The sports world has been active, from the beginning of the NBA and NHL playoffs, to the opening month of the Major League Baseball season, to the upcoming NFL Draft and more. This sounds like a job for Throwing Tomatoes!
So as the sports world turns, the stories pile up and more sports frustration emerges. Don’t sweat it, The Wife Hates Sports has them all covered – in lycopene, that is.
Throwing Tomatoes: April 20, 2011
The McCourt’s Ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers
It’s arguably the most painful and documented divorce in the United States, and the story of the McCourt’s ownership took another turn for the worse today as it was announced that Major League Baseball wil take control of the Dodgers.
Of all the teams, it wound up being one of baseball’s most famous and historical franchises? What’s next, the Dodgers erect “SELIGWOOD” where “MANNYWOOD” used to be?
KP jokes, yet still wonders if “SELIGWOOD” will appear in LA in the near future
Ryan Mallett
Nearly two weeks ago, QB prospect Ryan Mallett missed most of his meetings during a visit with the Carolina Panthers due to an illness. Some reports have emerged that Mallett was sick with nausea due to being out late the previous night. J.R. Carroll, Mallett’s agent, has adamantly denied the reports, stating that he was “pretty sure Ryan was really, really sick.”
Two key words: “pretty sure” – and I have two more: “uh huh”. I like Mallett’s talent, but his name keeps popping up in the wrong headlines, leaving me to think of another QB named Ryan…
New York in the Playoffs
Comparing hockey and basketball is apples and oranges, but during this playoff season, the city of New York is nothing but rotten apples:
New York Knicks – A 2-0 series deficit to Boston, including 2 last minute losses and dealing with injuries to key contributors Amar’e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups
New York Rangers – A 3-1 series deficit to Washington, including 2 overtime losses and a blown 3-0 lead in the 3rd period of Game 4.
Shaq and the Boston Celtics
A report via the Eagle-Tribune is saying that Shaquille O’Neal is likely out the rest of the playoffs, and there’s a good chance the “Big Shamrock” could also choose to retire after the season.
Whether O’Neal is out for good remains to be seen, but if so, the news would be a major hit to Boston’s size and depth as the playoffs continue on. The Celtics – while up 2-0 on New York – needed two last minute charges in order to get to this point – and that includes Game 2, where the Knicks were without both Amar’e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups for most of the game.
Headline: “Did Cubs throw 1918 World Series vs Red Sox?”
That’s just the news that Cubs fans want to hear. But on the bright side Chi-town, the idea came from Eddie Cicotte – and he doesn’t appear to be related to Steve Bartman.
And finally…
…a quick-strike of red to the following teams…
New York Mets – The worst record in baseball (5-13)
Texas Rangers – Losers of 6 of 8 and struggling since Josh Hamilton injury
Minnesota Twins – Just 6 HR as a team and an overall .231 batting average
Carl Crawford (Red Sox) – .143 avg in 63 AB’s
James Loney (Dodgers) – .176 in 68 AB’s
Jayson Werth (Nationals) – Huge new deal, but batting just .200 with his new team
This has been Throwing Tomatoes, where for a limited time, rotten apples are also accepted as a method of punishment.
Throwing Tomatoes is a feature that Kevin Paul started five years ago when blogging in the FOX Sports community. It has been featured numerous times, including on the Fox Sports home page on several occasions.
Who Deserves The BIGGEST Tomato This Week?
- Frank McCourt (40%, 2 Votes)
- Carl Crawford (40%, 2 Votes)
- Ryan Mallett (20%, 1 Votes)
- Jayson Werth (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 5
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J-DUB / REV —
Sorry, got hectic the last few days and then my site was down for a little bit last night. With the draft tomorrow night, I assume it’s pointless to go with that post now. But I’m game to do on another subject, if we wanted to do a joint thing on post-draft reaction, or maybe the NBA Playoffs – you know, something that Rev can get on board with, since he’s anti-NFL right now.
Let me know and maybe we can start up an email string to discuss further.
