Just as I’m heading out to watch a college basketball game tonight between my alma mater, Illinois State, and the University of Illinois-Chicago, I find this interesting piece on ESPN.com about foul calls in college basketball. It seems a recent study by a couple of college professors finds that the home team often gets fewer fouls called during these games.
The study, which appeared in The Journal of Sports Sciences earlier this year, finds that the chances that the visiting team would get a foul called on them was 7 percent higher than on the home team. When the home team is leading, the probability of the next foul being called on them was 6.3 percent higher than when the home team was trailing. Teams that are leading on nationally televised games also tend to get more fouls called than those leading in locally televised games.
Also, the bigger the difference in called fouls between the two teams, the more likely the next foul would be called against the team with fewer fouls. And when the home team had five or more fouls than the visiting team, there was a 69 percent chance that the visiting team would get the next foul.
While this is all supposedly happening subconsciously by the referees, it is somewhat amusing to realize that there really is something odd going on with the ref calls. And supposedly, it all evens out in the end, although the home team gets a slight edge. All the more reason to root for the home team.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Beckham Settles for Fifth in ROY Voting
Several weeks ago, White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham was named the Players Choice and the Sporting News Rookie of the Year, both based on the opinions of fellow baseball players. Today, he had a chance to win the trifecta when the Baseball Writers of America voted. Not only did Beckham not win Rookie of the Year honors, he placed a distant fifth, garnering only two second-place votes and four third-place votes.
Why the discrepancy? I’m still scratching my head over this one. Kinda makes you wonder what the baseball writers were looking at.
Instead the writers chose Oakland A's reliever Andrew Bailey who had 26 saves with a 1.84 ERA. Great numbers, I must admit. But I think Beckham's play made more of a difference for the White Sox, who were divisional contenders for most of the summer.
I can understand it if Beckham finished a close second, but a distant fifth with only six votes after nabbing top honors by his peers is something that's difficult to understand. Perhaps it’s a case of the writers looking at Beckham’s two previous honors, assuming that other writes will vote for him, and decide to vote for someone else.
Beckham’s numbers were just as good, if not better, than the other top rookies in consideration. After being promoted from Triple A in early June, Beckham went on to lead all AL rookies with 28 doubles, 43 extra-base hits and 63 RBIs in just 103 games, while finishing second in home runs (14), runs scored (58), hits (102), on-base percentage (.347), slugging percentage (.460) and total bases (174).
Those are impressive numbers. But they clearly did not impress enough of the baseball writers.
Why the discrepancy? I’m still scratching my head over this one. Kinda makes you wonder what the baseball writers were looking at.
Instead the writers chose Oakland A's reliever Andrew Bailey who had 26 saves with a 1.84 ERA. Great numbers, I must admit. But I think Beckham's play made more of a difference for the White Sox, who were divisional contenders for most of the summer.
I can understand it if Beckham finished a close second, but a distant fifth with only six votes after nabbing top honors by his peers is something that's difficult to understand. Perhaps it’s a case of the writers looking at Beckham’s two previous honors, assuming that other writes will vote for him, and decide to vote for someone else.
Beckham’s numbers were just as good, if not better, than the other top rookies in consideration. After being promoted from Triple A in early June, Beckham went on to lead all AL rookies with 28 doubles, 43 extra-base hits and 63 RBIs in just 103 games, while finishing second in home runs (14), runs scored (58), hits (102), on-base percentage (.347), slugging percentage (.460) and total bases (174).
Those are impressive numbers. But they clearly did not impress enough of the baseball writers.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Breaking Down the Mark Teahan Trade
It's official now. The White Sox announced they have acquired OF/IF Mark Teahan from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for 3B Josh Fields and 2B Chris Getz.
At first glance, I was surprised that Getz was part of this deal as GM Kenny Williams has repeatedly said the team needed more youth and speed. Getz was an average player offensively, but his speed on the base pads cannot be overlooked. He stole 25 bases last season in 27 attempts, a better percentage than Scott Podsednik. I had visions of Getz becoming a lead off hitter if he could work the bat better. Still, Getz just concluded his first full season with the Sox and was hampered by injuries in each of the last two seasons. His durability and inconsistent performance at the plate may have been a concern.
