November 2011
Week 12: How The Raiders Beat The Bears
It was getting hairy at the end of the game, but the Oakland Raiders (7-4) held on to win 25-20 at home against the Chicago Bears (7-4). Here’s how the Raiders did it:
Sea Bass:
Sebastian Janikowski tied a franchise record of hitting six field goals today.You might think there were a lot of with chip shots, but four were for 40 yards or more, and all six averaged 38.2 yards. Contributing to 19 points including an extra point, he was undoubtedly the player of the game.
Janikowski and Lechler’s punts also were placed extremely well, out of the reach of the best punt returner in the game, Chicago’s David Hester. He only got two return attempts, averaging 19 yards.
Carson Palmer:
He may not have thrown a touchdown (their one touchdown was from a three-yard rush by Michael Bush after a bomb from Palmer) but Palmer kept his team in the game, not letting Chicago’s spectacular defense get to him. Being able to lead the team constantly into field goal range for Janikwoski is nothing to sneeze at. He was able to throw for 301 yards and had a respectable 57% completion rate.
Jay Cutler/Caleb Hanie:
Chicago’s solid QB Jay Cutler is out for an indefinite amount of time, so Caleb Hanie, who never started a game before had to step in. While he got better in the second half, overall his play helped the Raiders win. They could not recover from Hanie throwing three interceptions, including one in the red zone when Chicago had the opportunity to take the lead. His 254 yards and 51% completion rate isn’t dreadful, and his bomb to Knox for 81 yards was magnificent, it was just too little too late for the Bears.
The Raiders Offensive Line:
The Bears only average giving up 21 points per game, so the Raiders offensive line coming up big was important to their victory. Carson Palmer was sacked four times, but as the game went on the Raiders O-line wore out the Bears defense and Palmer got more time and better looks in the second half of the game.
The Raiders, sitting in first place, hope to parlay this victory in Miami next Sunday to play the dreadful Dolphins (3-8). The Bears, tied for an NFC wildcard slot, will be home against the Kansas City Chiefs (4-7).
The 2011 Boston Red Sox Collapse In 4 Movements
To the glee of baseball fans everywhere (that don’t live in New England) the Red Sox collapse in 2011 was one of, if not the most legendary of all time. There is not one reason, nor are there only four for the collapse. But here are in my book the four most important reasons in no particular order why they missed the playoffs.
Ego:
The 2011 Red Sox were put together just like the 2000’s-era Yankees team they despised (and beat): Big name free agents that look good on paper but can’t guarantee they’ll mesh well with their teammates. Team unity takes a hit when it’s a circus around the heart of the team (Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz). One of the big name signees, Adrian Gonzalez, saying they didn’t get in the playoffs because “God didn’t want them to” is not an acceptable answer for fans. The big name free agents looked passionless – hey I’m already paid, why dirty my uniform? Controversy erupted when it leaked that late in the season players were eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during close games they needed to win, showing the ego of a team that was unacceptable.
Hype:
A media blitz thanks to big name signings can’t make anyone feel comfortable. The now legendary NESN article (http://www.nesn.com/2011/01/2011-red-sox-will-challenge-1927-yankees-for-title-of-greatest-team-in-major-league-history.html) that not only surmised that the Red Sox would win 100 games but said the real question was how many over 100 (they won 90) is a great example of the media hype around this team. How can you live up to
expectations of being the greatest team of all time? This is reminiscent of this year’s Philadelphia Eagles, who were coined as NFL’s “dream team” by the media and are languishing in third place – just where the Red Sox ended up. The hype hurt Carl Crawford too, a very good player who had a horrible year in his first of 7 years for $140 million. He apologized for his play but I don’t Red Sox fans have accepted it.
Terry Francona:
I’m not writing this because I believe he’s a bad manager. On the contrary, he’s good strategically and excellent at managing a veteran clubhouse. But while his mild mannered attitude was enjoyed by the likes of David Ortiz, it didn’t mesh well with the new blood who needed to be constantly reprimanded – not Francona’s style. He managed in a vicious city and won 2 World Series with them after an 86-year draught, and it took this for him to finally find himself in over his head. He chose to not re-sign with the team after he season ended.
New York Yankees/Tampa Bay Rays:
If you just go out and win, you shouldn’t have to worry about what the other teams are doing – it will all fall into place and you’ll get into the playoffs. But the Red Sox were definitely scoreboard watching as it became apparent the Yankees and Rays were better than they were projected. The Rays went on a blazing hot streak at the end of the year and sealed Boston’s fate just minutes after their last game of the season by winning while the Red Sox lost, both winning teams coming from behind.
Combine all of this and you don’t get into the playoffs, let alone win a World Series. Now they have a new General Manager, but are stuck with these huge contracts that didn’t pay of last year. It will be interesting to see what the Red Sox do this offseason – is this a long-term problem or they can stand on top of the AL East in 2012, as they were predicted to in 2011?
Why The Gold Glove Is (Still) A Sham
The Gold Glove is one of the most prestigious awards in the MLB, yet it is the least researched of all rewards and unsurprisingly there isn’t an award given out to undeserved players more. Many times, the player who deserves it will finally win it, however not for the year they deserve it. But how long can this go on fore?