REV–
Well, I hear what you are saying and I had a similar opinion on it about a month ago – but then I started to see just how much fans are still talking football – both college, NFL and the draft – and I started to think about traffic, plus got interested in who to pick. It’s tedious to put together but still pretty fun.
Otherwise, the point is obviously that these kids are out of school and they will be around, even if they don’t play… will be around for when they do get out to eventually hit the field.
Yep, let me know about the dry run.
Believe me, I’m way funnier than Andy Richter. I’m like Chris Berman funny…if by funny you mean fat, bald, and not funny.
I’m up for any sort of collaboration – email me with the details – dubsism@yahoo.com
I hate to say this but if I wrote ANYTHING on the upcoming draft, it would be a somewhat bitter piece about why we’ve even having it.
I mean what’s the point if there’s no season?
How many potential draftees have you heard in recent interviews sound totally unsure about their futures, even more so than they normally are.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not feeling sorry for anyone, other than maybe the fans. Those rookies will end up getting theirs.
It’s just that none of it makes much sense.
I’m totally down with a podcast practice run one time this week. Dub’s down too. He could be like our Andy Richter, just considerably more funny.
J-DUB,
Nothing wrong with being different, my friend. Last year, on my draft, I tried to be different when writing up my mock. I put Clausen down and it panned out. It’s always fun to debate and predict, so I’m all for it.
I can already see we are on a similar page with the Panthers, and in my head, I have my own thoughts where Cam will go, though I think he should go much lower and will be sure to state that when I post it…
J-DUB and REV,
Hey, are you guys interested in perhaps doing a joint post this week on the NFL Draft? Perhaps just pick one steal at the major positions – plus one line reasoning why – in the NFL Draft (offense and defense) and we compare our steal picks and list them for the three of us? I would have you as guest bloggers on my site, listing them all and being sure to say who you are and link to your sites – and if you wanted, you could post the same thing on your site and link me…
LET ME KNOW!
Just a thought, let me know if you are interested.
I welcome the draft discussion – just be warned I’m not one for the conventional Kool-Aid, so there’s likely to be lots of room for discussion :)
Enjoy your holiday!
J-Dub,
I will absolutely check them out, am curious to see who you have and where. I am planning on writing one up myself in the upcoming days, so keep an eye out. That type of post takes a little it of thought, as you know, and I’ve been tight on time over the last week or two.
Look forward to debating some of these picks though… would be fun to talk some football, even though I still don’t know exactly how much football we will be talking about this year…
– KP
AERO–
I hope so… would be great to have that division duke it out for a while, instead of going down to the same teams. Change is good, my friend.
Same to you, have a great holiday weekend… and stay in touch.
REV–
Well, when are we? Did we decide on Sundays? This Sunday is out due to the holiday but maybe the one after that? Do you have time for a dry run late tomorrow night or maybe early in the week?
I have no personal stake in Mallett – my issue is that in today’s social media/blogosphere environment, it takes absolutely no effort for somebody to float something completely unsubstantiated out onto the web, where it can instantly take on a life of its own, and can quickly have some real consequences.
In Mallett’s case, the rumors about drug use are pretty suspicious in my opinion. First of all, there’s no specificity – did the kid smoke a little weed, or is he main-lining heroin? Makes a big difference, don’t you think? Then there is the issue of is this even true? How do we know this all didn’t get started by a bitter ex-girlfriend with an axe to grind? We don’t, and that is the soul of the problem. Give me something solid, and I’m willing to have the conversation about it; until then I tend to be very dismissive of rumors.
As far as my thoughts on the draft, I will still be interested, if for no other reason then I’ve written more than one piece about it, and I will be curious to see it all turns out compared to my vision of it.
Given this discussion, if you’re curious where I have Mallett or anybody else, check out my draft board:
http://dubsism.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/the-dubsism-anti-kiper-nfl-draft-board/
And here’s the follow-up piece to that mentioned in the opening paragraphs of the draft board:
http://dubsism.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/what-your-team-needs-to-do-with-its-nfl-draft-pick/
The A.L. East looks like it’s going to be a tight race this year. Right now it looks like there is no dominant team. It’s gonna be a great season!
