Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Ramblings
- The ALCS Champs are showing they want to keep winning. The Detroit Tigers signed 24-year-old star pitcher Jeremy Bonderman to a four-year, $38 million contract extension that will keep him in the motor city until at least 2012. Great move. Bonderman's still green enough that he can't demand too much, well, green. But he will be worth a hell of a lot more than 9.5 million a year come 2013, and Detroit will get to ride that wave right until then - when Bonderman will be 30. The numbers don't lie, and outside of a disastrous rookie season in which he lost an amazing 19 games (remember: the Tiggies lost a historical 119 that summer) Bonderman has had a very consistent career. At 24, it should only get better.
- The consistency of suspensions in professional sports just hasn't held. Seven players were suspended by the NBA Monday following the brawl between the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets Friday night at Madison Square Garden. The biggest name of the group took the brunt of it, as Denver forward Carmelo Anthony was handed 15 games... for slapping, that's right slapping (look closely). 'Melo has the right to appeal because the suspension is more than 10 games. Starting with Todd Bertuzzi's clobbering of Steve Moore and the Malice at the Palace, recent pro sports suspensions seem to be out of control. We say, it's nothing more than commissioners trying to leave their mark on eras. Look no further than Boston Bruins great Terry O'Reilly. In 1979, also at MSG, he and some teammates decided to climb into the crowd and take on fans. The result: O'Reilly had to sit out eight games! If Clarence Campbell wasn't two years removed from work, we'd swear it was nothing more than an attempt at avoiding another "Richard Riot". But we digress...
- Last time we heard from Barry Zito and his galling agent, they were in Texas trying to make Zito the next Rodriguezesque member of the Rangers. Now the two are back in California, dealing with a more obvious suitor: the New York Mets. Scott Boras already got his deal with Daisuke Matsuzaka, what is he waiting for? We're sure they've had offers, and we're sure the Mets pitch is the best. The inevitable is indeed being delayed, and we are losing our patience, as news of "meetings" between the parties take up headline space in place of more up in the air possibilities.
- Happy trails, Brad Radke. The 34-year-old's shoulder was telling him to call it quits. And tomorrow at a press conference he will comply.
# posted by BG : 1:29 AM
