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Saturday, May 04, 2002
Ben Maller's 2002 Kentucky Derby Pick  Blue Burner, George Steinbrenner's 50-1 shot Ben's Take: I know nothing about horse racing but thats not going to stop me from making a pick in today's Derby. One thing about the boss- he knows talent. Look at the Yankees. permalink Friday, May 03, 2002
R.I.P. Jay  By Ben Maller Condolences to family and friends of KXTA and Clear Channel's Jay Craven, who died this week of cancer at 40. Craven was part of "The Third String" a radio program that aired Sunday mornings on 1150am in Los Angeles. A few years ago the show ran during the week in the late night slot at the station. I admit that I never got to really know Jay that well, although he did e-mail me a few times to tell me he enjoyed reading the website. The times I remember bumping into him in the hallways in Burbank he was always nice and seemed like a real down to earth guy, which is rare these days in radio. Many might not know this, but Craven was one of the top sales guys in America with the big title of Regional Vice President for Clear Channel. He could sell ice to an eskimo. Craven made the company a fortune over the years. Again my Condolences to his family and friends. He was a good man, and will be missed. permalink Thursday, May 02, 2002
The Toughest Job in the NFL  By Ben Maller When people talk about replacing legends in sports they normally talk about players or coaches. Troy Aikman has to replace the greatest football color man ever. Aikman was named as the replacement to John Madden on Fox Sports' number one NFL broadcasting team along with Joe Buck and Chris Collinsworth. Aikman will try to hold the mic that made Madden not just a broadcaster but a part of American pop culture. Madden took his announcing gig and turned into many other business opportunities such as endorsements and video games. The pressure will be on Aikman to bring his A game to the table every week--he'll be doing the best game in the NFC. Troy can't get off to a 1-15 start like he did his first season as QB of the Dallas Cowboys or he'll go the way of Dennis Miller and the dinosaur. Let's remember that after a slow start in Big D, Aikman went on to win three Super Bowls while passing for 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns. Aikman does not have much experience. He worked last year on Fox NFL broadcasts with former Cowboys teammate Daryl Johnston and play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton. Johnston and Stockton will be Fox's No. 2 team in 2002. Here is hoping that things go better for Aikman than they did for Charles Johnson who had to replace Mike Piazza with the Dodgers, or Tim Floyd who replaced Phil Jackson as coach of the Chicago Bulls. Good luck and may the ratings be with you! permalink Wednesday, May 01, 2002
Mavs chose Letterman over Winning  By Ben Maller The Dallas Mavericks apparently think that getting on national TV is more important than practice to win a championship. Don Nelson has allowed point guard Steve Nash to skip practice today to fly to New York and guest on the "Late Show" with David Letterman. Nash has turned into a star over the past season because he's a good player and he happens to be white with girlie-like long hair and looks, for some reason, women seem to like. The Mavericks open the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs Saturday in Sacramento. I have to question the decision to allow your starting point guard to leave the team for a television show. Shouldn't the only focus at this time of year be on basketball and beating the Sacramento Kings? I don't remember Magic Johnson, Larry Bird or Michael Jordan ever skipping practice a few days away from a playoff game to be a guest on a TV Show.  Do you think Nash will read the top 10 list on reasons he should have stayed with the team instead of going to New York. Think of it like this, if you had a really big project due in a couple of weeks and you had been working on it for the past 6 months you wouldn't skip out a day to do a guest spot on a CBS show would you? Of course not, but that's just what Nash is doing and the Mavericks think its okay. I say it Stinks! This, my friends, is bad karma. Add to the fact that Dirk Nowitzki is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated and it means only one thing.  Sacramento will beat Dallas I GUARANTEE IT!! permalink Tuesday, April 30, 2002
Big Ben's Insider Baseball Notes  Anaheim has won four straight after losing 14 or their 1st 20 games. Cleveland has lost 11 of 13 since starting the season 11-1. The Indians have dropped eight of nine road games. The Angels have won four of their last six games at Jacobs Field. C.C. Sabathia is 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA in four career games against Anaheim. In his last two starts, Sabathia has allowed 14 earned runs in 8.2 innings (14.54 ERA). Indians starters have a 5.53 ERA in 2002 (relievers’ ERAis 3.15). The A's have homered in 15 straight games and lead the majors with 41. Oakland has won seven of their last nine regular season games at Yankee Stadium. The Athletics have not played at Yankee Stadium since losing Game Five of the 2001 American League Division Series, a series they led 2-0 before dropping the final three games. The Yankees have won eight of their last 11 games. The A's, winners of four straight overall, outscored the White Sox 32-5 in their 3-game sweep (26-1 in final two games). The Yankees have a 2.52 ERA at Yankee Stadium this year. Barry Zito has a 1.78 ERA in four career starts vs. the Yankees (1-1 record). A's Jeremy Giambi has reached base in 28 straight games dating