water fountains might help if they actually had enough water pressure to work to keep fans from over heating and leaving. And while you are improving stuff, why not start with the product on the field. This team better get better in a hurry or last year will mark the high water mark for Coach Boom! I don't think he can go 7-6 again and get a third year here. Hey the old Zooker did better than this and he got canned after three seasons! I am not ready to jump off the cliff yet, but I sure don't have any plans to be in Atlanta on the first weekend of December. Can you remember what it was like to pencil that trip in every year? Maybe we did get spoiled as Gator fans, but if you are going to sweat buckets every Saturday in September in the Swamp, it is a lot nicer to do so solely because of the Sun and not because you aren't sure you are going to beat Bowling Green.
If I get a ticket for the next game, you can bet I will be there again. And you can bet I will be there at the end of the game win or lose. Because deep down inside, I still believe the words that we sing at the end of the third quarter in the swamp. I just don't know if this generation of students and many of the alumni feel the same way! Prove me wrong against Kentucky and I will gladly say so. That goes for the team too!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Miami Marlins, Here we go again!
For all the hype that the Miami Marlins created in the off-season with the new stadium, uniforms, manager and high dollar free agent pick ups, expectations were relatively high. I had them finishing second in the division and making the playoffs as a wildcard team in my preseason post. That was more wishful thinking than expecting any Florida fan to recognize Bobby Bowden as the DI coach with the most wins regardless of what the NCAA says! The Marlins have under-produced at every level this year. Hey, maybe the players are having trouble understanding what the manager wants them to do. I know that I have trouble understanding Ozzie whenever he speaks. Maybe Ramirez wasn't happy about the change to third base and the clubhouse is a disaster. I am not an insider, but things are not good in the land of silicone and south beach.
But now we begin to see why Miami will always be Miami in the MLB. They lure the fans back with the promise of a new stadium, coach and spending money on players and then when you get back on board, they begin the sell off. Only this time, there is no championship to celebrate. The Marlins are dumping payroll faster than the US is rolling up the deficit. In the last few weeks they have dropped two of their pitchers and half of their infield, including the sullen superstar Hanley Ramirez. There are rumors flying that the Marlins are fielding offers for ace Josh Johnson and closer Heath Bell. Bell has been a bust since coming over from the Padres but still you only have the guy for six months and you are going to trade him?
The Marlins will never be a quality franchise if they continue to operate this way. Can you be like the Yankees, Red Sox, Braves, or even the Dodgers if you continue to offer huge contracts and then ship the players off when you have a bad start to a season? Can you be the team that offers the fire sale every time after you make a splash with a great year or try to put together a group of talented players? If you can't afford the guy for the life of the contract, then stop signing them to it. Relegate yourself to the likes of the Brewers and A's or the Rockies and the Indians. Teams that will occasionally sneak into the playoffs only to be broken up when the stars of the team get near their free agent years.
With the new name, the new uniforms, the new colors and the new stadium, the Marlin ownership promised a new day in Miami, but it looks like here we go again down the same path for Marlin's fans whether they be Florida or Miami variety!
But now we begin to see why Miami will always be Miami in the MLB. They lure the fans back with the promise of a new stadium, coach and spending money on players and then when you get back on board, they begin the sell off. Only this time, there is no championship to celebrate. The Marlins are dumping payroll faster than the US is rolling up the deficit. In the last few weeks they have dropped two of their pitchers and half of their infield, including the sullen superstar Hanley Ramirez. There are rumors flying that the Marlins are fielding offers for ace Josh Johnson and closer Heath Bell. Bell has been a bust since coming over from the Padres but still you only have the guy for six months and you are going to trade him?
The Marlins will never be a quality franchise if they continue to operate this way. Can you be like the Yankees, Red Sox, Braves, or even the Dodgers if you continue to offer huge contracts and then ship the players off when you have a bad start to a season? Can you be the team that offers the fire sale every time after you make a splash with a great year or try to put together a group of talented players? If you can't afford the guy for the life of the contract, then stop signing them to it. Relegate yourself to the likes of the Brewers and A's or the Rockies and the Indians. Teams that will occasionally sneak into the playoffs only to be broken up when the stars of the team get near their free agent years.
With the new name, the new uniforms, the new colors and the new stadium, the Marlin ownership promised a new day in Miami, but it looks like here we go again down the same path for Marlin's fans whether they be Florida or Miami variety!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Two events over the last week have caused me to pause and do a little deeper thinking. It may not be that deep for some of you and for some it may be like jumping into the deepest part of the ocean thinking you are in a kiddie pool. Last Friday, Lica and I drove to Plant City for the memorial service for Mike Storter. Mike had been battling Leukemia for the last three years and had been sent home with Hospice care in February with only 8 days to live. Three months later, he finally went home to be with Jesus. Then on Tuesday I got word that another former student had lost her husband to a heart attack on Monday night. He was only 38 years old, a full 7 years younger than Mike. You don’t think about having to comfort your former students who have lost loved ones from diseases for some reason. Yeah there might be that tragic car wreck or something like that, but not from a heart attack and cancer.
These two stories mark the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to death. Mike’s death was slow and painful, filled with medicines, chemo, radiation, hospital stays and loss of mobility prior to his death to some degree. Robyn Bell Thomas’ husband Chris appeared quite healthy and had just returned from an anniversary trip to Puerto Rico when he suffered a massive heart attack and died moments later. No pain, no suffering, no warning, just a sudden and sobering loss. Lica and I talked on the way home from Mike’s service about those two options.
