Major League Baseball sent a mixed message to its middle infielders last week.
They adjusted sliding rules in an effort to minimize the kind of devastating injury that ended the 2015 season of the Pirates' Jung Ho Kang.
At the same time, they decided the long-standing "neighborhood" play at second base would now be reviewable. That means it's subject to the kind of nit-picking frame-by-frame replay that now occurs when a player pops up from his slide and loses contact with the base for a split second while the fielder is still applying a tag.
(Quick parenthetical aside: Those who say baseball never changes haven't been paying attention. They're making changes so quickly it seems like the rule book is now contained in a loose leaf binder).
Base runners are now not permitted to go after fielders in order to break up a double play. That's all well and good, but the biggest mistake on Kang's play was made by Kang. A fielder can't plant himself in the base path without being prepared for an unfavorable outcome.
Most pivot men on the double play either skip to the side or go airborne to avoid the inevitable collision. Those escapes have been the basis for thousands of AP "action" photos over the decades.
Kang stood there, his leg firmly in the way. That's why one of this spring's storylines is speculating on when Kang might return to the lineup.
The "neighborhood" play has been around forever and mostly guided by common sense. If a fielder has the ball and is close enough to the base, he gets the out call.
Now that could go to the replay center/pizza party at the mysterious video review center.
Infielders will have to put a premium on making sure they have possession of the ball and contact with the base. Getting within an inch or two won't do any more.
This will undoubtedly disrupt the flow of the play. Smart fielders will slow down, take the sure out at second, then get out of the way of the onrushing base runner.
Fielders who aren't as smart will try to get that out at second, then complete the double play. It's not hard to imagine some nasty collisions in the seconds it takes for that to unfold.
So middle infielders could still be limping off the field with assistance from trainers. They just may be doing it for different reasons.
---
--STAY SEATED
Western Pennsylvania native and Arizona coach Sean Miller got in a little trouble for complaining about the trend of fans storming the court after their basketball team wins.
Miller probably went too far in suggesting that one of his players might punch the invaders, but his fundamental point was correct.
Fans have no business on the court or the field or ice or wherever the game is being played. Your grandmother was right when she said that someone is going to get hurt. The rush of bodies is a force that will swarm, and possibly injure someone seriously.
There's no reason why players, coaches and game officials should find themselves surrounded by fans. Assume that most of them are happy, but what about the guy who has a beef with a call that was made in the first half?
A ticket to the game corresponds to a seat in the stands. Stay there.
---
--WHITHER PEDRO?
At this typing, spring training camps are open and free agent Pedro Alvarez still hasn't signed anywhere.
He was never the hottest ticket on the market, but a guy with his power history should draw some interest from someone, even if it's only a non-roster tryout invitation.
Are there offers and Alvarez and his agent are turning them down? Or has he inspired this much apathy among major league teams?
If the latter is the case, his future might be in Japan.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Altoona Mirror, February 21, 2016
Heath Miller represented everything the Steelers think they stand for.
He was a hard-working player who always gave an honest effort and had no interest in glory beyond being part of a winning team. He represented the team well on and off the field.
No doubt the chants of "Heeeath" pleased him, but he never bothered to spend time in front of a mirror to work out a celebratory dance to accompany that soundtrack.
If there really is a "Steeler way," Miller's picture would be on the cover of the handbook.
The Steelers, like all NFL teams, are at the mercy of their players. Sometimes you wind up with a talented but immature quarterback who winds up in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Then you draft players who get pulled over and wind up being suspended for games because there was marijuana in the car.
On a lesser scale, there are the receivers who have to celebrate a six-yard completion by either spinning the ball on the turf or doing an exaggerated version of the referee's first down signal.
None of the above from Miller. He showed up for work, then he went home to his wife and kids. A big night out might have been Dairy Queen.
It was a winning formula, which is why he'll be missed now that he's announced his retirement as quietly as possible.
When Miller was in his prime, you could count on three things: 1. If he got his hands on the ball, he would catch it. 2. He wouldn't fumble. 3. It would take at least two defenders to tackle him.
Those qualities have all diminished in recent years, but that happens after 11 long seasons of high-impact football. Remember, Miller wasn't just a pass-catching tight end. He also served as an adjunct offensive lineman who blocked in some formations.
As he leaves football, you can only hope his fearless style didn't take too big a toll. He received some hellacious hits over those years, and there's heightened awareness now of the long-term danger that can cause.
When he comes back for reunions, you hope the best tight end in franchise history has good memories when he hears the inevitable cheers of "Heeeath."
---
--PARTY FIZZLES
The Dapper Dan banquet used to be a huge deal, one of the major stops on the winter circuit.
Its best years were at the Hilton Hotel, where sponsors would buy hospitality suites that made for a boozy buffet that ran all night. There were also reports of very friendly women who set up shop and offered companionship for a fee.
