Stop the Madness? Nah!

There are few days in the year where a sporting event dominates everything else. SuperBowl, Opening Day, some Olympic events... it's a short list no matter what. But what those don't have that March Madness has is day-to-night games on Thursday and Friday this week as the opening round gets played.

For hoops junkies and casual fans alike, it's a day to familiarize yourself with the refresh button (or the F5 button if you're into shortcuts) or find a TV to tune into. [Personally, I recommend Slingbox if you have the chance]

Ever wonder what the actual "costs" are to having so many millions of people tune out those two days? How about $1.7B, that's billion with a capital B.

Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas in Chicago estimated this whole March Madness obsession at the workplace would cost more than $1.7 billion in lost productivity during this year’s tournament, but those numbers have the ring of exaggeration to them. True, close to 60 million Americans identify themselves as college basketball fans, but of course not all of their teams make the three-week tournament – nor do all of them work.

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For the first time, CBSSports.com is offering every game via Web video without making users register for the privilege. In past years, CBSSports.com has streamed fewer games and, between 2003-2005, charged visitors for access to March Madness On Demand. In 2007, 1.4 million people registered to watch the games online at the site, but with the registration tossed aside, the numbers will soar.

Pretty lofty numbers for slacking to watch hoops, if you ask me. But what do I know, I have a TV in my office so it'd be on anyways.

People to avoid at the ballpark

Great job by Peter Abraham in having some fun in his blog, citing the 10 people to avoid at the ballpark. It's Yankee-centric but it translates across most of MLB. Here's some of it:

1. People who bring their vanity license plates to games and wave them around.
2. Drunks. Why would you spent so much money on tickets, gas and parking and then crush so many $8.50 beers that you can’t remember half of what happened the next day? It makes no sense. Meanwhile, they’re loud, obnoxious and usually fans of the other team.
3. Know-it-alls. Nothing worse than sitting next to the guy who knows somebody who knows Cashman’s dry cleaner and he knows for sure the Yankees are getting Albert Pujols.
4. People who keep getting up. Over nine innings, you should get up once, twice if you’re female. Go to the bathroom, get something to eat then sit back down and don’t get up again until the game is over. Stop making people in your row get up.
5. People waving signs trying to get on ESPN or Fox. This isn’t a game show. Sit down.
6. There are two categories of cell-phone users who need savage beatings. First is the guy who has a friend in the crowd eight sections over and calls him so they can wave at each other. Your friend knows what you look like, bozo. Then there are the people who sit in box seats and call their friends watching at home and wave every time the camera catches them in the background. Teams should employ snipers to wound these people.
7. People who swear at the players. How badly has your life gone that you feel compelled to come to the park and yell obscene words at somebody playing baseball? Trust me, when the player goes back to his huge house and his insanely hot wife that night, you calling him names doesn’t make him feel bad.
8. People trying to start The Wave. The Wave is a plague on sports. It’s 50,000 people saying, “Look at us, we’re all mindless and we don’t care about the game.” Thankfully Yankee Stadium is largely Waveless.
9. Trampy girls at batting practice. This always brings a smile. No matter what stadium you’re in, you see scantily clad women in stripper heels posing near the dugout trying to catch the attention of the players. This strategy may work in the minors. But do you really think Jeter is going to look up and say, “Hey, purple halter, Room 812 at the Westin tonight.”
10. Adult autograph seekers. I think players should be contractually mandated to sign 10 autographs every day for kids. But once you’re 18, give it up. Let the kids through. I’m always disgusted at the get-a-lifers who jockey for position with children.

The comments section has some other good stuff if you have time for a longer read during lunch (like me).


And mine:

• Adults who wear Yankee jerseys with PLAYERS NAMES ON THE BACK! Any self-respecting ADULT fan will never wear a jersey with a name on the back because the Yanks have never put a name on the back of a jersey. This is excusable for kids, of course. Modell's and all other chain sporting goods stores should be banned from selling this garbage. Period. Also, wearing any jersey that's not white/gray/navy should be grounds for ejection/snipershot. If you are wearing a red/camo/yellow/green/etc. Yankee jersey, throw yourself out of a car onto the Deegan.