With the diagnosis and no cure available one like Mike, you have time to get your affairs in order, make sure your spouse and kids are as well taken care of as you can, plan your own service (which Mike did incredibly well by the way), and cherish the last few days and months you have with those you love. And while the initial struggle for the family is difficult, the end of the struggle in some ways comes as a blessing because you just don’t want your family member to have to suffer anymore. That is especially true if they are a believer in Jesus and you know that they are going to heaven to be with the Lord and that you will one day join them there. When you go like Chris did (and my father eleven years ago), there is no time to say goodbye. No chance to tell extended family you love them and maybe not even the immediate family. One moment you are fully alive and the next you are in eternity. The loss for the family is so much greater in that moment because you just don’t have time to prepare. Even if the person was a Christian as Chris had professed earlier this spring, you still have this overwhelming sense of incompleteness to it all. The loss is the same, but our reaction to it can be quite different.
So one takeaway from these events for me has been to make sure that I am living today as if it was my last day on the planet. That doesn’t mean selling off everything, quitting the ministry and buying a boat and go fishing in the keys or the Cayman Islands. Although that doesn’t sound too bad come to think of it! It doesn’t mean not going to work and approaching today like every other day of ministry. It simply means living with an appreciation for the incredible gift of life for another day that the Lord has given me. I believe that God has known the number of my days before a single one of them came to pass and that He knows the last day I will breathe on this planet before the resurrection long before that day will come. I want to do everything I can (ok, not everything, cause giving up Adam’s Ribs, sweet tea, and desserts would be hell on earth!) to live healthy like exercise and changing some things in my diet, not to prolong my life, but to make those days more productive. I can’t know how many days the Lord will give me, but I want to be able to give him my best for every one of those days and running and biking and swimming make me better able to function for the kingdom than getting fatter and lazier!
A second takeaway is to make sure that I appreciate and love those around me. Starting with my family and extending to my friends and neighbors. One thing I noticed about Mike after he got sick, which was true before as well, was that he never seemed to be in a rush to get away from people. He loved being with his friends and family. If you knew you only had a few weeks or days to live, would that change the way you valued minutes with those you love? So why wait for the diagnosis? We are all day to day in this world and this might be our last day, so don’t wait to tell them that you love them, make sure you do it today, right now, this very moment, stop reading and pick up the phone or shoot them an email, or get in the car and drive over and tell them face to face!
A third thought is to stop worrying so much about the trivial things that others think are important. If I live tomorrow, that project can be completed then. If not, then it won’t matter now will it? Even your boss will probably decide it wasn’t that critical if you are dead before you get it finished. Now some things just can’t wait to get done. I don’t want my surgeon deciding to leave in the middle, but if he has a good assistant that might even be okay. The trick is to determine those things that are true priorities and those things that are simply imposed on us by others. People should always come before projects, but I have to confess that my particular personality and leadership skills can sometimes get that confused.
The events surrounding Mike’s life and death lead me to conclude that God really does know what He is doing with our lives. Over the years, I had often wondered why God put Mike back in Plant City after college and seminary when all he was able to do was work on staff part time at a church and work full time in the school system. The answer to that question was evident on Friday as the church was packed with over 1500 people for the service. Teachers, administrators, coaches, athletes, former students and friends were there to say their goodbye to Mike but Mike was able to share with them one more time the message of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ. He would not had that wide spread of an impact if he had just served on staff at a church! God knows what he is doing and why even if we don’t. God knew that Laura and the girls would need the support of her family to complete the job of raising the girls once Mike was called home, so He allowed them to stay there almost 20 years instead of moving around as so many do these days. That also allows me to say that somehow God will redeem this sudden death of Robyn’s husband after only a little over a year of marriage. I don’t understand why Chris was taken so soon or why their time together was so brief, but I believe that God has a plan to use this event to bring people to himself as well. I know that Chris was drawn into a relationship with the Father through the Spirit working through Robyn. If for no other reason, then Robyn’s pain and sorrow will be redeemed through the knowledge that by loving Chris, Christ was able to call Chris to himself through it. It won’t take the hurt away, but knowing that God will redeem our suffering means that it is not in vain and can give our pain meaning in our lives or for the sake of the kingdom.
Finally, I don’t know how people can face death without a relationship with Jesus Christ. How could you possibly face the future of living without a spouse as these two ladies are doing, or without a dad as Mike’s two girls are doing, or losing a friend as so many of us have in the past week if you truly believed that this life is all there is. That is why Paul wrote that he didn’t want the Christians to grieve as those who have no hope. There is nothing wrong with grief. It is a natural reaction to loss and is common for all men and women. However, for the believers in Jesus we have one who has travelled the path of death before us. His resurrection means that death is not final. We do not have to fear the path of the unknown because we have a guide who has walked that way and found it to be a doorway to a new and glorious future. Because Jesus lives, so does Mike and Chris. Do you know Jesus today? If we had your funeral or mine tomorrow, would the world know, would your friends know, would your family know that you knew Jesus? Could they affirm that you and I would be in the presence of Christ? If not, give your life to Jesus and ask him to forgive your sins today and commit yourself to follow Him for the rest of your days, however many they may be!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Review of John Grisham's new book Calico Joe
Calico Joe is the newest novel by my favorite fiction author John Grisham. It arrived on my ipad late on Tuesday afternoon. I finished it by Wednesday night and most of it was finished on a trip to see our Gator softball team take on UCF a couple of hours away. We lost the game by the way! So it was a really good thing that at least I had the pleasure of reading this book or the day would have not been as pleasant.
