Now that Jay Wright has reassured us of his sanity by removing himself as a candidate to succeed Tony DiLeo, the Sixers' search for a more generic "Mr. Right" continues, perhaps with the help of eharmony.com. While from a PR standpoint, the Villanova coach would be a dream choice, there is no reason to believe it would have made much difference in the won-lost column. College coaching has little more in common with the NBA than with the Iditarod.
For nearly a decade, the Sixers have gone through coaches the way Elizabeth Taylor went through husbands but the team would been better served if they had stayed with one low-profile professional. I would not presume to speak for Ms. Taylor.
The importance of NBA coaches tends to be exaggerated. In most cases, they make only a marginal difference. Look at the surviving coaches in the playoffs right now - Karl, Van Gundy, Brown and Jackson. Have they been indispensable to their teams' success? Hardly. Denver became a contender the day they unloaded Iverson for Billups. The tipping point for Orlando and Cleveland was adding solid role players for their franchise players, Dwight Howard and LeBron. There was no brilliant strategizing by George Karl, Stan Van Gundy or Mike Brown.
The Lakers attained championship caliber when they managed to acquire Pau Gasol at a fire sale. Even Phil Jackson concedes that his team's effort is uneven. If the Zen Master himself has trouble motivating his troops, what hope is there for mere mortals like Randy Ayers, Jim O'Brien, Mo Cheeks, Tony DiLeo, Kurt Rambis, Dwane Casey, Eddie Jordan or Tom Thibodeau?
The real issue is team personnel and the Sixers' roster right now is loaded with riddles a super computer couldn't solve. Those personnel issues would have persisted, but Cheeks' replacement with "don't call him interim coach" DiLeo and the Elton Brand imbroglio were major distractions that resulted in more questions than answers. Of course, the franchise must name a coach reasonably soon to address the player issues in conjunction with the front office. But if they think that if they sift through enough sand, they can find the one man capable of leading them to the promised land, they are on a fool's errand.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Jimmy Rollins' Struggles
In 1968, American Bob Beamon pulled off one of the most extraordinary accomplishments in athletic history. He won the Olympic gold medal in the long jump in Mexico City with a jump of 29' 2 1/2". This was 21 3/4" more than the previous record. Beamon himself had never jumped even 27' and he never would again. The new record was to last for 23 years. Even allowing for the benefit of Mexico City's altitude, it was astonishing. Which naturally leads us to Jimmy Rollins.
Rollins' early-season struggles at the plate are well documented and much discussed. But has J-Roll fallen victim to his own Beamon-like moments? In 2006, Jimmy batted .277, just about his career average, but he broke out with 25 hr. Then came his epic MVP 2007 season when his numbers approached the surreal: .296 average, 41 stolen bases, 94 rbi, 139 runs, 20 triples, AND 30 hr. Out of the leadoff spot! But then came last year's fairly pedestrian output and this year's nightmarish beginning.
Aside from 2006-07, Rollins has never hit more than 14 hr and one can't help but think that those 25-30 long ball seasons were an aberration that Jimmy should not try to replicate. Without even trying to go long, Jimmy would probably hit 15-20 hr a year, and that should more than enough for the team if he got on base more often with the opportunity to put his legs to use, particularly given the abundance of power in the current Phillies' lineup.
Ricky Henderson, Rollins' boyhood idol, routinely did things as a leadoff man bordering on the supernatural with an unprecented combination of speed, power and average. It is understandable that Jimmy would want to pattern his game after his hero. But even the legendary Henderson, who hit almost 300 career home runs, only broke the 20 hr mark three times in his 26 year career. Rollins has already done it twice in 8 full seasons. There is no need to do it again.
Rollins' early-season struggles at the plate are well documented and much discussed. But has J-Roll fallen victim to his own Beamon-like moments? In 2006, Jimmy batted .277, just about his career average, but he broke out with 25 hr. Then came his epic MVP 2007 season when his numbers approached the surreal: .296 average, 41 stolen bases, 94 rbi, 139 runs, 20 triples, AND 30 hr. Out of the leadoff spot! But then came last year's fairly pedestrian output and this year's nightmarish beginning.
