As always there is plenty to talk about in this week’s edition of Mid-Week Miscellaneous. Just a few of the sports items currently bouncing around my mind….Could how the Pats do with TB out impact the legacy of Bill Belichick? He is a sure Hall of Fame coach, no question, but he is also 41-57 in his career in games that Tom Brady does not play. So who has been more important to the Pats success, Belichick or Brady? Do you think the Pats deserve to be underdogs this week to the Jets (they are, by 3)? Do you like their re-found role of underdog (I sort of do…but would still rather be heavy favorites with Brady playing)? The Sox are now 1.5 out of the East but 6 up in the Wild Card. How important is it that they win the division, or is the focus just to make the playoffs, period? If the playoffs began today who is the #4 starter for the Sox? And does the odd-man-out stay on the roster for bullpen duty? Do the 456 straight sellouts at Fenway mean anything to you? Anything else regarding the Celts, B’s, Revs, BC, or anything else you wish to discuss, here’s your place to do it…
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Not Boston related, but I'm definitely intrigued by this Vince Young story. The team called the police because they thought he was unstable emotionally? That is their Captain and their starting QB? Is this going to be the end of Vince Young?
It may be the end of Vince Young... for the moment. Kerry Collins looks alright. Its gotta be tough for Tennessee to have a #1 overall pick crack up like that. I Knew he came out to early. Probably needs more time to develop.
Great move by the Bruins picking up Stephane Yelle. Brings leadership skills and a great post season track record. I like the direction of this club right now.
Apparently VY had thoughts about retiring after 1 year in the league. It kind of makes me appreciate the job that Pioli and Belichick do of bringing in guys of character.
Anyway I think for the short term Brady means more to the Pats than Belichick, but given a few years I think the loss of Belichick would mean more than the loss of Brady. Here is why:
When Belichick took over the Browns and the Pats he was given veteran QB's (Vinny T and Bledsoe). Both of them had good careers to that point, however they were both gun slingers and you could not get them to throw to an underneath receiver. Given time he (along with Weiss, McDaniels, Bill O'Brien, and all of his other offensive coaches) was able to gradually evolve Brady's game and helped turn him into the QB he is today. Over time he will be able to do that same thing with another young, inexperienced QB.
Remember, Brady did not exactly light up the combine, or his first year in the league. Even in the 2003 season there were still reports that he had no accurracy down field. He had poor decision making skills and held onto the ball too long. It goes without saying that the Pats will struggle more with TB this season, but I would still take BB over him.
If the Red Sox have a healthy Josh Beckett to go with the horse Jon Lester (routinely hitting 97mph laststart), Daisuke third, I don't think it really matters who the #4 starter is, although off his poast month you'd think it would have to be Byrd. I don't think you can rely on Colon's health with that body - he should avoid the dessert buffets...
The thing that killed VY is that they got rid of McNair, McNair was his buddy and would have been a great mentor. Maybe the Titans should get McNair back as a special assistant to the QB. I watch VY play alot at Texas (i live 5 minutes DKR Memorial Stadium). Must the the business aspect of football that's making im crazy cause its not the presure. this kid played in from of crowds almost twice as big as he does in the NFL. (DKR now holds over 98,000 people)
For the same reasons that sean gave about BB is why i'm not all that worried about Cassel.
I'm going to predict now that the Bruins will make it past the 1st rd of the playoffs.
Beckett,Lester,Dice-K thats all thats needed for the starters but i think Byrd will be the #4 he'll get 1 start.
All the good memories of Timlin are fading...AND FAST. It's terrible to say but Timlin now should only pitch in blow outs if he should pitch at all. There was a time not all that long ago when the only pitcher i wanted to see in a pressure situation was Timlin.
Mike you've done plenty of great things for the Sox, but now is time to hang em up. I'm sorry to say but you just dont have it anymore.
Anyone notice Tampa Bay relief pitcher swear under his breath before each pitch? I think he is swearing at the batter actually...totally nuts. Also, the Rays were very intensely celebratory/borderline trash talking after every big hit all series. They are trying hard to send a message. They are a good team, but I still see them folding like a lawn chair under pressure when it really matters.
Where will Masterson start out next year? Will he have a spot on the big league roster, or will he probably start the first month in Pawtucket and then come up sometime by mid May? What role will he have on the team also? For the playoff roster I would like to see Beckett, Lester, Daisuke, Byrd, and then Masterson, Oki, and Pap out of the pen in that order.
I think by starting your pitchers in that order you change things up dramatically each nightand it would prevent most teams from getting into a rythm each night.
GMAC, Good point about Vince and the huge crowds at Texas, but the big difference is that those crowds weren't booing him. It seems like dealing with his own fans booing him is what he has hard a tough time dealing with.
CT, Good call on the Yelle pick up (and nice to have the B's get some attention around here). He's not going to score a ton but is a solid veteran and great on faceoffs, something the B's were lacking last year.
Sean, Good question about Masterson. I was actually discussing this today. I think he has the potential to be a terrific setup man and perhaps even somebody to take Pap's place down the line...but clearly starters are more valuable in general and he certainly has the potential to be a very good starter as well.
I think he either starts the year in the 'pen or if he is used as a starter I'd say there is a very good chance of Buchholz being dealt in the off-season.
Bill Belichick is the Mastermind and Tom Brady is the MVP. The two are not mutually exclusive.
I'd rather have the Mastermind with no MVP than the MVP with no Mastermind.
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