The fact that this story is set in the context of baseball in general and major league baseball in particular definitely helped me immediately buy in to the characters and the story. The thirty year flashback of the main character and narrator of the book take the reader back to the summer of 1973. I was twelve that summer and because I loved baseball as much as the main character did, I knew all the names of the players Grisham mentions weaved in with the fictional account of Calico Joe.
I will not give away the plot but the book is a good reminder of the fragility of our innocence and the fallen nature of all of us, even our greatest heroes. It is an honest look at redemption and the consequences of our actions for generations to come. I think everyone could find a great lesson in the book and for those who are baseball fans, it is a must read!
The book deals in a subtle way with the changing of the game of baseball over the years. I think it began to change when free agency hit the scene. Some of the changes have been good, even great, especially for the players and the money they can make. However, the changes were tough on those who had been around the game for a long time because some of the unwritten rules of the game were changing as well. This is captured in the book for the discerning fan of the game, but others will miss this aspect of the characters and their struggles. The early seventies was the last of the eras of baseball where fans were tied to teams first, then players. Now it seems that all we ever hear about are the players first, the managers second and maybe the team a distant third. The baseball fans who were kids in the seventies will read this book with a sense of loss I think because it will remind us of how far the game has moved since then. Now the entire game is about fantasy numbers and individual statistics and our favorite players may only be on our favorite team for a couple of years before they are traded so we don’t lose them to free agency!
Calico Joe brings us back to remembering that the game we love is ultimately the story of players whose lives are intertwined forever in moments that play out in front of us on the field and on TV, some good and some tragic. It also reminds us that our days on this earth are numbered and every one of them is an opportunity to do something good and leave a legacy or do something evil and make the lives of our families and friends incredibly more difficult.
The fact that this story is set in the context of baseball in general and major league baseball in particular definitely helped me immediately buy in to the characters and the story. The thirty year flashback of the main character and narrator of the book take the reader back to the summer of 1973. I was twelve that summer and because I loved baseball as much as the main character did, I knew all the names of the players Grisham mentions weaved in with the fictional account of Calico Joe.
I will not give away the plot but the book is a good reminder of the fragility of our innocence and the fallen nature of all of us, even our greatest heroes. It is an honest look at redemption and the consequences of our actions for generations to come. I think everyone could find a great lesson in the book and for those who are baseball fans, it is a must read!
The book deals in a subtle way with the changing of the game of baseball over the years. I think it began to change when free agency hit the scene. Some of the changes have been good, even great, especially for the players and the money they can make. However, the changes were tough on those who had been around the game for a long time because some of the unwritten rules of the game were changing as well. This is captured in the book for the discerning fan of the game, but others will miss this aspect of the characters and their struggles. The early seventies was the last of the eras of baseball where fans were tied to teams first, then players. Now it seems that all we ever hear about are the players first, the managers second and maybe the team a distant third. The baseball fans who were kids in the seventies will read this book with a sense of loss I think because it will remind us of how far the game has moved since then. Now the entire game is about fantasy numbers and individual statistics and our favorite players may only be on our favorite team for a couple of years before they are traded so we don’t lose them to free agency!
Calico Joe brings us back to remembering that the game we love is ultimately the story of players whose lives are intertwined forever in moments that play out in front of us on the field and on TV, some good and some tragic. It also reminds us that our days on this earth are numbered and every one of them is an opportunity to do something good and leave a legacy or do something evil and make the lives of our families and friends incredibly more difficult.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Miami Marlins 2012 Preview
Last season the old Florida Marlins finished in last place in the Eastern Division of the National League. The new Miami Marlins will look to improve on their 72-90 season which was 30 games behind the division winning Phillies. With a new ballpark, a new manager, and a new spending philosophy, this team in 2012 should look nothing like the team that played in the football stadium turned baseball park in 2011. The fans and players alike would likely try to forget last season and gladly move on to the new one beginning in April.
If he is healthy as projected, Josh Johnson should be the opening day pitcher for the new look Marlins. For the Marlins to make a serious run at the division or wild card, he must stay healthy and make a minimum of 25 starts. Newly acquired veteran lefty Mark Buehrle figures to be the number two starter in the rotation. If he remains true to form, he will give the Marlins a lot of innings and keep the pressure off the weaker middle relief part of the bullpen. The rest of the rotation appears to be a spring training battle between returning Marlins, Anibel Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco, and veteran Carlos Zambrano. Nolasco was 10-12 last year with a 4.67 ERA. Sanchez who recently won his arbitration with the club was 8-9 with a 3.67 ERA last year and will likely test the free agent market next year unless he has a break out year for the Marlins. Zambrano is truly the wild card in the rotation. Last year he was 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA with the Cubs before melting down in mid-season. If he can keep it together and return to his former form that led to a 125-81/3.60 career, he could provide the Marlins with a veteran rotation from the #3 or #4 spot.