Aside from 2006-07, Rollins has never hit more than 14 hr and one can't help but think that those 25-30 long ball seasons were an aberration that Jimmy should not try to replicate. Without even trying to go long, Jimmy would probably hit 15-20 hr a year, and that should more than enough for the team if he got on base more often with the opportunity to put his legs to use, particularly given the abundance of power in the current Phillies' lineup.
Ricky Henderson, Rollins' boyhood idol, routinely did things as a leadoff man bordering on the supernatural with an unprecented combination of speed, power and average. It is understandable that Jimmy would want to pattern his game after his hero. But even the legendary Henderson, who hit almost 300 career home runs, only broke the 20 hr mark three times in his 26 year career. Rollins has already done it twice in 8 full seasons. There is no need to do it again.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sixers' Post-Mortem - A Lost Season
The Sixers' 2008-09 season has mercifully concluded - RIP. But the ignominious manner in which it ended - getting blown out at home by a decimated Orlando team - exceeded the norms of human decency. All women and children should have been evacuated from the Wachovia Center by half time. Anyone who paid for their tickets that night now knows how former Wachovia Bank stockholders must feel.
Even though Philadelphia matched their record from the previous year, including the six-game first round playoff loss, the campaign must be considered a major step backward. When Mo Cheeks was replaced by Tony DiLeo in what seems like decades ago, the mantra echoing from the front office was that the team needed a new direction. Unfortunately, what we are left with in the spring of 2009 is NO DIRECTION. The promise, momentum and excitement generated in the latter part of the 07-08 season are nowhere to be seen.
If Andre Miller does not return, the Sixer offense requires major reconstruction. Even if he does return, there are numerous personnel issues - the proper roles for Brand and Iguodala, the enigma that is Dalembert, how to use Speese. The list is endless.
The Sixers have boxed themselves into a corner and in the short term, it's hard to see a way out. They rolled the dice with the Elton Brand signing and now they have to make it work, even if it kills them - which it might. They gave Iguodala the kind of the money to do things which he is not capable of, like take over the offense. And they replaced Mo Cheeks in mid-stream with a front office exec with minimal, and not necessarily relevant, coaching experience.
Coach DiLeo seems like a good man who did an adequate job. But there is no reason to believe that Cheeks, who was saddled with the Brand experiment early on, would not have done at least as well. Neither DiLeo nor Cheeks will ever be confused with Red Auerbach, but for the most part, NBA coaching is overrated - continuity is more important. Coaches should be changed intra-season in only the most extreme circumstances. This instance did not qualify.
Throughout the year, the party line from announcers, coaching staff, and front office was that no matter what the won-loss record was, these players always gave maximum effort. Well in a do-or-die game six, the Sixers could have phoned in their performance. Opponents' shots went uncontested and the best we could get was finger-pointing after the game. Truly a lost season.
Even though Philadelphia matched their record from the previous year, including the six-game first round playoff loss, the campaign must be considered a major step backward. When Mo Cheeks was replaced by Tony DiLeo in what seems like decades ago, the mantra echoing from the front office was that the team needed a new direction. Unfortunately, what we are left with in the spring of 2009 is NO DIRECTION. The promise, momentum and excitement generated in the latter part of the 07-08 season are nowhere to be seen.
If Andre Miller does not return, the Sixer offense requires major reconstruction. Even if he does return, there are numerous personnel issues - the proper roles for Brand and Iguodala, the enigma that is Dalembert, how to use Speese. The list is endless.
The Sixers have boxed themselves into a corner and in the short term, it's hard to see a way out. They rolled the dice with the Elton Brand signing and now they have to make it work, even if it kills them - which it might. They gave Iguodala the kind of the money to do things which he is not capable of, like take over the offense. And they replaced Mo Cheeks in mid-stream with a front office exec with minimal, and not necessarily relevant, coaching experience.
Coach DiLeo seems like a good man who did an adequate job. But there is no reason to believe that Cheeks, who was saddled with the Brand experiment early on, would not have done at least as well. Neither DiLeo nor Cheeks will ever be confused with Red Auerbach, but for the most part, NBA coaching is overrated - continuity is more important. Coaches should be changed intra-season in only the most extreme circumstances. This instance did not qualify.
