SUSPENSIONS OR TIME SERVED?

29 06 2009

WHEN A SUSPENSION IS NOT A SUSPENSION

By John Leon

After listening to Mike Golic on ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning radio show, I have to agree with his assessment of the 50 game suspension rules.

Section 8 Part B – Player tests positive for a Performance Enhancing Substance

  1. 1. 1st Positive Test Result – a 50 game suspension

So where in that very short, very to the point statement does it say start a rehab assignment during the suspension? I didn’t see it did you? But there is a catch in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Major League Baseball Owners and the Players Association.

Section 8 Part H – Suspensions

  1. 2. During the term of his suspension, a player may consent to an assignment to a Minor League affiliate of his Club…and shall not exceed 10 days (16 days for a pitcher) for a Player suspended for a period of 26-50 days.

Granted, they are suspended without pay, (big deal) but Manny Ramirez, J.C. Romero and others get essentially a 40 game suspension, do a rehab assignment for 10 then get plugged right back into the everyday Major League Lineup.

I absolutely think this is ridiculous. You get suspended for 50, do the time and THEN if the club wants to send you to a rehab gig, send them then. What’s the difference if it’s an injury assignment or suspension? Time is time and this is just another reason why the MLBPA is the strongest union around.

Donald Fehr may be retiring but if Bud Selig, who in my mind may be the Jimmy Carter of Commissioners (the absolute worst ever!), thinks that little gem is coming out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, he is sadly mistaken.

“Our testing procedures are the strongest of any major sport,” said Selig.

Really? So how come, if it’s obvious to most if not all of us, that Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire (who I think is getting screwed royally), Brady Anderson, Lenny Dykstra, et al., were doing it, how come that addendum was put in the CBA so they could even think about testing?

Tradeoffs that’s why? The clamoring for testing was so strong that Fehr had no choice but to buckle under the weight of public scrutiny and still protect his players.

But getting back to my point, the 50 game suspensions should be just that, 50 games. No rehab during the suspension, not working out with club trainers, nothing until the sentence is completed. You want to work out, fine, do it on your own dime with your own trainers.

Look, I don’t think I’m being too harsh here. Pitchers get 6 games just for throwing at hitters, so does the crime fit the punishment? Not in this case, it sounds like time off for good behavior. Take the suspension and we’ll knock off some time so you can get back into playing shape.

All I’m saying is the rule stinks and should be changed. It won’t happen but it should.


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Categories : Baseball

PHILLIES AREN’T THAT FAR AWAY

26 06 2009

WORLD SERIES HANGOVER OR BROKEN MACHINE?

phillies1by John Leon

Pundits, radio talk show hosts, ESPN and God knows who else, are wondering what’s wrong with the Phillies this season. The problems have been numerous and before we even get into what is wrong and possible fixes, let’s remind ourselves of one thing.

They’re STILL in first place as of June 26th! Not by much but still….

THE PROBLEMS

First and foremost are the injuries and although every team, at one time or another goes through it, not one team will publicly make excuses for them. Now you and I know that, in private, the thinking is, “Boy, if this guy or that guy hadn’t gotten hurt….” Well, history will show that teams that stay healthy usually win or at least make a run at a championship. Last year was a case in point. Yes, they lost Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, etc. for short periods of time, but this year is a different animal. The laundry list is long and takes a major toll on the reserves. Hamels (twice), Brett Myers, Scott Eyre, Brad Lidge, Raul Ibanez, Carlos Ruiz, Clay Condrey. Add in the suspension of J.C. Romero and M.A.S.H looks tame compared to them. Antonio Bastardo went down last night and that didn’t look good at all. The bullpen has been taxed, the troubles of Jamie Moyer and the inconsistency of Hamels adds up to disaster if they don’t get it straightened out. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball, Phillies

FAN FOR HIRE

2 05 2009

FAN FOR HIRE! INQUIRE WITHIN

By John Leon

For more years than I care to admit, I’ve been an Oakland Raider fan. Yeah, I know, they’ve absolutely sucked over the past few years and up until this point, I’ve steadfastly stayed loyal to them.

But after this year’s draft, I can no longer sit back with my 3 Super Bowls and say with absolute confidence that this will turn around.

It’s just not gonna happen and there’s two words as to why. Al Davis.

The man has been: an innovator, Commissioner (AFL but still), an owner that would take scraps from other teams and mold them into winners, taken coaches that no one knew and made them Hall of Famers (see; Madden, John) and been a HOF member himself.

However, time has passed him by, the game has changed, the coaching carousel under his withering hand has become an embarrassment and the vaunted Silver and Black are no longer the Raiders of Stabler, Tatum, Haynes, Hayes, Matuszak and Biletnikoff. The fans are more intimidating at The Black Hole than the team!