The bullpen was the weaker spot in the pitching last year as the Marlins struggled to keep games close or keep the lead. It is also an area where the team made some moves to shore up the back end of the games but the real question will be in middle and long relief. The addition of veteran Wade LeBlanc may prove to be one of the biggest values of all the off-season moves made by the Marlins’ front office. The 28 year old lefty who was with San Diego for the last four years should be counted on to provide some long relief and as a spot starter if needed. Young arms, Michael Dunn, Brad Hand, and Alex Sanabia will also be working hard in spring training to secure spots in the bullpen. The Marlins acquired another Padre Pitcher in closer Heath Bell. If he averages his 40 saves this season, the Marlins should be in the hunt for at least a wild card spot in the playoffs. With the legal situation surrounding last year’s closer Juan Carlos Oveido who was known as Leo Nunez last year still up in the air, look for late season closer Steve Chishek to serve in the setup role for Bell. If the Marlins can get Oveido back this season it will likely push promising prospect Jose Ceda back to the minors or the trade mill. If not, and depending on how he pitches in the spring, Ceda may make the big league roster and provide the gap between the starters and the Chishek, Bell closing duo.
Handling the catching duties will fall once again to John Buck. He will look to improve on his .227 BA after coming over from the Blue Jays where he hit .281 in 2010. Buck is a solid defensive receiver and really should benefit from now playing in an indoor facility when the sizzling summer heat begins in South Florida.
Gaby Sanchez will once again start at First Base. The 2011 All-Star appeared in all but three games for the Marlins last season batting .266 with 19 homers and drove in 78 runs while scoring 72 times. With the offensive addition of SS Jose Reyes, Sanchez figures to see more quality pitches and should post a better average and possible set a career high for home runs in the new park. On the hot corner this year for the Marlins will be former SS Hanley Ramirez. While the move has been less than smooth, it now appears that Ramirez is completely on board and working hard to become a quality third baseman. If he can make the transition defensively, and stay healthy, he should return to the quality player that many felt should be the face of the franchise a couple of years ago.
Omar Infante returns as the second baseman for the club this year. He hit .276 last year with 7 HR, 24 2B, 8 3B, 55 runs, and 49 RBI. He was solid in the field with only 8 errors in 734 total chances. The biggest addition to the Marlins’ roster for 2012 is SS Jose Reyes. The three time All-Star comes over from the Mets after hitting .337 with 7 HR, 31 2B,16 3B, 44 RBI, 101 Runs scored and 39 Stolen Bases. His range and offensive prowess gives the Marlins a significant upgrade up the middle on the infield. Time will tell if he is good enough to erase the 30 game deficit the Marlins ended up with last year.
The starting outfield should be solid for the Marlins with Logan Morrison in Left Field, Emilio Bonifacio in Center Field, and Mike Stanton in Right. Bonifacio will benefit from returning to his more natural Center Field after moving to Short last year to sub for Ramirez. His speed combined with Reyes makes the top of the lineup fast and dangerous if they can hit at all. That should provide Stanton and Sanchez with ample opportunities to set new standards for RBI this year. Morrison has the reputation of being the character of the bunch but is also a solid performer on the field as well as the master of the tweet. They all should be better this year after playing together last year and going through another spring training together this year.
In addition to the starters, Greg Dobbs re-signed with the club after a brief test of the free agent market. Rookie Matt Dominguez will also compete for some utility infield duty. Outfielder Chris Coghlan appears to be healthy again and should be a serviceable substitute for any of the outfield positions and remains an option should an infielder go down and force Bonifacio to return to the dirt. Kevin Mattison and Bryan Petersen will also be competing in Spring Training to find a spot on the roster along with Austin Kearns. Brett Hayes appears to have the backup catcher spot unless someone comes out of nowhere to wow new manager Ozzie Guillen.
If they don’t make the opening day roster, look for Dominguez and Jose Ceda to be back up with the big club at some point this season. In addition, any injuries on the pitching staff would likely result in a call up for Righty Tom Koehler. Don’t be surprised if the Marlins bring up a young Marcell Ozuna at least for a cup of coffee in September to see if the kid has the right stuff for the future. He may be a season or two away due to an injury in 2010, but he is listed as one of the Marlins’ top prospects for a reason.
Pre-Season Predictions:
MVP – Jose Reyes
Ace – Heath Bell
Record – 90-72
2nd Place Eastern Division
Lose the Wild Card Series
The easy pick for MVP will be Reyes because of his ability in the field and to set the table for the rest of the lineup. I almost went with Stanton but I am not sure he will see enough quality pitches to merit the MVP. Bell is the ace of the staff because he will make the rest of them look better. If they can get the game to him with a league, he will not blow many and the Marlins will win more games as a result of his presence at the back end of the game. I think the additions the Marlins have made will allow them to be the second best team in the Eastern division and IF they stay healthy they have a chance of flipping their record from last year. If Guillen can keep Zambrano involved as a key part of the team and reasonably sane, the Marlins have a chance to prove me wrong about the end of their season. As with every team, they need their key players to stay healthy to make a deep run into the post season and maybe crown their new ballpark with a NL Pennant.
