The Flop Heard Around The World

The World Cup happens once every four years. To have it end the way it did yesterday is ridiculous. I've played sports my entire life and hate to lose. Whether it is playing a game of one on one basketball with my friend or a game of rock-paper-scissors, I don't want to lose. But that's not to say I'll do anything to win. If you get beat, take it like a man and try and come back and win on the field the right way. You play fair and try and beat your opponent the way the game is supposed to be played.

Ghana is unequivocally the biggest bunch of actors and poor sports. It was beyond irritating how many times they had to carried off on stretchers and went down holding their knees when they were not even hit anywhere close to their knee. The pinnacle of it all was when two players from both sides went up for a header and the US player's hand touched the Ghana player's back and he went down holding his shin. The United States did not play like that. After tying the game 1-1, the US had momentum until Ghana went up 2-1 thanks to a horrible call that lead to the penalty kick that changed the landscape of the game. The end result was a Ghana team sitting back on defense. Did the US really deserve to move on? You cannot argue the fact they were disappoint, but the certainly had a lot of things working against them.

The art of the flop in soccer is similar the flop in basketball and the game should be based on skill and not acting abilities. A team sitting back and playing defense and kicking the ball around to control the clock is similar to football team playing conservative and running the clock down. Both instances are allowed and part of the framework of the game nowadays. At times you almost feel that your team has no control of their fate due to these circumstances. There are bad calls in every sport and that is part of it when humans are making the calls. The penalty kick as a result of the bad call is acceptable. That stuff happens, but the flops ruin the game and the dropping back into ball control defense is frustrating especially when a team was put in that position unfairly.

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all.
~ Earl Weaver

While a lot of Americans are missing out on soccer which is an exciting sport to watch despite the negatives that irritate me, the entire world his missing out on baseball. Out of all the major sports in the world, the only sport you cannot hide is in baseball. Sure you can intentionally walk players, but you have to get 27 outs and you have to come at the other team giving them the same number of chances you had to make something happen. You simply cannot hide. No other game is like baseball (...and please, no one mention cricket) and it is far and away best sport in the world.

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Best movie ever? Possibly.

It appears A-Rod's problems are the result of a mechanical flaw.

"The problem is stemming from the inconsistent firing of cylinders in A-ROD's hydraulic system, causing his pressure-relief valve to start responding to every late-game algorithm by popping out to first base," said Yankees assistant engineer Lee Mazzilli, who is responsible for oiling A-ROD's hinges and tightening his shoulder screws between innings.

You can hear the collective sigh of relief from the Yankee fan base.

But A-ROD should be back and as good as new in four to six weeks." Yankee officials, however, have thus far experienced no problems with A-ROD's factory-installed voicebox, which has only repeated the same five stock phrases it was specifically

What's wrong with the All-Star game? A lot, but perhaps the biggest problem is the inclusion of one player from each team.

Who will represent the Royals in the All-Star game? Will it be utility man Estaban German, who is batting .310 but has only had 100 ABs (hence, the one home run and seven RBIs)? Or how about red hot second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who owns a .294 average with three jacks and a whopping 18 RBIs? Maybe it will be pitcher Elmer Dessens and his team-high four wins? Nothing says All-Star like Elmer Dessens.

Nope, nothing says All-Star like Elmer Dessens. If MLB is going to feign some importance on this game, the best players should be there. A team is not good enough to actually send an All-Star? Too bad. Start drafting some.

It ain't even close.

Top 5 2006 NL Center Fielders, by VORP

Player         Team      EqA    VORP
Carlos Beltran  NYN     .321    33.5
Eric Byrnes     ARI     .292    21.6
Andruw Jones    ATL     .282    19.6
Ryan Freel      CIN     .282    14.7
Kenny Lofton    LAN     .279    11.9

From the NYPost:

The Mets have agreed to a deal with their sixth-round pick, high-school righthander Scott Schafer, according to a team official.

Carlos Delgado is hoping for cheers when he goes back to Toronto and there is no reason he should not get them. JP Riccardi did not want him and repeatedly said he would have never given Delgado a no-trade clause and wanted to dish him off. Delgado was criticized for not wanting to go to a winning a team and the chances of him coming back were nil. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons does not think there will be much of problem when Delgado returns.

"Oh, I think he'll have a good one," Gibbons said. "He was always a fan favorite and he played great. He was probably one of the most loved guys that has played there."

As Met fans, it is hard to NOT get chills.

However, of all their statistics, this is the most promising: They're both 23 years old.

"(We're) in real good hands, obviously," manager Willie Randolph said. "Those kids are playing their butts off for us.

"Carlos (Beltran) is having a nice year, but to watch David and Jose blossom right in front of your eyes, it's really special to see. And they're going to get even better, which is nice to know also. Jose is in a nice rhythm; he's hitting the (stuffing) out of the ball, and David has been getting big hits."

The Mets have two of the most talented young players in the game and really, there are plenty of comparisons you can draw with the beginning of the Yankee dynasty when you throw in Milledge and Pelfrey.

"Oh, boy," Martinez said of Wright. "MVP so far. That kid has done it all."

Even with Pujols in the league, the question is not if Wright will win an MVP award, but how many. Pujols will win his share, but like Bonds, he will not win one every year. His game is so well rounded for a such a young kid it is scary.

Chad Bradford has been so good this year for the Mets that is not hard to see why the Mets used such a high pick on uber sidearmer Joe Smith.

The Mets have now pushed their lead over the Phillies to double digits despite their little swoon. The next goal should be to get to twenty games over .500. Once they get there to, push it further. They need to bury their opponents and keep setting goals. Injuries can still happen to some of their older core and the Mets need to build enough of a cushion to where it is no sweat if they do go down.

The Angels making a power move?

Though it was reported in several Los Angeles area newspapers that the Angels could have an interest in Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, the two teams have not had any talks recently, according to an Orioles source. That may change, however, if the Orioles continue to slide in the standings.

The source did not deny the team would listen to offers for the superstar shortstop if Baltimore plays poorly in the weeks leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

Miggy is certainly worth one of their middle infield stud prospects and the Angels have the depth to get it done. This is an interesting potential move to keep an eye on.