Good for them

Good to hear of a team sticking up for its coaches, no matter the issue. Hell yes, even a Yanks fan applauds at the Sox threatening not to go to Japan unless the coaches are paid, as previously promised.

Manager Terry Francona and his players were extremely irked after learning the team's coaches were not going to get the $40,000 stipend they assumed they’d be getting for making the trip to Japan (players will also receive a payment). Francona had informed the coaches they’d be getting the stipend.

However, the Sox manager was told by members of the Oakland coaching staff that they were not being paid. Francona had thought it was unusual that one team’s staff would be paid and the other not. So he checked into it and found he and his coaches were getting nothing.

More succinctly summed up by David Ortiz: "It's really [expletive] up."

How a minor demotion could be a major benefit

I've been hearing that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have been considering sending 3B phenom Evan Longoria back to the minors for some additional "seasoning". Considering his spring training stats (.333 AVG, .488 OBP, 1.255 OPS, 3 HR, 5:9 K:BB ratio), he's proving he's ready to go right now.

Except that a demotion for a short period of time would be a great business decision for the Rays, as unfair to Longoria as it might seem.

There's a great example of why it might be worth sending Longoria back to the minors for a month or two, as recent as last year. Take the cases of Alex Gordon (2007 pre-season fave for ROY) and Ryan Braun (the 2007 Spring Training behemoth):

Kansas City's Alex Gordon and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun were both college players taken in the first five picks of the 2005 draft. (Just as Longoria was in 2006.) Both had strong seasons in Double A in 2006 (just as Longoria did in '07) and came to spring training last year with their eyes on making the big-league club.

The Royals kept Gordon on opening day, and he promptly sputtered to a 1-for-24 start. By the end of May, he was hitting .185, and he finished the season at .247 with 15 homers and 60 RBIs. The Brewers, on the other hand, sent Braun to Triple A for two months. When he was promoted, he tore up the National League, finishing with a .324 average, 34 homers, 97 RBIs and a rookie of the year award.

And, oh, yeah, Gordon will now be a free agent one year before Braun.

But it's silly to ignore Tampa Bay's realities. Having Longoria for an extra month in 2008 is not going to have a major impact on the season, but having him under contract in 2014 could be a godsend.

The subtleties of the Collective Bargaining Agreement are pretty interesting, if you're into that sort of minutae. Otherwise, it's just a fat document full of bureaucratic mumbojumbo and mind-numbing rules and regulations.

Behold: A gyroball?

Hat tip to Rob Neyer at ESPN.com for the video mention:


So does the "gyroball" exist and does CJ Wilson have the goods to throw it? We'll see, I guess.

PS: Great to see blogger-buddy Shysterball getting continued press from Rob on such a well-read platform.

A great gesture

What the Yanks did yesterday was a wonderful gesture, though the cynics among us will call it "calculated" or just a "media ploy". The truth is, George Steinbrenner pledged $1M to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund shortly after the 32 students were assassinated just under a year ago. Part of his donation was also a request that the Yanks come and play a game on campus.

Whether or not having a pro club, forget that it's the Yanks, come and play on campus will help with the healing at all is up for debate, but there's no denying everyone involved in yesterday's events were happy it took place.

"She smiled. This is part of the reason why we're here," Jeter said. "It reminds me a little of Sept. 11, when we had an opportunity to visit a lot of families. People always ask how this helps, and I really don't know. If it just makes people smile and enjoy themselves for the three hours we're here, it's all worthwhile."

Here is a 9 picture photo album, including the photo to the right side here.

Nothing to all the HGH claims, usage

This just smacks of some group of researchers getting paid by some company/lobby to conduct some half-assed tests just so they can publish a report that says "drugs are bad, m'kay". As usual, emphasis mine.

While growth hormone adds some muscle, it doesn't appear to improve strength or exercise capacity, according to a review of studies that tested the hormone in mostly athletic young men. "It doesn't look like it helps and there's a hint of evidence it may worsen athletic performance," said Dr. Hau Liu, of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, Calif., who was lead author of the review.