If he is healthy as projected, Josh Johnson should be the opening day pitcher for the new look Marlins. For the Marlins to make a serious run at the division or wild card, he must stay healthy and make a minimum of 25 starts. Newly acquired veteran lefty Mark Buehrle figures to be the number two starter in the rotation. If he remains true to form, he will give the Marlins a lot of innings and keep the pressure off the weaker middle relief part of the bullpen. The rest of the rotation appears to be a spring training battle between returning Marlins, Anibel Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco, and veteran Carlos Zambrano. Nolasco was 10-12 last year with a 4.67 ERA. Sanchez who recently won his arbitration with the club was 8-9 with a 3.67 ERA last year and will likely test the free agent market next year unless he has a break out year for the Marlins. Zambrano is truly the wild card in the rotation. Last year he was 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA with the Cubs before melting down in mid-season. If he can keep it together and return to his former form that led to a 125-81/3.60 career, he could provide the Marlins with a veteran rotation from the #3 or #4 spot.
The bullpen was the weaker spot in the pitching last year as the Marlins struggled to keep games close or keep the lead. It is also an area where the team made some moves to shore up the back end of the games but the real question will be in middle and long relief. The addition of veteran Wade LeBlanc may prove to be one of the biggest values of all the off-season moves made by the Marlins’ front office. The 28 year old lefty who was with San Diego for the last four years should be counted on to provide some long relief and as a spot starter if needed. Young arms, Michael Dunn, Brad Hand, and Alex Sanabia will also be working hard in spring training to secure spots in the bullpen. The Marlins acquired another Padre Pitcher in closer Heath Bell. If he averages his 40 saves this season, the Marlins should be in the hunt for at least a wild card spot in the playoffs. With the legal situation surrounding last year’s closer Juan Carlos Oveido who was known as Leo Nunez last year still up in the air, look for late season closer Steve Chishek to serve in the setup role for Bell. If the Marlins can get Oveido back this season it will likely push promising prospect Jose Ceda back to the minors or the trade mill. If not, and depending on how he pitches in the spring, Ceda may make the big league roster and provide the gap between the starters and the Chishek, Bell closing duo.
Handling the catching duties will fall once again to John Buck. He will look to improve on his .227 BA after coming over from the Blue Jays where he hit .281 in 2010. Buck is a solid defensive receiver and really should benefit from now playing in an indoor facility when the sizzling summer heat begins in South Florida.
Gaby Sanchez will once again start at First Base. The 2011 All-Star appeared in all but three games for the Marlins last season batting .266 with 19 homers and drove in 78 runs while scoring 72 times. With the offensive addition of SS Jose Reyes, Sanchez figures to see more quality pitches and should post a better average and possible set a career high for home runs in the new park. On the hot corner this year for the Marlins will be former SS Hanley Ramirez. While the move has been less than smooth, it now appears that Ramirez is completely on board and working hard to become a quality third baseman. If he can make the transition defensively, and stay healthy, he should return to the quality player that many felt should be the face of the franchise a couple of years ago.
Omar Infante returns as the second baseman for the club this year. He hit .276 last year with 7 HR, 24 2B, 8 3B, 55 runs, and 49 RBI. He was solid in the field with only 8 errors in 734 total chances. The biggest addition to the Marlins’ roster for 2012 is SS Jose Reyes. The three time All-Star comes over from the Mets after hitting .337 with 7 HR, 31 2B,16 3B, 44 RBI, 101 Runs scored and 39 Stolen Bases. His range and offensive prowess gives the Marlins a significant upgrade up the middle on the infield. Time will tell if he is good enough to erase the 30 game deficit the Marlins ended up with last year.
The starting outfield should be solid for the Marlins with Logan Morrison in Left Field, Emilio Bonifacio in Center Field, and Mike Stanton in Right. Bonifacio will benefit from returning to his more natural Center Field after moving to Short last year to sub for Ramirez. His speed combined with Reyes makes the top of the lineup fast and dangerous if they can hit at all. That should provide Stanton and Sanchez with ample opportunities to set new standards for RBI this year. Morrison has the reputation of being the character of the bunch but is also a solid performer on the field as well as the master of the tweet. They all should be better this year after playing together last year and going through another spring training together this year.
In addition to the starters, Greg Dobbs re-signed with the club after a brief test of the free agent market. Rookie Matt Dominguez will also compete for some utility infield duty. Outfielder Chris Coghlan appears to be healthy again and should be a serviceable substitute for any of the outfield positions and remains an option should an infielder go down and force Bonifacio to return to the dirt. Kevin Mattison and Bryan Petersen will also be competing in Spring Training to find a spot on the roster along with Austin Kearns. Brett Hayes appears to have the backup catcher spot unless someone comes out of nowhere to wow new manager Ozzie Guillen.
If they don’t make the opening day roster, look for Dominguez and Jose Ceda to be back up with the big club at some point this season. In addition, any injuries on the pitching staff would likely result in a call up for Righty Tom Koehler. Don’t be surprised if the Marlins bring up a young Marcell Ozuna at least for a cup of coffee in September to see if the kid has the right stuff for the future. He may be a season or two away due to an injury in 2010, but he is listed as one of the Marlins’ top prospects for a reason.
Pre-Season Predictions:
MVP – Jose Reyes
Ace – Heath Bell
Record – 90-72
2nd Place Eastern Division
Lose the Wild Card Series
The easy pick for MVP will be Reyes because of his ability in the field and to set the table for the rest of the lineup. I almost went with Stanton but I am not sure he will see enough quality pitches to merit the MVP. Bell is the ace of the staff because he will make the rest of them look better. If they can get the game to him with a league, he will not blow many and the Marlins will win more games as a result of his presence at the back end of the game. I think the additions the Marlins have made will allow them to be the second best team in the Eastern division and IF they stay healthy they have a chance of flipping their record from last year. If Guillen can keep Zambrano involved as a key part of the team and reasonably sane, the Marlins have a chance to prove me wrong about the end of their season. As with every team, they need their key players to stay healthy to make a deep run into the post season and maybe crown their new ballpark with a NL Pennant.