They’ve become the joke of the NFL with the ridiculous contracts and drafts they have had over the last few havew benn awful and their fans are more intimidating at The Black Hole than the team!

They’ve become the joke of the NFL with the ridiculous contracts and drafts they have had over the last few years. Jamarcus Russell being the 3rd highest paid player in the League? Passing on Michael Crabtree AND Jeremy Maclin for Darius Hayward-Bey? Drafting a player (Michael Moore) that neither Mel Kiper, Jr. nor Todd McShay had even listed?

I’ve had enough!

So I’m a free agent fan, looking for another team to root for. I will still follow the Raiders but with less passion than before, but I want a team that will spur me to root for them. They will make me WANT to yell at the TV during the season and get upset at the play calling, all the while coaxing them on to the playoffs.

Some teams already off the list for obvious reasons such as Detroit (shocking there), Arizona (although they are getting better), Seattle, SF, San Diego (too far away), Denver (still have horse face Elway imprinted in my brain), Dallas, NY Giants, NY Jets, Washington (obvious reasons), Buffalo (T.O. anyone?), NE (hate Belichek), KC (always hated the Raiders arch rival), Cincinnati (their arrest record is better than their NFL record), Houston (ehh), Minnesota and Jacksonville (no reason just can’t get into them)

So that leaves: Miami, Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Colts, Tennessee, Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Green Bay, Chicago and Philly (although I can’t stand Andy Reid, especially his interviews….UGH!)

There’s the challenge everyone, make me want to root for a team and give me solid reasons why. I don’t want to hear about locale or because I should. I want good solid reasons that will make me go out and buy the jersey and get crazy on Game Days. Give me a reason to hope that MY team will rise to the top and become the one everyone talks about.

I’ve already been through the Al Davis funeral. The sad part is he doesn’t know he was in it.


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Categories : Football, Raiders

Are The Eagles finally done with McNabb?? I am!!

24 02 2009

by John Leon

How ridiculous is this? “I don’t want to negotiate an extension until I see how the team will improve itself this off season.” Who said this? Why it’s the franchise quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles Donovan McNabb. Not T.O. Not any of the other greedy me-first superstars in the NFL but the one and only quarterback that everyone seems to think Philly needs.

Not me! Enough is Enough. This statement reeks of holding the team hostage and I’m sick of it. I wasn’t his biggest fan to begin with and it’s time to cut the umbilical cord that he’s got attached to Andy Reid. On top of that, he had a private meeting with Reid and Joe Banner to “clear the air” about his Week 12 benching…what?

Here’s my thought. trade his ass to Chicago or wherever he wants throw his high and outside and low and away bouncers. Sign Jeff Garcia to a 2 year contract with the understanding that Garcia will mentor the next QB that the Eagles draft and it’s not Kevin Kolb or A.J. Feeley. There’s going to be some good quarterbacks out there over the next 2 years and this would ; A) give the Birds a legit leader with some balls. Remember his leading the Eagles when the precious choke artist was hurt? and B) allow the Eagles to groom the next long term signal caller of the future without having to throw him to the wolves too early.

Of course that quarterback guru tandem of Reid and Moringwheg could’ve had Brady Quinn but TRADED UP to get Kolb…I know you’ve gotta be scratching your head over that one aren’t you? PLUS the Eagles need shoring up at a few different positions and have some tough decisions about free agents. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Eagles, Football

MENDING A BROKEN ANKLE

13 01 2009

I’ll be the first to tell you that I thought the Eagles had no shot at the playoffs anymore than the Cardinals did about a month and a half ago. Not being an Eagle fan to begin with, there was no way I was jumping on the bandwagon and had firmly and resolutley jumped off of it. No running start, no wavering, taking the plunge and landing on my ego. There was just no way that this was a possibililty. McNabb had been benched (rightly so), they had played like crap against Cincinnati and Washington, the Kolb experiment was a miserable failure and they were dead in the water.

Well, somehere in that stertch of wretched play, they found a cause to play well. They were led by Brian Dawkins and his insane play, by a rejuvenated McNabb and by some well thought out play calling (about time!!). Dawkins, who may be gone at the end of the season is playing like, well, a man who is at the end of the road and wants to go out with a bang. McNabb is playing like he should’ve been playing all along this season and Andy Reid and Marty Mohringweg finally figured out that you don’t HAVE to pass 58 times in a game if you stay with the running game long enough (ask Minnesota). They did some get some major help to even get to the playoffs, so that’s an improbability that cannot even be explained.