Throughout the year, the party line from announcers, coaching staff, and front office was that no matter what the won-loss record was, these players always gave maximum effort. Well in a do-or-die game six, the Sixers could have phoned in their performance. Opponents' shots went uncontested and the best we could get was finger-pointing after the game. Truly a lost season.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Adam Eaton and Freddy Garcia - A Whole Lot of Buyer's Remorse For Phils' Front Office
Last week, it was noted here that after two miserable starts with the Orioles, Adam Eaton had a strong outing against the White Sox, perhaps a harbinger of better days. But on Tuesday night against the Angels, Eaton reverted to type. In 6 innings, he gave up 5 earned runs, 4 walks and 6 hits and took the loss. The right-hander had a similar pattern when he was in Philadelphia. Every 4 or 5 weeks, like clockwork, he would pitch reasonably well, raising hopes that he had "regained" his form, only to stumble badly the next time out. Unfortunately, this is and was Adam Eaton's form - 24 million dollars' worth.
The same day that Eaton lost to the Angels, the career of his partner in crime, Freddy Garcia, presumably came to its inevitable conclusion. After a couple of rocky outings with the Mets' Triple A Buffalo Bisons, Garcia was released. Recall that the Phils traded two prospects for Garcia in late 2006. For the miserly sum of 10 million dollars, Garcia started 11 games for 58 innings in 2007. He went 1-5 with an ERA of 5.90 before his arm went lame, apparently from a shoulder injury which he hid from the Phillies.
24 million for Adam Eaton and 10 million for Freddy Garcia. That's buyer's remorse you can believe in.
The same day that Eaton lost to the Angels, the career of his partner in crime, Freddy Garcia, presumably came to its inevitable conclusion. After a couple of rocky outings with the Mets' Triple A Buffalo Bisons, Garcia was released. Recall that the Phils traded two prospects for Garcia in late 2006. For the miserly sum of 10 million dollars, Garcia started 11 games for 58 innings in 2007. He went 1-5 with an ERA of 5.90 before his arm went lame, apparently from a shoulder injury which he hid from the Phillies.
24 million for Adam Eaton and 10 million for Freddy Garcia. That's buyer's remorse you can believe in.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Are the Phillies Going to Miss Adam Eaton?
In the first few weeks of the season, the Phillies' pitching core has been decidedly underwhelming. The numbers are downright horrifying. Going into Thursday's matinee, opposing batters were hitting .294 against the home team, next to last in the National League. The staff ERA was 6.34, highest in the league. 29 home runs had been allowed, the most in the majors. And they can't blame Adam Eaton for any of this.
After two dismal seasons with the locals, Eaton is now plying his wares with Baltimore. His first two starts with the American League team gave no indication that the change of scene was helpful. In those outings, Eaton pitched a total of 8 innings, yielding 17 hits and 10 earned runs for a tidy ERA of 11.25. The Phillies are still signing the pay checks of Eaton, now in the final year of a three-year 24.5 million dollar contract. That contract had been looking like the only investment worse than General Motors stock.
However, in a start last night, the tall right-hander went 7.1 innings, giving up only 6 hits and 2 runs in a win over the White Sox. He struck out 9. Wouldn't it be ironic, with the Phils' rotation in shambles, if the much maligned Adam Eaton were to regain his form in Baltimore while still on the Philadelphia payroll?
After two dismal seasons with the locals, Eaton is now plying his wares with Baltimore. His first two starts with the American League team gave no indication that the change of scene was helpful. In those outings, Eaton pitched a total of 8 innings, yielding 17 hits and 10 earned runs for a tidy ERA of 11.25. The Phillies are still signing the pay checks of Eaton, now in the final year of a three-year 24.5 million dollar contract. That contract had been looking like the only investment worse than General Motors stock.