Monday, January 9, 2012
New year, same old debate
This applies on two very different fronts!
First, the Tebow debate continues after last night's victory against the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers and their number one ranked defense. As I have said before, Tim is not the best quarterback in the league right now. But let's remember that this is his first year as a starter and only second in the league. You can't compare him to Brady or Brees or Rodgers or even Rothlisburger. Given the same talent, the great according to experts Kyle Orton couldn't win with the Broncos, but somehow the team got better with a worse quarterback. HUH! Sometimes you wonder how those so called experts got the gig. The only thing that changed in Denver was they got rid of a few whiners and starting playing a guy who has always been a winner. The broncos will not win every game and I don't even think they will win next week at New England, but do you think they would have won last night with Kyle Orton?
I believe God raises up people who will exalt His name and give Him the glory when success happens. I think that is what is happening with Tim and the Broncos. They have to do their part in the process. Unlike some who think what is happening is magic, it's not. It is a group of men who are working harder and working better together because they believe in the guy under the center. Tim played well last night but so did the other guy the Broncos picked ahead of Tim in the draft. The line played well enough to keep the Steelers on balance and the receivers made a few catches to make Tim look better than he really was. But isn't that the case in every other game and with every other team in the NFL? You can't have one without the other! Great receivers make the QB better than average and Great QBs make the receivers look better than average. The Broncos are a young football team and they need a few more pieces before they can be a great team, but they are growing together and they are playing like a young team, sometimes great and sometimes less than average.
So let's be glad Tim has done well enough to stir the debate about his faith. Those who know him have already decided that issue a long time ago. Those who speak about him from a far distance should spend some time with him and that debate will go away. He is a Christian who is a football player and he will always live his life in that order. If you don't want him to say anything about his Lord and Savior, then just don't ask him any questions. If you don't want to hear his religious views anymore, then stop talking about him. He doesn't make a big deal of his faith, it is just who he is, so the media needs to either adjust and adapt or stop the madness. I for one am glad to see an athlete refuse to tone down his faith to appease the mass media. Keep giving the Lord credit Tim, you know what that has done for you in the past!
On the second front, the political debates continue. I must admit I never watch those things. I know, I know, I should but I don't. First of all, I don't believe half of what my favorite candidate says in them is the real truth. Every candidate is going to try to say things to get elected, so for me the debate is just a waste of time. The questions are fixed to either make one side look good or slanted to help one candidate often, so I am not sure what they tell us that we didn't already know about them. Except that Gov. Perry doesn't think on his feet very well!
Rather than debate, I think if we said you get two terms in the House, two terms in the Senate, and one term as President we would be better off. If I was running for President I would run on the platform that I was only going to do it for one term at the max. I would do what needed to be done to get our country on the right track and when it was done, then I would resign and let the VP finish the term. If we want to get this thing fixed, someone is going to have to do some very unpopular things. You can't make everyone like you and govern well in times like we face today. That's why we need someone who will do the hard tasks and then live with the unpopularity for a while. History will record them otherwise, but that is not what drives modern politics. It is all about polls, and popularity, and keeping the status quo from both sides of the aisle. Now you know why I don't watch the debates on either front!
First, the Tebow debate continues after last night's victory against the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers and their number one ranked defense. As I have said before, Tim is not the best quarterback in the league right now. But let's remember that this is his first year as a starter and only second in the league. You can't compare him to Brady or Brees or Rodgers or even Rothlisburger. Given the same talent, the great according to experts Kyle Orton couldn't win with the Broncos, but somehow the team got better with a worse quarterback. HUH! Sometimes you wonder how those so called experts got the gig. The only thing that changed in Denver was they got rid of a few whiners and starting playing a guy who has always been a winner. The broncos will not win every game and I don't even think they will win next week at New England, but do you think they would have won last night with Kyle Orton?
I believe God raises up people who will exalt His name and give Him the glory when success happens. I think that is what is happening with Tim and the Broncos. They have to do their part in the process. Unlike some who think what is happening is magic, it's not. It is a group of men who are working harder and working better together because they believe in the guy under the center. Tim played well last night but so did the other guy the Broncos picked ahead of Tim in the draft. The line played well enough to keep the Steelers on balance and the receivers made a few catches to make Tim look better than he really was. But isn't that the case in every other game and with every other team in the NFL? You can't have one without the other! Great receivers make the QB better than average and Great QBs make the receivers look better than average. The Broncos are a young football team and they need a few more pieces before they can be a great team, but they are growing together and they are playing like a young team, sometimes great and sometimes less than average.
So let's be glad Tim has done well enough to stir the debate about his faith. Those who know him have already decided that issue a long time ago. Those who speak about him from a far distance should spend some time with him and that debate will go away. He is a Christian who is a football player and he will always live his life in that order. If you don't want him to say anything about his Lord and Savior, then just don't ask him any questions. If you don't want to hear his religious views anymore, then stop talking about him. He doesn't make a big deal of his faith, it is just who he is, so the media needs to either adjust and adapt or stop the madness. I for one am glad to see an athlete refuse to tone down his faith to appease the mass media. Keep giving the Lord credit Tim, you know what that has done for you in the past!
