Thursday, January 26, 2012
Splicetoday: Dan Duquette's Island of Misfit Toys
The Detroit Tigers shocked the baseball world earlier this week by signing free agent Prince Fielder to a nine-year contract for $214 million. The wisdom of the Fielder signing will be debated endlessly but there is no debating the commitment to winning exhibited by Tigers ownership. While Fielder was packing his bags for Motown the Baltimore Orioles announced that they had agreed to a two-year deal with free agent infielder Wilson Betemit. Such is life for an O’s fan. Continue Reading
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Splicetoday: Destiny Calls, Ravens fail to answer
I've started writing this about five times over the past two days only to stop and begin again. The brutal and sudden nature of Sunday's loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game yielded a strange array of emotions. If this were ten years ago I probably would've have fired off a post game tirade calling for the heads of numerous Ravens coaches and suggesting that certain players seek refuge in the witness protection program. I likely would have suggested a number of creative alternatives for Lee Evans' hands since he clearly has no intention of using them to catch footballs. I probably would have rounded out my obscenity laced bitch-fest by denigrating everyone with the surname of Cundiff. Continue Reading
Friday, January 20, 2012
Splicetoday: Rangers make Texas-sized commitment to Darvish
The Texas Rangers signed Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish yesterday to a six-year $60 million contract. That’s in addition to the $51.7 million the Rangers agreed to pay the Nippon Ham Fighters just for the chance to negotiate with Darvish, bringing the club’s total commitment to over $111 million. Rangers President Nolan Ryan went to the Hall of Fame by causing thousands of batters to swing and miss. A swing and miss on Darvish may define Ryan’s career as an executive. Continue Reading
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Splicetoday: Cheer Up Baltimore, It's the AFC Championship Game!
I spent too much time as a youngster listening to talk radio coverage of Baltimore’s quest for an NFL expansion team. Countless hours that could’ve been used chasing girls were wasted playing “Baseball Stars” on Nintendo and absorbing the sports radio ramblings of “experts” handicapping Baltimore’s chances of being awarded a new football franchise. I learned two things from that fruitless exercise, 1) there are no experts, everyone is either forwarding carefully constructed info from (league) sources or taking a position to create controversy (this means you Skip Bayless), and 2) the NFL never had any intention of placing an expansion team in Baltimore. Continue Reading
Friday, January 13, 2012
Splicetoday: Eli Manning Answers his Critics
The New York Giants’ Eli Manning is a Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowler, and, not incidentally, Peyton Manning's younger brother. The little brother routine, coupled with playing in the pressure cooker of New York, has led to some undue criticism of Eli over the years. The Manning name certainly carries some benefits in football circles but there's a downside too. Despite Eli's many successes—number one pick in the draft, Super Bowl winner and a $100 million contract—he’s always played in the shadow of Peyton. Continue reading
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Splicetoday: Where are all the first round running backs?
Any avid fantasy football player knows that superior running backs are the Holy Grail. If you can land a back who is not only a great runner but also a receiver you cling to him. Fantasy footballers don't care about a running back's college pedigree, combine performance or scouting report. There are only two things that matter when it comes to running backs: opportunity and production. Continue Reading
Friday, January 6, 2012
Splicetoday: Marketing slogans for the Pitiful Baltimore Orioles
The long winter may have just begun in Baltimore but Orioles fans have been suffering from overexposure for more than a decade. The Dan Duquette era has started as the Andy MacPhail era ended, with a whimper. The team lacks reliable options at second and third base as well as designated hitter. The Orioles’ projected rotation would have trouble competing in the International League. In the ultimate cock punch for any Orioles fan the Washington Nationals have reportedly emerged as the favorite to sign free agent slugger Prince Fielder. Continue Reading
Splicetoday: Andrew Luck's Power Play
I’m a Baltimore native who’s been regaled with countless tales of the glory of Johnny U. and the Colts by my dad and uncles, grew up without a home team due to the Irsays inglorious midnight escape and generally held the horseshoe in disdain but none of that has anything to do with what I’m about to suggest below. Andrew Luck should refuse to play for the Indianapolis Colts. Continue reading
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