Then this little tucked away tidbit:

But the new research has some limitations and sheds no light on long-term use of HGH. The scientists note their analysis included few studies that measured performance. The tests also probably don't reflect the dose and frequency practiced by athletes illegally using the hormone. Experiments like that aren't likely to be conducted.

The end of the article had this pearl:

Dr. Alan Rogol of the University of Virginia and the Indiana University School of Medicine, said the work was a good review but had to rely on inadequate research. "There are just tons of things we don't know," said Rogol.

The End is Near

Between work and staying tuned into the Bear Stearns collapse/Wall Street impending melt-down, I won't have much time to punch up some additional posts today. Unless, of course, there's something, you know, um, interesting happening. I'm easily distracted.

I hope none of you bought any Bear Stearns recently. Lehman, too.

Fantasy tidbit: Why to let others draft SP first

A stats-free fantasy baseball draft tidbit for you, reminding you why you let someone else pay for pitching in the first few rounds: They are both fragile and unpredictable. Within the last two weeks, we've seen injuries to three aces, many of whom were typically drafted in the first 6 rounds.

• Rays ace Kazmir likely to start season on DL
• Angels ace John Lackey out 3 to 4 weeks with strained right triceps
• Red Sox pitcher Beckett likely to miss trip to Japan because of back

And then there's the "rest" of the pitchers:

• The Angels are now set to open the season without their No. 1 and No. 2 starters, John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar
• Barry Zito's fastball is being clocked in the low 80s. Barry Zito has faced 67 hitters and hasn't generated a single strikeout. He has allowed 10 walks, 21 hits, four homers and a 14.92 ERA. Keep in mind that he has six years remaining in his current contract.
• There aren't major concerns about Erik Bedard, but he hasn't pitched well this spring either, surrendering 21 hits and five walks while striking out seven in 13 innings, for a 9.69 ERA
• Curt Schilling placed on 60-day disabled list by the Red Sox

And just because we're discussing pitchers and their injuries, here's a great graphic/explanation about Tommy John Surgery. If the link doesn't work right (it's a pop-up flash file), go here and check for the link on the right-hand side called "How the Tommy John surgery works".

Behold: The Greatness that is Tiger Woods

Seriously, he's treating the PGA Tour like they are weekend hackers on a pitch-and-putt. Yesterday's finish was merely the latest example that he's in his own stratusphere.

When Spring Training injuries strike

First, we had the nasty Felix Pie twisted testicle incident. And if that wasn't cringe-worthy enough...

(wait for it)

...Houston Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui will undergo surgery to repair an anal fissure on Monday in Houston

Cue that horrible screaming noice now.

If you're really curious about his "issue", go here and read up on it.

I'm now sorry I did, but maybe you're more interested in finding out how someone tore himself a new asscrack. Have fun.

Friday fun: Mickey Mantle

With a tip of the cap to my Pop, some fun stuff about Mickey Mantle, his hero, inspired by Billy Crystal's at bat yesterday.

Mickey Mantle's 10 Longest Home Runs

1. 734 ft. – 5/22/63, vs. Kansas City, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Bill Fischer
2. 660 ft. – 3/26/51, vs. USC, at Bovard Field, USC, Pitcher: Unknown
3. 650 ft. – 6/11/53, vs. Detroit, at Briggs Stadium, Pitcher: Art Houteman
4. 643 ft. – 9/10/60, vs. Detroit, at Tiger Stadium, Pitcher: Paul Foytack
5. 630 ft. – 9/13/53, vs. Detroit, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Billy Hoeft
6. 620 ft. – 5/30/56, vs. Washington, at Yankee Stadium, Pitcher: Pedro Ramos
7. 565 ft. – 4/17/53, vs. Washington, at Griffith Stadium, Pitcher: Chuck Stobbs
8. 550 ft. – 6/05/55, vs. Chi. White Sox, at Comiskey Park, Pitcher: Billy Pierce
9. 535 ft. – 7/06/53, vs. Philadelphia A's, at Connie Mack Stadium, Pitcher: Frank Fanovich
10. 530 ft. – 4/24/53, vs. St. Louis Browns, at Busch Stadium, Pitcher: Bob Cain

I'll also try putting a picture of a great letter/response below (off-color warning):

That wasn't so bad, was it?

