Author Archive
How Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel Have Wasted a Strong Met Core
Posted: 15th April 2010 by John Frascella in MLB
Contemplate this hypothetical scenario from the perspective of a Major League Baseball franchise:
You have an athletic, switch-hitting shortstop with blazing speed and electric ability.
You have a franchise-type third baseman with Hollywood looks and a knack for wearing out left-handed pitching.
You have a proven, bona fide ace—and he's a lefty.
You have a switch-hitting, Gold Glove, center fielder with flair, grace, and a plus arm.
Sounds like a dream situation for a General ...
What defines a great point guard?
Do you have to be a pass-first floor general in order to be an effective one? How important is outside shooting ability? Is it optimal to push tempo or consistently settle into a half-court offense?
These are all difficult questions to answer with certainty.
Personally, I prefer point guards with the balance to create for themselves and their teammates. We all expect PGs to distribute the ...
The American League West may have the fewest competitors of any MLB division, but the shortage of teams does not equate to a shortage of talent.
The Angels are a well-run, perennial playoff team, the Rangers are developing their pitching in addition to a notoriously dangerous lineup, the A's are an intriguing low-budget club, and the Mariners have pocket aces at the top of their rotation.
So how will this foursome ...
The American League Central will likely be the worst division in baseball this year. According to my calculations (which basically involve ranking every player and the managers), the AL Central will combine for 375 wins, equaling an average of 75 wins per team.
Yikes.
Let's see why this division projects poorly...
5. Cleveland Indians
Projected record: 62-100, 28th in infield, 12th in outfield, 29th in starting pitching, 20th in bullpen.
The Indians have some ...
Trying to predict the collective decision-making of GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel is like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube while taking the Bar Exam.
It can't be done. Not with accuracy, at least.
Nevertheless, I will give it a shot.
There are so many storylines and position battles for the Mets this preseason that my head began to spin on day one, and it continues to rotate as I type ...
The NBA’s Top 10 Teams, and Their Biggest Weaknesses
Posted: 13th February 2010 by John Frascella in NBA
Parity has been a bullet point for the NFL in recent years, but that magic word has slowly but surely crept its way into the culture of the NBA. Last season, I was confident that the Lakers would win it all, and the Celtics the year before that, but it's anyone's guess in 2009-10.
One plausible explanation for parity is imperfection. While there are 10 (or so) possible contenders for this ...
More often than not, General Manager Theo Epstein and his front office mates have things under control in Boston. They are always on the cutting edge of player evaluation, and they understand ballpark effects as well, or better than every other organization in the league.
But this offseason, the proceedings have gotten a little out of hand.
Right-hander John Lackey was the biggest signing (five years, $82.8 million), followed by center fielder ...
Why Aren’t the New York Mets Interested in Jon Garland?
Posted: 4th January 2010 by John Frascella in MLB
Righthander Jon Garland has been a durable and reliable starting pitcher for quite some time, and yet, most teams remain uninterested in his services. I wonder, why wouldn't a team like the Metsùa team with only one legitimate starterùbe looking to add some stability to their shaky rotation?
Of course if I'm asking the question, I probably don't have the answer.
Specifically, Garland has made 32 or more starts in eight ...
The Washington Wizards: The NBA’s Perpetual Enigma
Posted: 17th December 2009 by John Frascella in NBA
Gilbert Arenas...
Three-time All-Star, former league MVP candidate.
Antawn Jamison...
Another All-Star, averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per game for his career.
Caron Butler...
A third All-Star, averaged over 20 points per game in each of the past two seasons.
And yet the Washington Wizards are 7-16, good for third from the bottom in the laughably shallow Eastern Conference.
Doesn't this team always seem to underachieve? Ever wonder why?
Well, I'll get to the answer in a ...
The NBA’s Top 10: Why Kobe Is Still the Best, and Who Could Join LeBron in 2010
Posted: 9th December 2009 by John Frascella in NBA
As a fan of the Nets and Knicks, I'm used to watching average-to-poor players contribute to losses on a near-nightly basis (though the Knicks have picked it up of late). That being said, it's fun to play the "what if?" game, dreaming of rooting for better teams with better players.
Well, there's a chance—though I'll always be skeptical—that my dreams could come true this offseason, when both of my teams will ...