However, in a start last night, the tall right-hander went 7.1 innings, giving up only 6 hits and 2 runs in a win over the White Sox. He struck out 9. Wouldn't it be ironic, with the Phils' rotation in shambles, if the much maligned Adam Eaton were to regain his form in Baltimore while still on the Philadelphia payroll?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Before There Was Iverson, Lindros, Barkley and T.O., There Was Johnny Mac
Jason Whitlock, the provocative sportswriter for Foxsports.com, recently labeled Allen Iverson as a "fraud" because Whitlock feels AI has never been concerned about winning, with the possible exception of his 2001, Larry Brown-induced, run with the Sixers. Phil Sheridan picked up the subject and noted that pathologic attention-getters like Iverson, Terrell Owens, and Eric Lindros have extremely loyal fan bases no matter how bad their behavior on and/or off the court. This phenomenon is not without historical precedent as illustrated a generation ago in New York when John McEnroe ruled men's tennis.
The Swede Bjorn Borg had dominated the game until McEnroe broke through in the early 80's. Borg was a stoic player who rarely displayed emotion and who was perhaps the most popular and recognizable international athlete of his time. If scientists went into a lab to design Borg's polar opposite, surely they would have come up with McEnroe, a brash native of Queens, New York. More problematic for Borg, the New Yorker's game posed a problem for the Swedish star. Borg was the ultimate baseliner while McEnroe was a net-charger and volleyer. Against most players, the Swede's top spin ground strokes and foot speed eventually prevailed. And in their early matches, the more experienced Borg had the upper hand, but soon the American was intercepting those ground strokes and producing sharply angled volleys for which Borg had no answer. McEnroe prevented Borg from winning the U.S. Open, the one Grand Slam event that was to elude Bjorn. So frustrated was the Swede that he retired while still in his 20's.
McEnroe had already developed a reputation for volatility and tempestuousness, but curiously, when Borg was on the scene, McEnroe kept his temper "somewhat" in check. With the stage to himself, the American seemed to lose all self control. In every match it seemed just a matter of time before he exploded over a line call or some other perceived injustice. He would verbally abuse linesmen, who were usually volunteers, and often delay play for 15 minutes or more.
These episodes reached high theater at the U.S. Open in New York. The National Tennis Center was a short distance from McEnroe's home and at night matches, spectators - not your grandfather's tennis fans - would turn out with the hope of witnessing some fireworks - they were rarely disappointed. When McEnroe acted out, the patrons would roar their approval, and encourage him to go further. It was a bizarre scene, especially since this is the gentlemenly game of tennis we're talking about, not hockey or pro wrestling.
McEnroe was allowed to practice his shtick with impunity, even at international competitions like the Davis Cup - as a superstar he had become untouchable by the Bud Selig-like tennis hierarchy. And all the while, like Iverson and Owens and Lindros and Barkley and others, McEnroe had his ardent defenders. Even today, Johnny Mac continues to cash in on his Peck's bad boy image in commercials and the broadcast booth, while at the same time being treated as an elder statesman of the game. Perhaps in 10 or 15 years, Allen Iverson will be doing American Express commercials.
The Swede Bjorn Borg had dominated the game until McEnroe broke through in the early 80's. Borg was a stoic player who rarely displayed emotion and who was perhaps the most popular and recognizable international athlete of his time. If scientists went into a lab to design Borg's polar opposite, surely they would have come up with McEnroe, a brash native of Queens, New York. More problematic for Borg, the New Yorker's game posed a problem for the Swedish star. Borg was the ultimate baseliner while McEnroe was a net-charger and volleyer. Against most players, the Swede's top spin ground strokes and foot speed eventually prevailed. And in their early matches, the more experienced Borg had the upper hand, but soon the American was intercepting those ground strokes and producing sharply angled volleys for which Borg had no answer. McEnroe prevented Borg from winning the U.S. Open, the one Grand Slam event that was to elude Bjorn. So frustrated was the Swede that he retired while still in his 20's.
McEnroe had already developed a reputation for volatility and tempestuousness, but curiously, when Borg was on the scene, McEnroe kept his temper "somewhat" in check. With the stage to himself, the American seemed to lose all self control. In every match it seemed just a matter of time before he exploded over a line call or some other perceived injustice. He would verbally abuse linesmen, who were usually volunteers, and often delay play for 15 minutes or more.