Firstly, writers who traditionally pour over stats to make their picks for MVP or the Cy Young Award do not choose it. Managers and coaches choose this one – you would think this is a good thing as no one is closer to the game than them. But many managers use too much (bad) old school mentality and look simply at errors and when watching an opponent make a few good plays against his team. Does Derek Jeter, who usually makes diving plays because of his age and lack of range deserve the GG more than a player who is able to get to the ball without theatrics because of their speed? If you have enough range (something a few sabermetric stats will inform you) you save countless singles, but probably make a few more errors because of how many times you get to the ball. Aren’t the runs saved by getting to these balls preventing hits more important?
In 2011, New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner was the best OF in the AL. His range was incredible with 35 Total Zone Runs and a Defensive WAR of 3.2, both top of the AL. The three winners, Alex Gordon, Jacoby Ellsbury and Nick Markakis had the following dWAR: 0.8, 0.4 -0.4, respectively. That’s right, Markakis was negative! But, he made 0 errors. Interestingly, Markakis deserved to win it his rookie year in 2006 but more household names were chosen.
This is constant in the history of baseball. The most egregious example was Rafeal Palmeiro winning the first base Gold Glove in 1999. Why? Because he played only 28 games at first base! How did he still win it? Simple manager indifference. Managers and coaches love voting the same people every year simply because they don’t want to take the time out to review the stats – it’s easier to go with the guy who won it the last few years, and not look at the little guy who has the best stats.
The Silver Slugger is also an award determined by coaches and managers, but being an offensive category the stats are easier to eyeball on the surface so it usually goes to more deserving players than the Gold Glove.
Still, I believe this can be fixed to some degree if this award is left to the writers. The managers and coaches are more important things to do than to pick it, and it seems based on the results that they don’t care.
Grading The 2011 Oakland Raiders Through 10 Games
The Oakland Raiders (6-4) have surprised a lot of people by clawing their way to first place in the AFC West with six games left in the season. Even more surprising, is that they may have hit their stride after their starting QB Jason Campbell became injured and declared out for the season. But The Raiders have shown resiliency at almost every major position. Yes, it helps that they’re in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, but hey, the playoffs are the playoffs!
QB:
Jason Campbell/Carson Palmer/Kyle Boller: B
Jason Campbell started the year how realistic Raider fans hoped for: Not pro-bowl status but better than before, ably leading the offense. And McFadden being maybe the best RB in the AFC helps any QB. Then he broke his collarbone. Giving up a lot for a questionable Carson Palmer, they wanted a lot, and besides that second half of the Chiefs game he shouldn’t have even been in, he’s been better than anyone expected. With an average QB rating of 103 his last three games, he could lead the Raiders to their first division title since 2002. Of course I have to mention Kyle Boller, who brings this grade down. Playing essentially one full game, he threw 3 picks with no TDs helping him obtain a wretched QB rating of 31.
RB:
Darren McFadden/Michael Bush: A
McFadden was leading the league with yards per game at the beginning of the season so, naturally, he got injured and he’s still questionable. Luckily, the Raiders have someone more than qualified to fill his shoes. Since Michael Bush has been the starting RB he’s averaged over 115 years per game, plowing through defensive lines with his brute strength, a nice compliment to McFadden’s pure speed and agility. It will be interesting to see how coach Jackson uses them both together when McFadden returns.
WR/TE:
Denarius Moore/Jacoby Ford/Darrius Heyward-Bay/Kevin Boss: B+
The only thing consistent about the receiving core of the Raiders (besides their success) is their inconsistently in finding a #1 receiver. The Raiders have been known to use seven different receivers in a single game this year, showing a special versatility. TE Kevin Boss has been under used, but it’s hard to take the ball out of the hands of rookie sensation Denarius Moore, especially if that is who Palmer feels most comfortable with.
P/K:
Shane Lechler/Sebastian Janikowski: A
As it was last year, the two kickers on the Raiders are the class of their conference. Lechler leads the league in yards per punt and Janikowski has a phenomenal 88.9 field goal percentage including 5 FG for over 50 yards. A microcosm of their seasons, Lechler and Janikowski both set the NFL record for longest punt and longest field goal, respectively, in the same game this season. Both are leading their positions in Pro-Bowl voting for this year.
DB/CB/S:
Matt Giordano/Stanford Routt/Lamarr Houston/etc.: C+
The secondary has been pretty good but very inconsistent. Some games, it feels as though the opposing QB has single digit completions. Other games, especially in the second half, they seem to give up and wild passes are caught – they look dumbfounded. They’re 20th in the NFL in average passing yards given up per game. Stanford Routt, a very good player, also hurts because he is a penalty machine.
DT/LB/DE:
Richard Seymour/Tommy Kelly/Desmond Bryant/etc.: B
Oakland is sixth in all the NFL with sacks and tenth in total tackles. I would like to see less rushing yards given up, but they have been constantly putting the pressure on opposing quarterbacks and keeping the Raiders offense in striking distance of winning.
Everyone:
Penalties: F
It can’t be all sunshine and rainbows, right? The Raiders have been absolutely atrocious this season with unneeded penalties. They’ve been leading the NFL in penalties since the season started and are well on the way to breaking the 1998 Kansas City Chiefs record for most penalties in a season. This can hurt more than any injury.
The Raiders have what it takes to stay at the top of their division, and if they keep up their rushing and transfer their bullying more into “playing physical” and less into penalties this is a team that could… well probably still lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but after 7 losing seasons in a row and squeaking by at .500 last year, playoff football itself is almost Super Bowl status.
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