Thinking out loud…while wondering whatever happened to The Boz?
- Rocco Baldelli’s team, the Minnesota Twins, won 101 games and hit a major-league record 307 homers. Should be at least good enough for strong consideration as Manager of the Year, amiright?
- But the Twins hit only one dinger in the last 21 innings they played…which is a big reason why they’re out, and the Yankees move on.
- The Twins now have lost 16 consecutive postseason games overall, tying the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks for the longest postseason losing streak in North American Sports history. But it’s not all Rocco’s fault, of course.
- Tweet of the Week I, from @DeeepThreat: “Jose Offerman was the @Twins DH/PH the last time they won a postseason game.”
- Show of hands here – who’s happy the Sox decided NOT to keep Joe Kelly in the bullpen this past season? Yikes. That’s a big albatross he’ll wear around his neck this offseason.
- So, the Sox began their staff makeover this week, starting with Dana LeVangie being ousted as pitching coach. It’s not all his fault, either.
- There is, or at least was, a palpable sense of conflict between old-fashioned eyesight and analytics within that dugout. But someone has to be a scapegoat.
- Is it just me, or are analytics so…so…1990’s? 2000’s?
- A projected arbitration salary of $27.7 million to Mookie Betts notwithstanding, another $15 million to on-the-shelf Dustin Pedroia and starting pitching that can’t get healthy, anyone else feel like you’re staring into the abyss when it comes to the Red Sox immediate competitive future?
- If I’m looking for a baseball GM job, just why would I move to Boston…without a HUGE paycheck to compensate me for my troubles? It’s near-barren on the farm, and the bosses no longer have any interest in forking over big(ger) bucks to win.
- But they do want to raise ticket prices on you for a likely inferior product, so there’s that.
- If the NBA, or any other sport, wants to make itself popular in China – remember one thing. You’ll need to think and act as the Chinese do for any chance at ultimate success. Oh, and the Patriots are the leading NFL ‘brand’ in China at present. Just sayin’.
- Think you had a busy week? How ‘bout those Patriots?
- Would the re-emergence of Antonio Brown make it busier? He used Instagram this week (big shock) to tell anyone who would listen “the Patriots are paying me anyway, might as well let me earn my money.”
- While the man has a point, his ability to open mouth/insert foot and inability to stay away from social media and threatening his accusers will probably be enough to keep him on the sidelines.
- Ben Watson’s departure was about money more than it was about a roster spot. Money wasted on AB in the first place, and money the Patriots don’t currently have under the cap. Watson leaving added about a $2 mil cushion to that cap, and don’t rule out a return at some point.
- Is there any reason why the Redskins won’t trade hold-out Trent Williams? What a waste of Pro Bowl offensive line talent. Think the Patriots have a need? Or is Washington just stupid? Both?
- If they actually hire Rex Ryan as their next head coach, maybe we’ll have that answer. But it would be fun, wouldn’t it?
- Somehow, the Giants just bring out the worst in the Patriots. Or rather, maybe the Jints simply know how to play the Patriots? They did that for about three quarters of the game Thursday night.
- Oh, but that defense is a sight to behold. How often over the past several years have we clamored for a team like that? And now all we’re worried about is ‘where’s the offense?’
- Please. Settle down. You don’t want a finished product in October, you want it in January.
- I’ll say this, however – the offensive line is the Achilles Heel. Can’t run block. Get beaten around end. TB12 needs his flak jacket, as well as another receiver or two.
- Gronk’s new gig as a Fox NFL contributor seems better suited for some zany, on-field antics rather than him sitting behind a desk next to Terry Bradshaw and Jimmy Johnson, doesn’t it?
- #Rookestradamus says the ultimate stunt would have been for Gronk to do a story on injuries – then following a Gronk-spike, he declares to-hell-with-it I’m coming back to play…live on the air.
- Michael Bennett, what happened? Apparently, he doesn’t even know what he’s done to deserve less playing time. Best guess, he hasn’t quite adapted to what the Patriots ask their defensive linemen to do – contain, rather than penetrate.
