BenMaller.com - Ben's Takes

Bud's gift to Boston?

On January 6, 1920, the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for cash in what was the start of the curse of the Bambino. Years from now baseball historians might look back at July 30, 2002, as the year Major League Baseball helped the Red Sox beat the Yankees to end the curse.

Anyone who has half a brain can tell that something smells about the trade of Cliff Floyd to Boston for a pair of average prospects from a team run by Major League Baseball. It seems kind of odd that commissioner Bud Selig approved a trade of Floyd to the Yanks' biggest competitor for basically nothing.

The New York papers wrote about a month ago that there could be a conspiracy by baseball to help the Red Sox beat the Yankees. John Henry, the man who owns Boston, was not the highest bidder for the club, leading to the belief that baseball wanted Henry in Bean Town to help keep costs down. Now the Red Sox get Floyd from Bud Selig. Are you telling me the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves did not offer more for the Expos outfielder? I don't believe it.

So now if the Red Sox somehow beat the Yanks and Cliff Floyd is the reason, then you have to say that it was a gift from Bud Selig. permalink

Tuesday, July 30, 2002

"Miller Time" In LA

By Ben Maller

The Clippers did what they had to do to make a playoff run, picking up Andre Miller from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The price was a high one for the NBA's assist king. The Clips sent fan favorite and future star Darius Miles & Harold Jamison to the Cavs for Miller and shooting guard Bryant Stith.

Miller, who's just entering the prime of his basketball career, is coming off a career year. Miller averaged 16.5 points, 10.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds while making 45 percent of his field-goal attempts a season ago. Miller had a big year at the right time for the Cavs who were able to force the Clippers hand.

Miles will turn into a mega star in Cleveland if he can find a jump shot. The odds are he will at some point in the next few years. At the age of 20, Miles averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, shooting 48 percent from the field in 27.2 minutes per game.

The pressure is now on Lamar Odom to keep himself clean of drugs and booze. By trading Miles, the Clips are counting on Odom to play like he did 2 years ago.

One thing is for sure the Clippers better win and win big this season... and even that might not be enough to avoid Donald Sterling from blowing the roster up with a fire sale that will make the Florida Marlins, Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres of baseball proud. Miller, Elton Brand, Michael Olowakandi and Lamar Odom are all going to want huge contracts in the next 12 months.

A lineup with Andre Miller, Lamar Odom, Elton Brand, Michael Olowakandi and Quinton Richardson can match up with anyone in the NBA, except that other team that plays at Staples Center, the one that raises banners early November every year. permalink

Monday, July 29, 2002

Big Ben's Weekend Thoughts

By Ben Maller

Here's hoping that Paul Shuey can help the Dodgers get in the playoffs. GM Dan Evans did the impossible- he was able to trade Terry Mullholland who shouldn't even be in baseball anymore the way he has pitched this season. It's interesting to see how the Dodgers have, all of a sudden, given up on their young pitchers. Ricardo Rodriguez, the main prospect the Indians got, is a potential No. 1 starter. The Dodgers also traded Ben Diggins to the Brewers for Tyler Houston. Diggins has a million dollar arm and a ten cent mind. He could be a steal for the Beer Drinkers.

Shuey was having a great season for the Tribe, but remember he has been on the disabled list 11-times since 1994. The Dodgers have had bad luck with guys like Shuey in the recent past.

Kenny Lofton does not make the Giants much better. Lofton had the lowest batting average in baseball for the month of June. He was on fire in April and has looked old ever since. Look for San Francisco to dump Livan Hernandez this weekend-- Dusty Baker has had enough of him.

Scott Rolen is overrated. He's not a 40 HR 120 RBI guy instead he's a 30 HR 90 RBI guy and he's got back problems. Do you wanna give him $90 Million?

Ozzie Smith should not have been a first ballot Hall-of-Famer. He batted .262. I don't care how good you are at defense, you have to do better than that.

As long as Barry Bonds is hurt in San Francisco, the Dodgers can win the NL Wild Card.

The Mets are not going to be in the playoffs. They have played well for the last few weeks but it won't last.

The Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics are still better teams than the Anaheim Angels. The Halos will fall apart like they always do late in the season. The tradition of Angels baseball will continue another season.

There has been talk of Major League Baseball wanting a third team to move to the New York Market to take revenue away from the Yankees and Mets. This, in theory, would work but in reality it would only hurt the Mets. Do you think advertisers are going to spend less money on the Yanks to spend money on the Expos or Marlins? I don't think so.

While many people try and pump up Tampa Bay or Green Bay, the St. Louis Rams are still the team to beat in the NFC.

The Oakland Raiders are the class of the AFC. The Steelers and Patriots have many questions. Watch out for the Colts to make a run.

I hope the Washington Redskins lead the NFL in offense. The problem is they don't have a quarterback. If Ryan Leaf signed with the Skins he could start.

Ben's Five Teams that could shock the world this year in the NFL: 1.) Cincinnati Bengals 2.) Kansas City Chiefs 3.) Washington Redskins 4.) Indianapolis Colts 5.) Arizona Cardinals

Ben's Teams in the NFL that figure to be overrated: 1.) Pittsburgh Steelers 2.) New England Patriots 3.) New York Jets 4.) Philadelphia Eagles 5.) Tampa Bay Bucs.

I had a chance to broadcast some of Keon Clark's games when he was playing JUCO ball in OC he's a nice roll player and little more than that. That said, I hope the Orlando Magic or Chicago Bulls make him mega rich.

The odds are that Charles Oakley will turn the Lakers down for a record 4th time. Has there ever been a player that wanted to win a ring less than Oakley? He chose Toronto instead of LA three years ago. The Bulls were going to release him so the Lakers could sign him for the playoffs and Oakley decided he didn't want to take a pay cut.

Malik Rose signed a seven-year $42 million dollar deal with the Spurs. Let me get this straight. He can't shoot, is average at defense and a pretty good rebounder and he has a seven-year deal? What's going on down at the Alamo.

At last look the Clippers still have 8 powerforwards and no point guard. I wonder if Donald Sterling cares?

NBA Players Arrested This Offseason: Allen Iverson, Glenn Robinson, Ron Artest, Derrick Coleman and counting.

Pac-10 Media Day is this Wednesday at an LAX airport hotel. I wonder how Bob Toledo is going to explain yet another quick Bruin start and quick fade. Its going to be embarrassing for USC and UCLA if Washington State is the pick to win the conference.

Florida fans will be asking for Ron Zook's head by week 4

Oklahoma is going to be as good as any team in the country this season. The reason Bob Stoops stayed in Norman is because he has a legitimate chance at winning his second national title in three years.

The BCS continues to work wonders for college football. Every year since this system was put in place the best team has won the title. permalink