On the second front, the political debates continue. I must admit I never watch those things. I know, I know, I should but I don't. First of all, I don't believe half of what my favorite candidate says in them is the real truth. Every candidate is going to try to say things to get elected, so for me the debate is just a waste of time. The questions are fixed to either make one side look good or slanted to help one candidate often, so I am not sure what they tell us that we didn't already know about them. Except that Gov. Perry doesn't think on his feet very well!
Rather than debate, I think if we said you get two terms in the House, two terms in the Senate, and one term as President we would be better off. If I was running for President I would run on the platform that I was only going to do it for one term at the max. I would do what needed to be done to get our country on the right track and when it was done, then I would resign and let the VP finish the term. If we want to get this thing fixed, someone is going to have to do some very unpopular things. You can't make everyone like you and govern well in times like we face today. That's why we need someone who will do the hard tasks and then live with the unpopularity for a while. History will record them otherwise, but that is not what drives modern politics. It is all about polls, and popularity, and keeping the status quo from both sides of the aisle. Now you know why I don't watch the debates on either front!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Is Tim Tebow the best NFL QB?
Is Tim Tebow the best quarterback in the NFL? That seems to be the question that a lot of national talking heads and beat writers are debating these days. I have been watching football for at least 45 years, most of them I can remember. So that makes me as much of an expert as anyone else, outside of those who have played the position at the NFL level. After listening to some of those guys talk, I think I may be more qualified to speak on the subject because I don’t have a personal agenda like Cordele Stewart does! So let me weigh in on the Tebow debate.
I have been watching SEC football in general and Gator football in particular from the field level since 1987 and what I am about to say might surprise and anger some Gator fans. Tim Tebow is not the best quarterback to ever play at Florida Field! Now before you start slinging rocks my way, let me finish. The best qb I ever saw play in person at Florida Field was not even a Gator. The best by far in my opinion to ever throw the ball within the confines of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt. He had an amazing arm and possessed great poise when he almost led the Commodores to an upset of Florida at home. His passes moved through the air in a way that was almost magical. He fit the ball into spaces that I was sure a nerf ball couldn’t have gone and if any other qb had tried to complete would have been easy interceptions. Heck, Tim may not even be the second or third best qb to ever play at Florida, if all you are looking for is the ability to throw the football in an aesthetically pleasing way. You could take your pick of Chris Leak, Shane Matthews, Rex Grossman or even Kerwin Bell if that is what you are basing your choice upon.
So clearly, I don’t think Tim Tebow is the best quarterback in the NFL based upon arm strength or ability to read the defense either. He does tend to hold the ball a little too long, a trait we all saw at Florida as well. I think that was coached into him to keep him from throwing silly interceptions. We saw the same thing with Chris Leak and with John Brantley until this year! That was a coaching philosophy of Meyer and his staff that Tim has taken to heart. That is also why he only has one interception thrown this year. And that is one reason why the Denver defense is so suddenly improved! He does tend to drop the ball a little too far when he throws it and it takes a little longer for him to release it than some other qbs in the league. So you can’t really argue the mechanical flaws that the national guys are pointing out.
However, if you ask me who the greatest football player I ever saw play at UF, Tim would have to be in the top three. The only reason he wouldn’t be number one is that I saw a guy named Smith run the ball here without much of any help on offense for three years. Emmitt had to carry more of the load, because he didn’t have a potent passing game to help him but he did have a good offensive line. And in spite of three different coaches, he put up some pretty impressive numbers. Tim had a lot more talent around him during his Gator career. Just look at the receivers and linemen who played on those teams who are playing in the NFL along with Tebow and you will know they had some great teams at UF. The third could be debated between some great defensive players and a few visiting team stars like Warrick Dunn, Shaun Alexander, Cadillac Williams, and Mark Ingram, oh and those Manning brothers!
Putting aside my respect for his character and faith, the thing that sets Tim Tebow apart from other players who have played at UF and are now in the NFL for me is his intense desire to win. If I had to choose one person to hold the other end of a rope with me dangling over a den full of hungry lions and covered in the scent of a wounded antelope, I would want Tim Tebow. I know that I could count on him to never quit and to give everything he had until his last breath to get me up and out of that pit. That was what made him so valuable at UF and what is making him so marketable in the NFL. He just won’t quit. He keeps his word, he keeps his composure, and he keeps making the plays necessary to win. I don’t think John Fox really knows what he has or he would not have punted with a fourth and a half-foot to go in overtime last week. I would have felt very comfortable putting my career in Tim’s hands by calling a QB sneak if I had been Coach Fox.
I have seen Tim do incredible things while at UF. Some of the most incredible were not even on the field. I have seen him take the time to have pictures made with hundreds of kids and girls of all ages after speaking in a church until all of them were finished. I have watched him hold a door on campus while talking with me for 15 minutes and taking the time to greet everyone who came through it. He’s not playing like a believer, he is a believer and that is what makes him special.