Arizona is in the Championship game with some timely errors by Jake Delhomme, good, not great defense, Kurt Warner and a wideout who cannot be stopped with even double teams. Larry Fitzgerald could’ve been in Philly if we all remember, at the beginning of the year, when Anquan Boldin wanted a new contract. Think where the Birds would be now, with arguably the best WR in the NFL right now, but the Birds wouldn’t pony up the cash (now THERE”S a surprise huh?) and he stayed in the desert.

Looking back, if anyone would’ve seen this coming I’d call them a liar. Even the faithful, diehard fans were already figuring who they should take in the draft this year. But here they are, two teams that are one step away from Tampa, incredibly.

Here’s the prediction, throw out the Thanksgiving night massacre and look at the facts. Arizona has a veteran quarteback in Kurt Warner who has a ring and MVP awards, Edgerrin James has been resurrected and is playing like vintage Edgerrin James. Tim Hightower is the X factor and we all know about Fitzgerald. Their defense has played well, but let’s be honest, they’re not Baltimore, so the Eagles should be able to run their offense IF they stay with what got them here, balance.

The Eagles have the better defense and Warner holds the ball too long sometimes. James can get stuffed at the line and Hightower shouldn’t be able to get outside. Offensively Westbrook should be able to get his touches and one or two scores. The X Factor is Jason Avant and being able to get the tough 3rd down catches. Arizona’s secondary is good but doesn’t scare me and shouldn’t scare the Birds either.

Give the edge to the Birds defense and make the reservations for Tampa. Eagles 30 Cards 23. I’ll be taking care of the ankle that I broke jumping off this bandwagon.

by John Leon


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Categories : Eagles

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

10 11 2008

by John Leon

Normally I don’t take sides in the coaching debates about who must go and who stays, but after Sunday night’s debacle with the Eagles losing to the Giants, it’s time for Andy Reid to call it a day. Time after time after time, the press conference after another Eagles loss, always has Reid in his no-personality tone saying,” This loss is squarely on me and I’m the one responsible.”

Guess what Andy? You’re absolutely right! Time management problems since the Super Bowl, challenging plays that clearly show the results already, thereby blowing timeouts and last but not least, taking one of the best running backs in the NFL right out of the offensive mix. This offense is very offensive. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Eagles, Football

THE MLB ABOMINATION

28 10 2008

Selig Has Failed As Commissioner Again…
by John Leon

The ridiculous way that Bud Selig and Major League baseball screwed the Phils out of a possible clinching game, just understates what we’ve all felt all along and now have realized. Bud Selig may be in the Top 5 of the worst Commissioners ever to grace the MLB stage.

The All-Star fiasco was one thing but what he did to the Phils was so blatantly absurd that it bears analyzing. The Phils were leading 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, which would have made it an OFFICIAL game according to the rules. But No!!!

Enter the Undertaker Selig and his infinite twisted wisdom to allow the game to be continued in weather that even ducks wouldn’t want to be in. Bear in mind, the Phils ace Cole Hamels, was now relegated to one pitch, a fastball. This was due to the fact that his 3rd best pitch, a curve ball was not even considered and his “out” pitch, his devastating change, couldn’t be gripped properly in the slop.
Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball, Phillies, Rays

Time For New Leadership

1 10 2008

by John Leon

For a once proud franchise, the Oakland Raiders have become a national joke and that’s not making the NFL happy. Not one bit. For a League that prides itself on how it’s run and the way it is perceived, the debacle that is the Raiders is embarrassing to the league, it’s fans, and all of us who are Raiders’ faithful.

I am unabashedly a Raiders Fan, always have been and probably always will be. Al Davis, who still runs the team, forged the way they used to conduct themselves. Davis was, and still is, forever entrenched in the lore of the NFL for his vision and foresight. The Raiders always acquired players that were considered cast-offs and renegades and Davis played that for all it was worth. Commitment to Excellence, Just Win Baby, etc. is part of the history in the NFL. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Football, Raiders

Notes From The Pressbox – Down The Stretch They Come

19 09 2008

by John Leon

In March I made somewhat bold predictions and as sure as I sit here at my computer, they have for the most part been laughable. I’ve left the original thoughts below and now at the almost half way point, there seems to be a need of some revision.
So here we go…
But there’s one word that means so much and can be the heartbreak of all teams….IF. Here then lies one scribes’ predictions, IF, everything goes the right way. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS….AND THEN SOME

10 09 2008

By John Leon

Has high school sports in the South Jersey area gotten bigger than college or pro? It sure seems that way. And the way that some fans and parents are behaving over the last few years; it’s gotten even bigger. Radio and television coverage has made its way into mainstream America at this level and it used to be rivalries and Friday evening games, but now with the recruitment process, the stakes have been raised. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : High School Sports

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