Weekend Observations

Went to California and Arizona State college baseball game this past Friday night. Both teams came in rated in the top seven in polls. The Sun Devils are noted this season for ability to hit and they did just that in piling up 11 runs. About eight MLB scouts by my count, were at the game to watch Bears RH Tyson Ross. Never was able to get a good angle to see how hard he actually threw, but was intrigued about how they scouted a prospect. Of course they checked his velocity early, they waited a couple of innings and checked again. When his pitch count was getting up in numbers, the scouts pulled the radar guns out again.

Ross reminded me of old Cardinals RH Jaquin Andujar. His body type was very loose. On this night he did not has his best stuff in allowing eight hits and five walks in just over five innings. What was most impressive, was his ability to change speeds with undetectable motion.

In the NBA, the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks are like a chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven. They look delicious, pass the taste, but after being exposed to the elements (in this case the NBA Playoffs), they crumble apart after a few days. As it turns out, these teams are poorly constructed for postseason basketball, have the heart of the Tin Man and are much like the cowardly lion (lacking courage for those not familiar) from the Wizard of Oz.

Both will be eliminated soon and the owners of each team will have to ask themselves is it time to start over, because each had a shot and failed to win a title when they could have.

I used to admire the San Antonio Spurs, the organization was and probably still is the best in the basketball. While still holding the organization in high regard, the Spurs players and coaching staff have turned into whiny babies. Every trip to the lane should result in a foul on the opposition. For the most part, San Antonio players NEVER commit fouls, unless they intentionally do so, otherwise Coach Pop trots out the standing stare at the referees. Greatness is something to be appreciated and is often not, but when you have to stoop to have players like Bruce Bowen, cry about every call and do the cretinous Hack-a-Shaq ploy, is this really what champions are made of? The Admiral, David Robinson embodied what was right about the San Antonio franchise.