Just Thinkin' Out Loud...

Pistons and the NBA

If Doug Collins had to choose between LeBron James and Lindsey Hunter as his favorite player of all-time, I'm not sure which way he goes. On one hand, Lindsey is "the best on-ball defender in league history." But LeBron James has the "strength of ten men" and is the "most gifted passer in the game." I don't think he could ever pick one over the other, but you can be sure that he prefers both to his own son, Chris.

Why not just make it official and assign three fouls to Kwame Brown the moment he steps on the floor? It would make things a lot simpler.

I've always been a big fan of Kevin Harlan's announcing on TNT, but I would request that he stops referring to sideline reporter Pam Oliver as "Pammy." It's making me uncomfortable.

I just don't have the energy right now. I've made my feelings well known before. I'll just say this. If you can watch this Piston team, and honestly tell me that six minutes through the first 3 quarters is enough for Will Bynum, I will nod my head and move on. And then dial the nearest insane asylum so they can come pick you up.

Something is up with Tayshaun Prince. I can't fault the guy for getting dominated by LeBron James, but I don't ever recall seeing him with such lifeless body language in all his time as a Piston. He's averaging 3 points and 2 rebounds in the series, and contrary to how hard he usually performs, he looks like the Piston most looking forward to getting this series over with.

You know that you watch a lot of NBA ball when the cameras get a shot of Jerry Sloan and you can tell immediately that he got a haircut after the last game.

The 35 points and 9 dimes is a hell of an effort, Deron Williams, but John Stockton would not approve of his point guard turning the ball over 7 times along the way.


Tigers

-We're 13 games in and Miguel Cabrera is hitting at a mind-boggling .451 clip. At what point do we start talking about Ted Williams here??

-Earl Weaver, the Hall-of-Fame manager for the Baltimore Orioles, despised the sacrifice bunt. Weaver believed that the cost of giving away an out was far greater than the reward in moving a runner up 90 feet. This strategy is magnified even more when a team is down to their final three outs. I always like this kind of manager that will have an attack mentality when behind in the game. When facing a good closer late in a ballgame, and with precious few outs remaining, I find it very hard to justify giving away those outs without making the pitcher earn them. Needless to say, it was definitely not Jim Leyland's finest hour in the opener against the Angels. The Tigers trailed by one entering the 9th. They got the leadoff man aboard when Carlos Guillen singled and had their DH, Jeff Larish, due up. In theory, this is where your DH should be an asset. One swing of the bat and you could have the lead.

But in a strange turn of events, Jim Leyland decided to replace Larish, sending up Adam Everett, a man that has been asked to pinch-hit just nine times during his entire 9-year career (1 for 9). With a lefty on the mound, you would think Marcus Thames might be called upon, but instead it was the punchless Everett being summoned to the dish. He also subbed speedster Josh Anderson for Guillen. Leyland then ordered for the sacrifice from Everett (again, never been a fan of giving away outs with a 9th inning deficit), but he couldn't get it down. With two strikes and Everett no longer able to bunt, Anderson became overly aggressive and got hung up with a Brian Fuentes pickoff, getting thrown out at 2nd. Everett then struck out, leaving the Tigers with no runners on and two out when the inning had looked so promising just a moment prior with the leadoff hit. Essentially, all Fuentes had done was give up a single, get Everett to foul off a couple bunts, make a solid pickoff move, and the bases were clear again with the victory one out away. Not exactly making him earn anything.

Sure enough, the next two batters reached, making the "pinch-hitter, botched sacrifice, botched steal" all the more frustrating. They were left stranded when Ramon Santiago took a called third to end the festivities. To recap, four Tigers came to the plate in the 9th trying to reach base (Everett was trying to sacrifice), and Fuentes only retired one of them. That effort should not be rewarded with a save and an Angel win, but with over-managing, and unaggressive over-managing at that...just about anything is possible.


Other Things

Ping-Pong is the one sport where you hit your peak when you are about 14 years old. That's the best you'll ever be.

The movie never gets a lot of pub, but Jack Black and Steve Zahn in Saving Silverman were easily one of the best comedy duos in recent movie history. Just ask my boy Aubrey. I believe that was his first purchase when starting his DVD collection...and I'm almost as sure it didn't wind up being his only copy.

Am I the only guy in the world still actually "taping" things off the TV?? The TIVO, DVR, and all that might be easier and more convenient, but I haven't crossed over. I'm still throwin' the tape in the VCR and pushing the 'record' button. I'm just not ready yet.



Does anyone not sleep with one arm under their pillow?? Drop a thought below, or float me an e-mail at highsockslegend@gmail.com