Teahan is a versatile player, and he has played second and third base as well as the outfield. He's only 28 and has been in the league about five seasons, so he brings more experience to the infield, which the Sox need. He batted .271 for Kansas City last season, but batted .277 against the Sox, which might be another reason why they wanted the guy on their side.
The Sox plan to put Teahan at third, his natural position, and move the talented Gordon Beckham over to second base. Beckham played some second base during the Arizona Fall League and with time, he should do well. He's a fast learner and should pick up the position quickly.
Fields had a stellar year at third base in 2007 after Joe Crede had back surgery, but never quite played at the same level since then. He played mostly in the minors in 2008 during Crede's final year, and struggled early last season before losing the job to Beckham. Fields was sent to the minors mid season amidst speculation that he would soon be traded before the July 30 trade deadline. While his stint in Chicago overall was not memorable, Fields will be remembered for hitting a grand slam in Mark Buehrle's perfect game last July.
Despite losing Getz, which could come back to haunt the Sox down the road, this deal could work out well for both teams.
At first glance, I was surprised that Getz was part of this deal as GM Kenny Williams has repeatedly said the team needed more youth and speed. Getz was an average player offensively, but his speed on the base pads cannot be overlooked. He stole 25 bases last season in 27 attempts, a better percentage than Scott Podsednik. I had visions of Getz becoming a lead off hitter if he could work the bat better. Still, Getz just concluded his first full season with the Sox and was hampered by injuries in each of the last two seasons. His durability and inconsistent performance at the plate may have been a concern.
Teahan is a versatile player, and he has played second and third base as well as the outfield. He's only 28 and has been in the league about five seasons, so he brings more experience to the infield, which the Sox need. He batted .271 for Kansas City last season, but batted .277 against the Sox, which might be another reason why they wanted the guy on their side.
The Sox plan to put Teahan at third, his natural position, and move the talented Gordon Beckham over to second base. Beckham played some second base during the Arizona Fall League and with time, he should do well. He's a fast learner and should pick up the position quickly.
Fields had a stellar year at third base in 2007 after Joe Crede had back surgery, but never quite played at the same level since then. He played mostly in the minors in 2008 during Crede's final year, and struggled early last season before losing the job to Beckham. Fields was sent to the minors mid season amidst speculation that he would soon be traded before the July 30 trade deadline. While his stint in Chicago overall was not memorable, Fields will be remembered for hitting a grand slam in Mark Buehrle's perfect game last July.
Despite losing Getz, which could come back to haunt the Sox down the road, this deal could work out well for both teams.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Memories of "Sweetness"
It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since Walter Payton died of liver cancer. To commemorate this anniversary, the Chicago Bears honored "Sweetness" during half-time of Sunday's game at Soldier Field. You can watch the video of the tribute on the Bears' Web site.
I have a few of my own memories of Walter Payton. During the mid 1980s, a friend and I made several trips to the Bears' summer camp facility in Platteville, Wis., to watch the team's practices. I have only one photo of Payton from those trips. Yes, that's Walter in yellow lightheartedly brandishing a golf club to ward off fans as he got into a car. This was about as close as I would ever get to football's greatest running back.
I have a few of my own memories of Walter Payton. During the mid 1980s, a friend and I made several trips to the Bears' summer camp facility in Platteville, Wis., to watch the team's practices. I have only one photo of Payton from those trips. Yes, that's Walter in yellow lightheartedly brandishing a golf club to ward off fans as he got into a car. This was about as close as I would ever get to football's greatest running back.We miss you, #34.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
MLB Championship Series Preview
The MLB championship series are set to begin tonight with the New York Yankees facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Los Angeles Dodgers hosting defending champion Philadelphia Phillies. I expect both series to be exciting and closely-fought matches. But as we all know, there can only be one winner.