Have a great weekend my friend and cheers!
My latest is up.
http://sportschump.net/2011/04/22/impersonating-real-life-elvis-lady-gaga-the-beastie-boys-and-sports/6227/
J-Dub wants to know when we’re going to host our first podcast.
I slept peacefully last night after listening to Lullaby Logan for two hours.
JW–
I am certainly not one to jump to conclusions on certain reports and players, but for as many different stories and reports that have emerged on him – plus the flack he took on his combine interview – it’s difficult not to be wary about how he will pan out as a prospect. But I totally see where you are coming from.
For me, I think there are a lot of QB’s at a similar level in this draft, and therefore I would look at other options before I would go in RM’s direction, unless it got to the point that he fell far enough in the draft that he would be a worthwhile gamble.
Which QB’s do you like the most in this draft? Do you have RM at the top of your depth chart, and that’s why you are so passionate about his story and situation in particular? Just curious.
Also, how interested are you in the draft this year, what with the lockout still ongoing?
AERO–
The whole thing with Manny was pretty unbelievable, to be honest. I pitched in my two cents on him during my last Tomatoes post.
Yeah, that Rays bullpen was probably the biggest question and they have been real solid so far this season.
The AL East has been wild already, as I expected it would be. Heck, look at the O’s – already an 8-game losing streak at one point during the year, but they are 8-9. How do you think the division will pan out?
Newton and Mallett are apples and oranges. Newton has a track record on paper and his name is central to an ongoing investigation. I’m still waiting for the first solid thing on Mallett. Whether or not the hear-say turns out to be true, I want one solid thing upon which a decision could realistically be made.
Yea Kev, if I was to say that the bad start didn’t worry me you would have lost all respect for me. With the team not hitting and then Manny being Manny I was getting my self prepared for a long frustrating season. The pitching has been good and the bullpen will get even better when J.P. returns in May. And speaking of Manny, I got a big rotten ruskin red for him, just for old times sake.
JW–
Fair points by you – and interestingly enough, we can’t really hold that “smear campaign” only in the direction of Mallett. It’s really for a number of players, especially QB’s. Look at Cam Newton, though some of the ways in which he has gotten in trouble in the past are more concrete. I guess with all the NFL uncertainty going around, we can’t be too surprised that such a thing would happen.
But back to Mallett, it’s just the way he has handled himself in certain situations and during certain interviews, that it’s easy to stack up the negativity on the guy. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the hearsay winds up being true.
AERO–
I thought I would see you back once Tomatoes hit the site… love your loyalty.
Yeah, how about that Sam Fuld kid! He’s been the sexy story of the baseball season, really… the darling. Definitely a fun story, and you have to be excited that the Rays are making a bit of a charge here. Were you worried after the opening week? So much time to go… the young pitching has been solid as I thought it would be.
Later!
There cannot be a tomato too big for Frank McCourt. This situation has been building for years, and it is a direct result of his unwillingness to sell the team. Now he’s getting a two-handed shove out the door.
As far as Ryan Mallett is concerned, there’s a lot of people who are “saying things” without actually saying anything. It’s the perfect way to mount a “smear” campaign; a lot of innuendo, a lot of hear-say, a lot of bullshit. I’m all ears to the first person that has something solid. Until then, I would encourage everybody to take a step back from all the hype, and take a hard look at what is actually happening.
Sorry it’s Fuld not Fulg, oh well I never said I could type worth a damn.
On the flip side, have you seen what Crawford’s replacement has been up to? Sam Fulg is hitting .345 and playing great defense. That Garza trade is looking pretty good right now.
Keep tossin’ those tomatoes my friend!
Had to quick update this post with what I would like to call probably the worst Photoshop effort ever… but either way, had to take that “Mannywood” image and just add “Selig” over it instead.