back to 2001. Yanks Jason Giambi is hitting just .206 in nine Bronx home games this year. Toronto has lost five straight and 10 of their last 12 games. Blue Jay starters have a 7.11 ERA this season, worst in the majors. Hideki Irabu has converted four straight save opportunities and has a 0.96 ERA as a reliever this year (6.55 ERA as a starter). Jays Eric Hinske has hit safely in 10 straight games (.389 BA). Ex-Dodger Luke Prokopec is 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in two career starts vs. Texas. Toronto's 3-7 home record is the 3rd worst in baseball (Cubs & Royals both 4-10). The Mariners are 10-0 on the road this season (8-7 at home). Seattle is batting .339 on the road compared to just .242 at home. White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko is riding a 16-game hitting streak – the longest current streak in the AL. Chicago is hitting .339 at home compared to .260 on the road. Seattle has won nine of their last 13 in Comiskey Park. The Mariners have lost three of four after starting the season 17-4. Royce Clayton extended his errorless streak to 54 games, the longest current streak for a SS in the AL. The Brewers 6-game losing streak is the longest in the majors. Greg Maddux is 5-1 with a 1.13 ERA in eight career appearances against the Brewers. OF B.J. Surhoff, originally expected to be back in mid-May, has a torn right ACL that will require surgery in eight to 10 days. It is expected Surhoff will need five to six months of rehabilitation, meaning he'll miss the rest of the season. RF Gary Sheffield (sprained left wrist) is expected to return to the lineup tonight. The Braves 23 errors are the 3rd most in baseball. Milwaukee's 7-18 record is the worst in baseball. The Brewers are glad to be at home after posting the league's worst road record (2-13). Vladimir Guerrero is hitting .460 with six HR and 19 RBI in his last 15 games. Guerrero has already broken the Expos' record for most RBI in April with 28 The Expos have won seven of nine and are tied with the Mets for 1st in the NL East. Roy Oswalt is 9-1 with a 2.21 ERA in 15 career appearances at Astros Field. The Astros' bullpen has a 5.69 ERA compared to the starters 3.92 ERA. Houston has won seven straight games against Montreal (outscoring the Expos 46-21). St. Louis has lost 10 of their last 14 games. Tino Martinez has no home runs in 81 at bats this season. Florida's ERA is over a run lower on the road (3.32) than it is at home (4.47). Cardinal starters have a 5.33 ERA compared to the bullpen's 2.92 ERA. Florida leads the NL with 35 SB attempts. In four career starts in St. Louis, Ryan Dempster is 1-2 with a 7.99 ERA. Darryl Kile is 6-2 with a 2.20 ERA in 12 career starts vs. Florida, his lowest ERA against any National League team. **Colorado pitching has a better ERA at Coors field (4.65) than on the road (5.69).** Pittsburgh has won seven straight road games (7-1 on road, 7-8 on home). Jason Kendall is hitting .429 in his last six games after hitting just .136 in his 1st 14 games. The Pirates #1 and #2 hitters have combined to hit just .194 this year. The Pirates ERA is nearly three runs lower on the road (1.90) than at home (4.70). Arizona has won five straight series (winning 12 of the 16 games). The Mets have won 10 of their last 15 games against Arizona. Byung-Hyun Kim has converted all five save opportunities and has a 0.93 ERA in nine appearances this season. Roger Cedeno is batting .127 with a .155 on-base percentage in his last 16 games. In four career starts vs. Arizona, Al Leiter is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are a combined 11-1 while the other D-Back starters are 4-5. San Diego's 7-2 home record is the best in the NL. The Padres' ERA is 2.22 at home compared to 4.20 on the road. Ryan Klesko is hitting .418 with four homers and 17 RBI during his 16-game hitting streak. The Padres have won five of seven against Chicago. San Diego catchers are hitting just .091 (7-77) this season. The Cubs have lost eight of their last 11 games. Chicago has scored just seven runs in their last four games. The Cubs are batting .296 on the road, compared to just .200 at home. Eric Gagne has converted all nine save opportunities this year and has a 0.69 ERA in 12 relief appearances. The Dodgers have won four straight series (winning 10 of the 13 games). Cincinnati has won five straight and seven of their last eight at Dodger Stadium. In nine career starts vs. Cincinnati, Kevin Brown is 7-1 with a 1.76 ERA. Danny Graves has converted eight straight save opportunities and has a 1.69 ERA in 12 games this season. Shawn Green is hitting .133 (4-30) with 10 strikeouts when he hits 3rd in the lineup. The Reds have a 2.31 ERA on the road, compared to a 4.24 ERA at home. Sunday's loss snapped the Reds’ 7-game winning streak. The Reds are 5-1 vs. NL West opponents this season. STATS, Inc. MLB Notes permalink