These episodes reached high theater at the U.S. Open in New York. The National Tennis Center was a short distance from McEnroe's home and at night matches, spectators - not your grandfather's tennis fans - would turn out with the hope of witnessing some fireworks - they were rarely disappointed. When McEnroe acted out, the patrons would roar their approval, and encourage him to go further. It was a bizarre scene, especially since this is the gentlemenly game of tennis we're talking about, not hockey or pro wrestling.
McEnroe was allowed to practice his shtick with impunity, even at international competitions like the Davis Cup - as a superstar he had become untouchable by the Bud Selig-like tennis hierarchy. And all the while, like Iverson and Owens and Lindros and Barkley and others, McEnroe had his ardent defenders. Even today, Johnny Mac continues to cash in on his Peck's bad boy image in commercials and the broadcast booth, while at the same time being treated as an elder statesman of the game. Perhaps in 10 or 15 years, Allen Iverson will be doing American Express commercials.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Eric Bruntlett and the Best Trade in Franchise History
In November 2007, the Phillies made the trade that, when all is said and done, will probably turn out to be the most significant in franchise history. Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Michael Costanza were sent to the Houston Astros in return for Brad Lidge - and Eric Bruntlett. The value of Lidge needs no elaboration but it's easy to overlook Bruntlett even though his addition has already payed big dividends.
Bruntlett played five seasons with the Astros as a utility player averaging about .250 at the plate over that time. With the Phils, he was in effect replacing Michael Bourn who had served as Pat Burrell's legs in 2007. That is not to minimize the contribution of Bourn who provided excellent late-inning defense and in just over 100 at-bats, stole 18 bases and scored 29 runs. His speed - he probably could have anchored the Olympic 400m relay - was a huge factor in late game rallies. Losing Bourn was not trivial.
But Bruntlett, minus the explosive speed, is also an excellent athlete with the additional dimension of being able to play the infield. He filled in when Jimmy Rollins went down early last season and after a shaky start performed admirably. For the remainder of 2008, Eric reprised Bourn's role as Burrell's alter ego. Bruntlett hit only .217 for the season but came up with some key hits late in the campaign. He had a very strong spring and provided a pinch-hit double on opening night. With the Phillies' shortage of right-handed hitters on the bench, Eric Bruntlett has the opportunity to elevate his role on the club from pinch-runner and defensive replacement to offensive weapon.
You never know in baseball. Michael Bourn could win the Triple Crown. Geoff Geary might win the Cy Young Award. Michael Costanza might be named Rookie of the Year. But right now, Lidge and Bruntlett for Bourn, Geary and Costanza ranks right up there with the Louisiana Purchase.
Bruntlett played five seasons with the Astros as a utility player averaging about .250 at the plate over that time. With the Phils, he was in effect replacing Michael Bourn who had served as Pat Burrell's legs in 2007. That is not to minimize the contribution of Bourn who provided excellent late-inning defense and in just over 100 at-bats, stole 18 bases and scored 29 runs. His speed - he probably could have anchored the Olympic 400m relay - was a huge factor in late game rallies. Losing Bourn was not trivial.
But Bruntlett, minus the explosive speed, is also an excellent athlete with the additional dimension of being able to play the infield. He filled in when Jimmy Rollins went down early last season and after a shaky start performed admirably. For the remainder of 2008, Eric reprised Bourn's role as Burrell's alter ego. Bruntlett hit only .217 for the season but came up with some key hits late in the campaign. He had a very strong spring and provided a pinch-hit double on opening night. With the Phillies' shortage of right-handed hitters on the bench, Eric Bruntlett has the opportunity to elevate his role on the club from pinch-runner and defensive replacement to offensive weapon.
You never know in baseball. Michael Bourn could win the Triple Crown. Geoff Geary might win the Cy Young Award. Michael Costanza might be named Rookie of the Year. But right now, Lidge and Bruntlett for Bourn, Geary and Costanza ranks right up there with the Louisiana Purchase.
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