- Patriots-Giants, at 17.5 points prior to kickoff, was the largest point spread in Thursday Night Football history. So much for NFL parity, huh? And as crappy as that game was for most of the night, they covered it.
- Had a great conversation with Mike Pereira, Fox’ NFL Rules Analyst and former NFL ref and VP of Officiating before kickoff Thursday. Are the zebras throwing too many flags? Yes they are, but the coaches asked for it…so, they’re simply getting what they asked for.
- Tweet of the Week II, from @cpriceNFL: “With Week 5 (now 6) just about done, #Patriots LB Jamie Collins is the only guy in the league with at least 3 interceptions for 4 sacks.”
- The annual Big East Media Day was crowded Thursday at Madison Square Garden with coaches, players and media. Also in the preseason standings – as favorite Seton Hall got the nod for the top spot by a single coaches’ vote.
- Mildly surprised the Friars tied Marquette for 4th overall – which tells me PC’s experience is highly valued by the league coaches. Alpha Diallo was the only Friar, however, to receive preseason all-league honors.
- ICYMI, the coaches said: 1) Seton Hall 2) Villanova 3) Xavier 4) Marquette & Providence 6) Georgetown 7) Creighton 8) Butler 9) St. John’s 10) DePaul.
- Quick observations? Xavier is too high. Georgetown might be too low. And since Butler has Kamar Baldwin (1st team all-Big East), they are capable of dancing, too. 80% of this league could reach the NCAA Tournament. Could.
- Congrats to PC athletic director Bob Driscoll, inducted into the Ithaca College athletic Hall of Fame this weekend. Driscoll was a two-sport, hockey and baseball standout at IC, leading the team in scoring for three seasons. He graduated in 1974.
- Late Night Madness was largely a success last week for PC at the Dunk, with more than 7000 fans there to witness “A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie” and John Legend. There was a large difference in age and generational gaps within the audience, for sure.
- But the plan was well-executed. The biggest issue came from the rap star using rap language and not giving the school what was originally contracted and promised – which was to be a clean show.
- Complaints came in. The school issued an apology. Hope they also got a refund from the Hoodie.
- Oh, Snoop Dogg. Really, what did Kansas think it was getting when they asked him to, um, perform during their “Late Night at the Phog” annual practice last week? Clean lyrics, teen-age be-boppers and cotton candy for the crowd?
- What they got: Stripper poles, half-naked dancers and profane lyrics. Yeah. Good, clean, wholesome fun. I’m no prude, but that looked like the biggest bachelor party I’ve ever seen.
- Realizing the standards of decency have changed over time, for an event that is primarily aimed at families, kids and wannabe KU fans it seemed as if Kansas officials threw sanity into the wind.
- And with impending NCAA doom from the FBI wiretap probe on the Jayhawks’ horizon – they then threw a big middle finger to everyone watching from the outside. And offered an apology, of course. Snicker, snicker.
- Getcha’ popcorn ready. The real fireworks in the college ranks haven’t started yet.
- Some former college student-athletes are already getting paid as part of a $208.7 million settlement the NCAA arrived at, after lawsuits from those athletes concerning athlete-compensation limits.
- USA Today reported the payouts are primarily for 43,000 athletes in FBS and DI men’s and women’s hoops, with the average check a little more than $3800 per person.
- Any Friar injuries to update? Ed Cooley says Nate Watson’s knee injury might not be as serious as first feared, but he will still be off of it (MCL sprain) for a couple of weeks. Others (Pipkins, hammy; Young, abdomen; Gantt, achilles tendon) are coming along, but will need regular maintenance and protection throughout the season.
- PC’s women’s hoop team was a preseason pick for 5th (tied with Villanova) in the Big East – their highest preseason rank in several years. Sophomore forward Mary Baskerville was named to the preseason all-conference squad, after being named the Big East Rookie of the Year last season. The Friars reached the WNIT a year ago.