With all the senseless whining and complaining about Billy Crystal taking an AB during a Spring Training game, the truth is, he wasn't nearly as bad as I/we expected. For 5'5" 60 year old man who never played above high school, he took a few good cuts.



Good for him.

Great moments in Minor League ballpark promotions

With the hue and cry still raining down about now-former Governor Spitzer's, um, indiscretions, we get this:

A Georgia minor league team is hoping to turn Eliot Spitzer's scandal into a packed stadium.

The Macon Music is capitalizing on the outgoing New York governor's prostitution-related downfall, by serving up a "Eliot Spitzer Night." The man once known as "Mr. Clean" is invited to throw out the first pitch at the June 13th game, although he hasn't RSVP'd.

A South Coast League official says anybody named Eliot, Spitzer or Kristen, the alleged call girl, will get $1 off admission. The team also plans to give out a one-night stay at Washington, D.C.'s swanky Mayflower hotel, where Spitzer's alleged misdeeds are said to have happened.

And since Spitzer was described as "Client No. 9" in FBI documents, the ninth fan will get a prize. So will the 871st fan to buy a ticket, because that's supposed to have been Spitzer's Mayflower Hotel room number.

Amazing. Not to mention that the team name is Macon Music. I woulda figured they change their team name during "Spitzer night" to Macon Whoopie. I'll be here all week, try the veal and don't forget to tip your waitresses.

[And yes, the reason for this posting was solely to include a picture of Spitzer's ladyfriend.]

TNYS updates

Big thanks to Sliding Into Home and River Ave. Blues for the stills and the link to a (terrible)video montage of TNYS, aka The New Yankee Stadium. Here is the direct link to the montage.

New MVOD: Mindless Video of the Day

Back to the Future, with a twist:

Shelley Duncan is half-Sasquatch

All of baseball is abuzz about the Rays/Yanks "tussle". I think Girardi's comments made this all possible, but there's a part of me that's happy to see the Yanks showing some fire. I've been complaining for years that the Yanks have been plunked at a far greater rate than they've been doing the plunking. I also think Duncan's move yesterday was excessive and ill-timed. I think the better move would have been to table that anger and save it for the regular season.

All that being said, I think Shelley Duncan is half-man, half-Sasquatch. Just take a gander at the size of his feet! His feet are as long as Iwamura's thigh, for pete's sake! Now, I know he spiked Iwamura in the leg, causing a cut, but the picture below makes it seem that he spiked him near the groin. That's just the end of the play and it looks worse than it was.

What was reallllly lame was the pseudo-tough "tackle" that Gomes attempted. Sprinting in at a 6'5" behemoth, only to drop to your knees as you got close and only muster a shove?

And just because it's fun to remember, take a gander at the autograph Duncan-squatch gave a young Red Sox fan:

Good luck, Rocco

Some scary/confusing stuff from the Rays today about oft-injured but very talented OF Rocco Baldelli. Without knowing more about it, here's to hoping he can figure out the source of the problem, get treated and back on the field playing soon.

Essentially, his body is not allowing his muscles to work as they should and made it all but impossible for him to sustain any kind of regular activity on the field for any length of time. The problem is he isn’t replacing “ATP”—adenosine triphosphate—properly. This site provides an explanation of how ATP plays into exercise...”

Said Baldelli:

"I was having a lot of problems the last couple years with my muscles and muscle strains. I think a good way to describe it is literally muscle fatigue and cramping, way before my body should be feeling these things. I would go out there and I was pretty much incapable of doing basic baseball activities as far as running and hitting and throwing.

"When I say fatigue, I go out there and my body is literally spent after a very short amount of time out on the field, which makes it extremely frustrating and difficult, but it’s something that’s kind of a reality right now and something we’re dealing with the best that we can."

Good to be Bud

For all our bashing, mocking, handwringing about Bud Selig, how many of us wouldn't eagerly trade places with him and his $14.5M salary! No wonder he doesn't want to abdicate his throne anytime soon!