ALCS - While the Yankees are the sexy choice here with their all-star lineup that can hit almost at will, I like the Angels. I think they are a better-rounded team with a lot of pitching depth. The Yankees’ back of the rotation is suspect, which could be problematic in a long, seven-game series. Also, the Angels have an intangible. The death early in the season of pitcher Nick Adenhart has unified this team. I think that experience, plus overcoming a slow start with injuries to three of their starting pitchers, has made them an emotionally strong team. If any team can get past the Yankees, the Angels can.
NLCS - The NLCS is a tougher call. Like the Yankees, the Dodgers are the sexy choice with their young starters. But they struggled down the stretch and nearly lost their division title. The Phillies also struggled and Brad Lidge is a big question mark as their closer. Still, he performed well in the NLDS. I also like the way the Phillies came back against the Rockies in Game 4 to clinch the series, and I like their lineup. They know how to win the big games. I’m not convinced the Dodgers are able to do that.
So, I guess I’m going against all expert prognosticators with my pick: Angels and Phillies.
ALCS - While the Yankees are the sexy choice here with their all-star lineup that can hit almost at will, I like the Angels. I think they are a better-rounded team with a lot of pitching depth. The Yankees’ back of the rotation is suspect, which could be problematic in a long, seven-game series. Also, the Angels have an intangible. The death early in the season of pitcher Nick Adenhart has unified this team. I think that experience, plus overcoming a slow start with injuries to three of their starting pitchers, has made them an emotionally strong team. If any team can get past the Yankees, the Angels can.
NLCS - The NLCS is a tougher call. Like the Yankees, the Dodgers are the sexy choice with their young starters. But they struggled down the stretch and nearly lost their division title. The Phillies also struggled and Brad Lidge is a big question mark as their closer. Still, he performed well in the NLDS. I also like the way the Phillies came back against the Rockies in Game 4 to clinch the series, and I like their lineup. They know how to win the big games. I’m not convinced the Dodgers are able to do that.
So, I guess I’m going against all expert prognosticators with my pick: Angels and Phillies.
Bears, Hawks Launch Ad Campaign
I’m eager to see the new series of ads that will promote the Chicago Bears and Chicago Blackhawks. The ads, which will begin airing in a few weeks, will feature members of both teams in various scenarios. For example, Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler and Hawks’ captain Jonathan Toews exchange tips on passing.
The ad campaign is unique in that the teams are aligning their brands to reach their fan base, something they apparently share. According to a Chicago Tribune story, 92 percent of hockey fans are also football fans.
The Hawks wanted to reach out to this fan base and approached the Bears to see if they were interested. They even offered to foot the bill for production and air time. The Bears have nothing to lose since they are already well-known worldwide. The Hawks, on the other hand, are trying to capitalize on the buzz they created last year when they surpassed everyone’s expectations in reaching the NHL’s Western Conference finals before losing to the Detroit Red Wings.
If these ads do well, I’m willing to bet the other teams in town -- the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Fire – will look to join forces to cross-promote their brands.
The ad campaign is unique in that the teams are aligning their brands to reach their fan base, something they apparently share. According to a Chicago Tribune story, 92 percent of hockey fans are also football fans.
The Hawks wanted to reach out to this fan base and approached the Bears to see if they were interested. They even offered to foot the bill for production and air time. The Bears have nothing to lose since they are already well-known worldwide. The Hawks, on the other hand, are trying to capitalize on the buzz they created last year when they surpassed everyone’s expectations in reaching the NHL’s Western Conference finals before losing to the Detroit Red Wings.
If these ads do well, I’m willing to bet the other teams in town -- the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Fire – will look to join forces to cross-promote their brands.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Orton's Success Should Come as No Surprise
Bears fans who watched the Denver Broncos’ overtime victory over New England yesterday are probably wondering, “Why couldn’t Kyle Orton have played this way when he was with the Bears?”
While I’m as surprised as everyone else that the Broncos are unbeaten at 5-0, I’m not as surprised to see Orton perform as well as he has. In my blog last April after the Orton-Cutler trade, I wondered if Orton would have enjoyed better success in Chicago if he had better receivers to throw to, a younger, quicker offensive line to protect him, and a game plan that featured his strengths as a quarterback.
