Rox win a thriller

Wow, after going from Pirate games to this–I suddenly remember why I love October. What a game.

Filed under: Sports , baseball, october, playoffs

Root, root, root

The Steelers are 3-0, the Pirates 15th season of misery is almost at and end (and yes, this is a good thing with the way they’re playing right now), the baseball playoff picture is falling into place, and the Pens drop the puck for real October 5th. I’d say it’s a good time to be a Pittsburgher and a sports fan.

Everyone keeps asking me if I’m still going to root for the Steelers in SoCal, and while the allure of LT might make me root for a Chargers-Steelers playoff match-up, I could never turn my back on the black and gold. I figure if I’m still a Pirate fan, I don’t think my loyalty should really be questioned. But there’s a difference in my mind between your team and teams you root for. And then there are some you just don’t. Example: I’m stoked the Indians won the AL Central, but I could never don Cardinal Red in St. Louis no matter how long I lived there, or do the Tomahawk Chop in Atlanta or wear a Yankees cap anywhere, ever. But would I buy a Grady Sizemore t-shirt at the Jake? Sure. Would I love watching Chase Utley and Ryan Howard bash in Philly? You bet. So I’m figuring I’ll pick up an LA cap or Russell Martin tee at Dodger Stadium sometime next spring, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be at every game the Buccos play there in my black and gold booing the home team–because I will. Do I wish I could see a Ducks-Pens game, sure, and is there any question which team I’d be pulling for? Of course not. It’s all silliness to even question such things. No matter how much Big Ben gets on my nerves (or local news coverage of the Steelers), or whatever, he will never be Tom Brady and Pittsburgh will always be my home team.

In my head I’m pretty sure I have a pretty good idea of teams I would never in a million years root for (whether that’s because of a specific defeat, player, image or whatever), and teams I could care about if given the chance (mainly because I currently hold no ill will, or I like their uniform colors or the way they’re building their farm system or something). And here it is:

Never In A Million Years
St. Louis Cardinals
Atlanta Braves
New England Patriots
New York Yankees, Rangers
Dallas Cowboys, Stars
Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings
Colorado Avalanche
Denver Broncos
Philadelphia [ed.] Flyers, Eagles
Washington Capitals
San Francisco Giants
Oakland Raiders
Ottawa Senators
Pretty much any NBA team

Eh, Why Not?
Cleveland Indians
Milwaukee Brewers
Minnesota Twins
Colorado Rockies
LA Dodgers
Anaheim Angels, Ducks
Vancouver Canucks
San Diego Padres, Chargers
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Boston Red Sox… I think

Feel free to add your own nevers and why-nots, and include explanations if you so choose. Be sure to vote in the poll to the right (and if you answer “somebody else,” say who below). And no matter where you live, go black and gold.

Filed under: Sports , home team, loyalty, Pittsburgh, Sports

An important question??

At THE crucial point of the game. Just unbelievable.

This really is the reason why sites like this, and this really, exist, and why I have zero respect for ESPN. Thank you, Internet, for intelligent sports journalism.

Filed under: Sports , ESPN, Sports, terrible sportscasting

I’ll never say Jeter’s o-ver-rated again

(As long as ESPN gives Freddy just as much man-love.)

Basically I stand corrected on everything I’ve ever said about Derek Jeter. In 146 games and 592 at-bats in 2007, Jeter has scored 93 runs and has 187 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 11 HRs, 67 RsBI, 54 BBs, 89 Ks and 13 stolen bases to go with 8 caught stealings. He has a .316 BA, .386 OBP, .438 SLG and an .823 OPS.

Which makes Jeter just as good of a player as our own Freddy Sanchez. In 140 games and 576 at-bats, Freddy has 76 runs, 178 hits, 42 doubles, 3 triples, 11 HRs, 78 RsBI, 31 BBs, 70 Ks, and 0 stolen bases in 1 attempt. He has a .309 BA, .348 OBP, .450 SLG and a .798 OPS.

Jeter gets the edge in World Series rings admittedly and has a slight edge in OPS thanks to those extra walks, but that’s crazy how similar those lines are. Thanks, DK, for the heads up.

Filed under: Sports , comparison, derek jeter, freddy sanchez, perception