More silly rants

Few would doubt that the game of baseball, particularly at the Major League level, has changed greatly over the past several years. Out have gone many of the "old ways" when things were fairly simple. In have come stats from hell, sometimes called metrics, analyzing every player in seemingly every way possible.

Basically, high-tech has taken over, and been quite successful at that. The age of the Jetsons is upon us.

So what did the Detroit Tigers do?

Went out and hired Fred Flintstone, sometimes called Ron Gardenhire as their manager.

Fittingly enough, their first game of the season was rained out. An omen of things to come? Perhaps, considering the Tigers are in full blown rebuild mode. They got rid of what talent they had.

In his first official action, Mr. G got himself tossed out of the game -- over arguing the results/decision of a replay call.

And that's just dumb. After a close play has been reviewed by the "guys in the booth" and a decision rendered, there's no way they're going to change it. It is what it is. Get over it. That's like trying to argue with a cop after he/she has given you a speeding ticket. Only a doofus would think they can talk them into taking it back. Keep flapping your gums and you might just wind up going to jail, car impounded -- all that good stuff.Was it really worth it?

Interesting article penned by one Stephanie Apstein in the latest issue of Sport Illustrated. Per today's politically correct world, dear Steph was lavish in her praise of the Los Angeles Angels' recent addition of Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese emigre trying to hit it big in the Bigs.

Per the article, you'd think this guy is the greatest pitcher/hitter combination since Babe Ruth. "He'll pitch every six days and DH two or three times between starts".

Sounds great, a can't miss prospect.

Right up until his actual performance to date is looked at.

For such a fantastic pitcher, he's given up nine runs in only two and two thirds innings. What sort of ERA is that? 35 maybe? But dammit "his delivery is clean and his slider has induced gasps", quote Ms. Apstein.

Um, yeah. Opposing hitters seem to be cleaning up on him all right. And those gasps might just be from watching him get lit up like the proverbial pinball machine.

At the plate he's "shown raw power in batting practice". Well dang, in BP who doesn't?

Yet he's got a measly two hits in twenty at bats during the games. For a batting average of .100.

This is the next Babe Ruth? Maybe she was talking about the candy bar instead of the legendary Bosox/Yankees slugger.

Regardless, maybe somebody needs to check Apstein for performance enhancing drugs. If she isn't taking them, by all means give her a healthy dose. If any scribe ever needed their performance enhanced -- it's her. Whatzamattuh you girl?

Alas, poor Frank Isola. He's a sportswriter for the New York Daily News and occasional talking head on ESPN's Around the Horn.

With no lack of conviction, FI, and those initials would seem to be appropriate, thundered Louisville would top Mississippi St. in one ladies' national semi-final, and nobody, but NOBODY was going to beat mighty UConn. Especially Notre Dame.

Then bam. DOWN went Louisville.

DOWN went UConn.

Um, Frank. Don't quit your day job. If we want predictions like that, we'll turn to Peter King, also of SI fame (or is that infamy?). He couldn't pick his nose with a power auger either.