For all those who are questioning his ability to be an NFL quarterback, I would ask you to give me answer to this question. What has changed in Denver since the beginning of the season? The four letter experts point to the better play of the defense and the running game. Ok, but what has changed there? What has made them better? Did they change personnel or the scheme? The only thing that has really changed in Denver is that Tim Tebow is now the starting quarterback. He has made the running game better and he has made the defense better because they believe he will not quit and they don’t want to quit either. Tim is the best motivator I have ever known as an athlete. He just makes you want to play harder, longer, quicker, and do more than you did before he was around you. He makes coaches look better, smarter, and helps put money in their pockets if they put him on the field. He makes young men want to live better, love God, even keep their virginity, and do the right things just because they want to be like him. If you ever spend time with him, you will know that he is the real deal, plain and simple.
Many years ago, I gave a challenge to a guy who was a first round draft pick in the NFL. I challenged him to be a Christian who happened to play football instead of being a football player who happened to be a Christian. The difference is noticeable! Just look at Tim Tebow and you will see the best example of that that I have ever seen! Anywhere! Any time!
I have been watching SEC football in general and Gator football in particular from the field level since 1987 and what I am about to say might surprise and anger some Gator fans. Tim Tebow is not the best quarterback to ever play at Florida Field! Now before you start slinging rocks my way, let me finish. The best qb I ever saw play in person at Florida Field was not even a Gator. The best by far in my opinion to ever throw the ball within the confines of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt. He had an amazing arm and possessed great poise when he almost led the Commodores to an upset of Florida at home. His passes moved through the air in a way that was almost magical. He fit the ball into spaces that I was sure a nerf ball couldn’t have gone and if any other qb had tried to complete would have been easy interceptions. Heck, Tim may not even be the second or third best qb to ever play at Florida, if all you are looking for is the ability to throw the football in an aesthetically pleasing way. You could take your pick of Chris Leak, Shane Matthews, Rex Grossman or even Kerwin Bell if that is what you are basing your choice upon.
So clearly, I don’t think Tim Tebow is the best quarterback in the NFL based upon arm strength or ability to read the defense either. He does tend to hold the ball a little too long, a trait we all saw at Florida as well. I think that was coached into him to keep him from throwing silly interceptions. We saw the same thing with Chris Leak and with John Brantley until this year! That was a coaching philosophy of Meyer and his staff that Tim has taken to heart. That is also why he only has one interception thrown this year. And that is one reason why the Denver defense is so suddenly improved! He does tend to drop the ball a little too far when he throws it and it takes a little longer for him to release it than some other qbs in the league. So you can’t really argue the mechanical flaws that the national guys are pointing out.
However, if you ask me who the greatest football player I ever saw play at UF, Tim would have to be in the top three. The only reason he wouldn’t be number one is that I saw a guy named Smith run the ball here without much of any help on offense for three years. Emmitt had to carry more of the load, because he didn’t have a potent passing game to help him but he did have a good offensive line. And in spite of three different coaches, he put up some pretty impressive numbers. Tim had a lot more talent around him during his Gator career. Just look at the receivers and linemen who played on those teams who are playing in the NFL along with Tebow and you will know they had some great teams at UF. The third could be debated between some great defensive players and a few visiting team stars like Warrick Dunn, Shaun Alexander, Cadillac Williams, and Mark Ingram, oh and those Manning brothers!
Putting aside my respect for his character and faith, the thing that sets Tim Tebow apart from other players who have played at UF and are now in the NFL for me is his intense desire to win. If I had to choose one person to hold the other end of a rope with me dangling over a den full of hungry lions and covered in the scent of a wounded antelope, I would want Tim Tebow. I know that I could count on him to never quit and to give everything he had until his last breath to get me up and out of that pit. That was what made him so valuable at UF and what is making him so marketable in the NFL. He just won’t quit. He keeps his word, he keeps his composure, and he keeps making the plays necessary to win. I don’t think John Fox really knows what he has or he would not have punted with a fourth and a half-foot to go in overtime last week. I would have felt very comfortable putting my career in Tim’s hands by calling a QB sneak if I had been Coach Fox.
I have seen Tim do incredible things while at UF. Some of the most incredible were not even on the field. I have seen him take the time to have pictures made with hundreds of kids and girls of all ages after speaking in a church until all of them were finished. I have watched him hold a door on campus while talking with me for 15 minutes and taking the time to greet everyone who came through it. He’s not playing like a believer, he is a believer and that is what makes him special.
For all those who are questioning his ability to be an NFL quarterback, I would ask you to give me answer to this question. What has changed in Denver since the beginning of the season? The four letter experts point to the better play of the defense and the running game. Ok, but what has changed there? What has made them better? Did they change personnel or the scheme? The only thing that has really changed in Denver is that Tim Tebow is now the starting quarterback. He has made the running game better and he has made the defense better because they believe he will not quit and they don’t want to quit either. Tim is the best motivator I have ever known as an athlete. He just makes you want to play harder, longer, quicker, and do more than you did before he was around you. He makes coaches look better, smarter, and helps put money in their pockets if they put him on the field. He makes young men want to live better, love God, even keep their virginity, and do the right things just because they want to be like him. If you ever spend time with him, you will know that he is the real deal, plain and simple.
Many years ago, I gave a challenge to a guy who was a first round draft pick in the NFL. I challenged him to be a Christian who happened to play football instead of being a football player who happened to be a Christian. The difference is noticeable! Just look at Tim Tebow and you will see the best example of that that I have ever seen! Anywhere! Any time!
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