Selig received $14,515,071 in compensation during the 12 months ending Oct. 31, 2006, according to Major League Baseball's tax return, which the commissioner's office released Tuesday. That was up from exactly $14.5 million in the 12 months that ended Oct. 31, 2005.

MLB's contribution to Selig in its benefit plan was $400,999, up from $82,843 in the previous fiscal year, and Selig received $140,603 in expense account and other allowances, an increase from $20,184.

HGH Education 101

No, I am not a doctor and don't plan on going back to school to be one. Even if the idea of going back to school sounds fun. At the end of my previous posting, I noted that I needed to get more educated on the effects of HGH. A (very) quick search brought me to an interesting site discussing HGH, its definition, effects, benefits, risks, etc. I make no claims to its accuracy, integrity or anything else. [If you have other sites/sources you like, send them my way!]


Students, class is in session:

What role does HGH play in the body?
Human growth hormone and IGF-1 (if you need definitions go to: HGH Definitions page) have been shown to play a significant role in:

• Conversion of body fat to muscle mass
• Growth of all tissues
• Energy level
• Tissue repair
• Whole body healing
• Cell replacement
• Bone strength
• Brain function
• Sexual function
• Organ health and integrity
• Enzyme production
• Integrity of hair, nails, skin and vital organs

Basically, anything that goes on in your body is in some way tied to HGH. This is why HGH is often called the "fountain of youth". Elevated HGH levels are what make you feel young again.

What effect does this increase in HGH have on the body?

This is where it gets exciting. While numerous studies have been done on the effects of HGH injections, the most ground breaking study was done by Dr. Rudman and published in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 5, 1990. The journal reported that men who had taken HGH injections had shown a 8.8 percent gain in lean body mass with a 14 percent loss in body fat - without any change in diet or activity! It bears repeating that there was no change in diet or exercise - and the subjects who received HGH injections had a 8.8 percent increase in lean body
mass.

If you look at all the studies that have been done on HGH injections you get the following list of benefits:

• 8.8% increase in muscle mass on average after six months, without exercise
• 14.4% loss of fat on average after six months, without dieting
• Higher energy levels
• Enhanced sexual performance
• Regrowth of heart, liver, spleen, kidneys and other organs that shrink with age
• Greater cardiac output
• Superior immune function
• Increased exercise performance
• Better kidney function
• Lowered blood pressure
• Improved cholesterol profile, with higher HDL and lower LDL
• Stronger bones
• Faster wound healing
• Younger, tighter, thicker skin
• Hair regrowth
• Wrinkle removal
• Elimination of cellulite
• Sharper vision
• Mood elevation
• Increased memory retention
• Improved sleep

Are there any negative effects from taking HGH injections?
Yes - but then you knew there had to be a catch, didn't you? There are actually a few problems with HGH injections:

Extremely Expensive

• A year's supply of HGH injections can cost $20,000! Insurance will not cover the injections because you are not treating a "classified disease".

Available by prescription only

• Recombinant GH is a drug that is available by prescription only. So, even if you had $20,000 a year to spend, you would need to get a prescription.

Possible Negative Side Effects

• Anytime you introduce a large amount of a foreign hormone into the body there is the risk of side effects. In Dr. Rudman's study he found that some of the patients suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome and gynecomastia (enlarged
  breasts). Dr. Rudman believed that with less HGH the side effects would go way, but tragically he died before he could test his theory.

Claim: HGH will give you a 8.8% increase in muscle mass and a 14.4% loss of fat - without dieting or exercise!

This is the old bait and switch. Technically, they are not lying when they quote Dr. Rudman's number. With HGH Injections, Dr. Rudman did see a 8.8% increase in muscle mass and a 14.4% loss of fat. The problem is, they are not selling HGH Injections! These companies do not provide any evidence that their pill, powder or spray will have the same results as HGH Injections. So, they bait you with all the positives of HGH injections and then switch you to their untested supplement.

Now, before you run out to your nearest sketchy medical practioner, go do your own research and speak with a doctor who you trust and knows you.