During his three years in Chicago, Orton was much maligned and underrated. Yet, for all his flaws, he posted a 21-12 career record with the Bears and had a .667 regular season winning percentage, the fourth highest among Bears quarterbacks since 1961. Being traded to Denver in the offseason provided the perfect opportunity to jumpstart his career. Now he has a chance to play every week with many of the players and offensive schemes that helped Cutler be so successful last season.
While it’s still early in the 2009 football campaign, it appears that this trade has worked out well so far for all parties. Cutler’s talents and leadership on the field is forcing the rest of the Bears team, especially the receivers, to raise their game to his level. Meanwhile, Orton, who went to a team with many offensive weapons already in place, has raised his game to match theirs.
If Orton’s performance so far this season proves anything, it’s this: Football is still a team sport. Winning depends on having a balanced attack: offense, defense, special teams and coaching. When all these elements are in place, you don’t need to be the most talented quarterback on the block to win in the National Football League. You just have to be a smart one.
While I’m as surprised as everyone else that the Broncos are unbeaten at 5-0, I’m not as surprised to see Orton perform as well as he has. In my blog last April after the Orton-Cutler trade, I wondered if Orton would have enjoyed better success in Chicago if he had better receivers to throw to, a younger, quicker offensive line to protect him, and a game plan that featured his strengths as a quarterback.
During his three years in Chicago, Orton was much maligned and underrated. Yet, for all his flaws, he posted a 21-12 career record with the Bears and had a .667 regular season winning percentage, the fourth highest among Bears quarterbacks since 1961. Being traded to Denver in the offseason provided the perfect opportunity to jumpstart his career. Now he has a chance to play every week with many of the players and offensive schemes that helped Cutler be so successful last season.
While it’s still early in the 2009 football campaign, it appears that this trade has worked out well so far for all parties. Cutler’s talents and leadership on the field is forcing the rest of the Bears team, especially the receivers, to raise their game to his level. Meanwhile, Orton, who went to a team with many offensive weapons already in place, has raised his game to match theirs.
If Orton’s performance so far this season proves anything, it’s this: Football is still a team sport. Winning depends on having a balanced attack: offense, defense, special teams and coaching. When all these elements are in place, you don’t need to be the most talented quarterback on the block to win in the National Football League. You just have to be a smart one.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Michael Vick Lands TV Gig
After spending 18 months in jail for running a dog-fighting ring, Michael Vick returned to the NFL as a backup QB with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now he’s landed a new gig – a reality TV show for the BET network, according to Foxsports.com. The eight-part series called “The Michael Vick Project” will follow Vick’s comeback in the NFL and document his past, including the 2007 arrest for running a dog-fighting ring.
According to the story, Vick says he is doing this to “change the perception of me” so people can know him as an individual.
Many of Vick’s supporters say the show can help Vick set the record straight and put the past behind him. But if Vick is serious about doing that, why do a reality TV show that may only shed more light on the dog-fighting controversy? Instead, why not appear in a series of public service announcements that show the dangers of dog fighting or how to fight animal abuse?
For someone who committed a crime, Vick has gotten a pretty good deal. Not only has the NFL welcomed him back into the fold, he also gets his own TV show, which will do more for Vick’s career but very little to help the animal abuse cause. If Vick really wants to prove that he is a decent human being, then he needs to focus more on helping the cause and less on helping himself.
According to the story, Vick says he is doing this to “change the perception of me” so people can know him as an individual.
Many of Vick’s supporters say the show can help Vick set the record straight and put the past behind him. But if Vick is serious about doing that, why do a reality TV show that may only shed more light on the dog-fighting controversy? Instead, why not appear in a series of public service announcements that show the dangers of dog fighting or how to fight animal abuse?
For someone who committed a crime, Vick has gotten a pretty good deal. Not only has the NFL welcomed him back into the fold, he also gets his own TV show, which will do more for Vick’s career but very little to help the animal abuse cause. If Vick really wants to prove that he is a decent human being, then he needs to focus more on helping the cause and less on helping himself.
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