Big Ben's Random Thoughts  ByBen Maller Robert Horry is the black John Paxson. Phil Jackson always had a gunner from the outside to stand around and wait for Michael Jordan to pass the ball. From Craig Hodges to Paxson and Steve Kerr. A few years ago Kobe Bryant would have taken that last-second shot in Portland even if he had been triple teamed.  I find it entertaining to hear guys like Jack Ramsey and others who cover the NBA try and spin another team beating the Lakers. Sacramento & Dallas don't play enough defense and San Antonio is as soft as the Pillsbury dough boy. Kevin Garnett is the Barry Bonds of the NBA. He signed the biggest contract in the history of basketball and is 0-6 in postseason series. While it's true that the Timberwolves have been the underdog in most of those series, Garnett failed to step up in any series. Over the weekend, Chad Hartman the radio voice of the T-Wolves was my guest and told me the truth about Garnett. Hartman said that while KG is a great player for three quarters, he's unable to take games over in the fourth quarter and often looks to pass the ball instead of taking a game over. Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan and Vince Carter have each won playoff series when outgunned. It's Garnett's turn or he'll be a big stiff the rest of his career. Latest T-Wolves trade talk:  Wally Szczerbiak to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guard Andre Miller Wally Szczerbiak and Terrell Brandon to the Phoenix Suns for Stephon Marbury.  Bill Walton of NBC and the Clippers broadcast team had a great line in the Boston Globe over the weekend. Walton said while many people rip owner Donald Sterling, you can say one good thing about Sterling, "He's never overpaid a stiff." I'm happy the Dodgers are playing good baseball. Let's hope that Adrian Beltre and Eric Karros can keep hitting well. You know Shawn Green will carry the team on his back at some point. The Dodgers should call the Rangers and acquire OF Gabe Kapler. Texas needs some pitching help and the Dodgers need a centerfielder. Kapler is off to a slow start but has all the tools to be a stud. In addition to that he's an LA guy. The Curse of the Benbino is alive and well. Since I wrote the Anaheim Angels season was over on this very website, they have won four games in a row. Someone should check David Eckstein's bat. Lou Pinella of the Mariners said that bad records don't get managers fired in baseball anymore. Pinella said low attendance gets skippers fired. Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City and Colorado all have had attendance drops and all fired there managers. Fox Sports Kevin Kennedy is the best baseball studio analyst around. I still would like to see Kennedy manage again. I think he would be perfect for the Angels if they can Mike Scioscia or the Mets if they fold up and fire Bobby Valentine. Teams around baseball have learned from the mistakes of the Dodgers & Padres. Barry Bonds is getting no pitches to hit and is starting to get frustrated by all the brushback pitches he has seen.  The Brewers franchise is a joke. Their new ballpark is already among the least popular in baseball. They have no pitching and really have just two good players: Richie Sexson and Geoff Jenkins.  Nike must sell lots of shoes. With Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan on the payroll, Nike Inc. agreed to pay more than $1 billion to athletes and teams through 2006 and beyond. No wonder they have been accused of using child labor workers, they have to pay all these spoiled athletes.  Gum chewed by Oakland Athletics pitcher Tim Hudson was purchased for just $250 during a local auction in the Bay Area that benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Luis Gonzalez chewed gum from a spring training game sold for $10,000 dollars. What does this prove? When you play in Oakland nobody has a clue who you are. The top-selling item was a chance to take a picture drinking beers with Hudson, which went for $1,005. Did you know? There are only three parks left that Ellis Burks hasn't hit a regular-season home run in - Safeco Field in Seattle, PNC Park in Pittsburgh and Miller Park in Milwaukee. Burks passed Mark McGwire and Fred McGriff with Homers in 40 different big-league parks. permalink Monday, April 29, 2002
Burks Passes Big Mac
 By Ben Maller Ellis Burks did something over the weekend that only one current player has a chance of matching. Burks an outfielder for the Cleveland Indians hit a homer against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington giving him homers in 40 different ballparks a major league record. Burks passes Mark McGwire (retired) and Fred McGriff (Cubs) to become the first man in baseball history to accomplish this feat. While Orel Hershiser's scorless innings streak, Cy Young's win record, Joe Dimaggio's hit streak and Pete Rose all-time hit record get talked about among those records that will never be touched, how about my man Burks? Burks has a very good chance of doing something that Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson and Pete Rose never did. I remember when Burks broke in with the Boston Red Sox in 1987 and was the can't miss prospect for the BoSox, he didn't turn into a megastar but he's had a solid bagabond career.  Burks could be the greatest journeyman slugger in baseball history. In addition to the Red Sox Burks has played for the White Sox, Rockies, Giants and Indians during his 16 big league seasons and hit homeruns in such retired ballparks as Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, The Old Comisky park in Chicago, Candlestick park in San Francisco, The Astrodome in Houston, The Kingdome in Seattle Memorial Stadium in Baltimore and County Stadium in Milwaukee just to name few. Fred McGriff is one ballpark behind Burks for the record but at age 39 this could be the crimedog's last season. Burks is 37 years old and still slugging HR's as a DH for the Tribe he could play another four years. In the last 10 years there have been new stadiums built in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Colorado, Seattle, Baltimore, Atlanta, Anaheim, Houston, Texas, Cleveland, Detroit and Arizona its going to be another 50 or 100 years before we see another stadium boom in baseball like Burks has been a part of. Their should be a special place in the baseball hall of fame to pay tribute to Burks and his special record. permalink |
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