- Not for nuthin’, Boston College was picked 13th out of 15 in the preseason men’s ACC basketball poll. Duke (of course) was at the top, followed by UNC, Louisville and defending national champ Virginia.
- URI took the Governors’ Cup battle with Brown for a second straight year, and the Rams finally got off the schneid with their first win of the season.
- But it was the Bears’ QB who stole the day. Boston College transfer E.J. Perry accounted for 512 yards of total offense (420 through the air) as URI clipped Brown 31-28. Perry’s total is the second highest in school history…numbers that his Uncle James – now the head coach – used to produce.
- Bryant won its’ first for head coach Chris Merritt as the Bulldogs beat Merrimack on the road 24-17. A career high 138 rushing yards for Pawtucket redshirt junior Alfred Dorbor led the way. Bryant gets LIU at home Saturday in a game streamed on ESPN 3.
- Jim Calhoun might have met a roadblock in his building a D3 program at Hartford’s University of Saint Joseph. The Connecticut Post reported this week the Hall of Famer is the focal point of a sexual discrimination lawsuit filed against the school by a former athletic department employee.
- Great start for Friar hockey last weekend with a season-opening 7-0 waxing of Hockey East rival Maine. Harvard grad transfer Michael Lackey stopped 29 pucks in goal, and the young Friars find themselves ranked 6th/7th in the early national polls. They’ll play two at home this weekend against Holy Cross and the US National Development team.
- While the Bruins are off to as good a start as you could reasonably expect (3-1, all on the road), it’s also been a solid start for the Providence Bruins as well. Two road wins and four points away from the Dunk, and the P-Bruins open play at home Saturday night and Sunday afternoon against Rochester and Springfield.
- Weymouth native Paul Carey is the PB’s captain. And Warwick native Todd Angilly also got the official call – he’s the new, every night Boston Bruins’ anthem voice at TD Garden. Dude can belt out ‘O Say Can You See’ for sure. Wonder if he’ll still tend bar?
- URI is 6-1-1 in its’ last eight soccer matches on the men’s side after a win over LaSalle this week. Both PC teams (men and women) are 7-4 (plus a tie for the ladies) fighting in the middle of the Big East.
- Did you see where the Revs got to the postseason for the first time since 2015? Did you also see where they’ll play Atlanta United (and former Friar star Julian Gressel) on the road, where they lost to end the regular season last week (3-1)…and have never won previously?
- Hey, the Revs started this season 2-8-2 and dead last in MLS, so reaching the tournament is a step in the right direction. How big a step – remains to be seen.
- Remember ‘The Boz,’ aka Brian Bosworth? He played linebacker for Oklahoma in the mid ‘80’s, and had a very successful, all-American caliber college career…until he was suspended for steroid use and kept out of the Orange Bowl in 1987.
- He was never traditionally drafted into the NFL, instead joining Seattle after the ’87 supplemental draft, signing at the time the largest contract in team history and the biggest rookie contract in NFL history. Followed by – retirement after only two years because of shoulder troubles.
- By all rights, Brian Bosworth was a good player – even inducted into the college football hall of fame in 2015. But ‘The Boz’ was a persona he could never quite live up to, nor could his career. Wild, crazy, flamboyant…sometimes even “Gronk-like.” He has since pursued a career as a bit-part TV and movie actor and was the subject of one of ESPN’s better “30 for 30” series’ entitled, ‘Brian and the Boz.’
- @Marima07 tweeted from Mansfield, MA this week, on the lackluster Thursday Night Football broadcasts: “My friend had the perfect solution to TNF games. Play them Sunday at 1.”
- @Marima: That would do the trick. But it makes way too much sense. The NFL won’t give back the TV revenue, no matter the caliber of contest on the field. But it seems pretty much that fans and media agree here – less would, indeed, be more. But not while TV networks need live programming.
- Interested in having your questions on local Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions, comments and local stories to jrooke@weei.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
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