The Dapper Dan became more afterthought than major event for a while, but has rebounded in recent years. There are enough high rollers who will shell out for a night of corny speeches and re-warmed cafeteria food to make it a success.
Last week's edition wasn't much, though. The Sportsman of the Year, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, didn't attend. Mike Tomlin accepted his award. Maybe winning for a second consecutive year was old hat for Brown, but he apparently had business elsewhere.
The Sportswoman of the Year, soccer star Meghan Klingenberg, was also absent. She was away training for the Olympics.
There were other award winners, notably Dick Groat and Pascal Dupuis, but it doesn't seem like much of a party when the guests of honor aren't there.
---
--FASHION STATEMENT
OK, the Pirates are going to flash back to the '70s and sport garish throwback uniforms for Sunday home games. The disco era ensemble will include a gold jersey, black pants and the black cap with horizontal stripes.
If they're going to all that effort to have the players re-create that era, shouldn't they order leisure suits for the announcers?
He was a hard-working player who always gave an honest effort and had no interest in glory beyond being part of a winning team. He represented the team well on and off the field.
No doubt the chants of "Heeeath" pleased him, but he never bothered to spend time in front of a mirror to work out a celebratory dance to accompany that soundtrack.
If there really is a "Steeler way," Miller's picture would be on the cover of the handbook.
The Steelers, like all NFL teams, are at the mercy of their players. Sometimes you wind up with a talented but immature quarterback who winds up in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Then you draft players who get pulled over and wind up being suspended for games because there was marijuana in the car.
On a lesser scale, there are the receivers who have to celebrate a six-yard completion by either spinning the ball on the turf or doing an exaggerated version of the referee's first down signal.
None of the above from Miller. He showed up for work, then he went home to his wife and kids. A big night out might have been Dairy Queen.
It was a winning formula, which is why he'll be missed now that he's announced his retirement as quietly as possible.
When Miller was in his prime, you could count on three things: 1. If he got his hands on the ball, he would catch it. 2. He wouldn't fumble. 3. It would take at least two defenders to tackle him.
Those qualities have all diminished in recent years, but that happens after 11 long seasons of high-impact football. Remember, Miller wasn't just a pass-catching tight end. He also served as an adjunct offensive lineman who blocked in some formations.
As he leaves football, you can only hope his fearless style didn't take too big a toll. He received some hellacious hits over those years, and there's heightened awareness now of the long-term danger that can cause.
When he comes back for reunions, you hope the best tight end in franchise history has good memories when he hears the inevitable cheers of "Heeeath."
---
--PARTY FIZZLES
The Dapper Dan banquet used to be a huge deal, one of the major stops on the winter circuit.
Its best years were at the Hilton Hotel, where sponsors would buy hospitality suites that made for a boozy buffet that ran all night. There were also reports of very friendly women who set up shop and offered companionship for a fee.
The Dapper Dan became more afterthought than major event for a while, but has rebounded in recent years. There are enough high rollers who will shell out for a night of corny speeches and re-warmed cafeteria food to make it a success.
Last week's edition wasn't much, though. The Sportsman of the Year, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, didn't attend. Mike Tomlin accepted his award. Maybe winning for a second consecutive year was old hat for Brown, but he apparently had business elsewhere.
The Sportswoman of the Year, soccer star Meghan Klingenberg, was also absent. She was away training for the Olympics.
There were other award winners, notably Dick Groat and Pascal Dupuis, but it doesn't seem like much of a party when the guests of honor aren't there.
---
--FASHION STATEMENT
OK, the Pirates are going to flash back to the '70s and sport garish throwback uniforms for Sunday home games. The disco era ensemble will include a gold jersey, black pants and the black cap with horizontal stripes.
If they're going to all that effort to have the players re-create that era, shouldn't they order leisure suits for the announcers?
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Altoona Mirror, February 14, 2016
Roger Goodell makes about $40 million a year to run the NFL, so it's not like anyone is going to feel sorry for him.
But it can't be a comfortable feeling when the receptionist sends word that Vontaze Burfict is in the lobby.
Burfict of the Cincinnati Bengals was at NFL headquarters last week to appeal the three-game suspension he'd been handed for his violent spree in the playoff game against the Steelers last month.
Burfict was the guy who lined up Antonio Brown and drilled the Steelers' receiver in the helmet after he'd failed to catch a pass. That play also accounted for half of the 30 yards in penalties the Steelers were gifted by the Bengals, which allowed them to kick an easy game-winning field goal.
There's no word on how long the meeting took, but Burfict soon found out that his suspension had been upheld.
We're all left to wonder on what grounds he filed the appeal?
* "Pacman Jones said it was a smart play."
* "At least I didn't kick him when he was down, like they do in WWE."
* "Bugs Bunny blows up Wile E. Coyote all the time and nobody suspends him."
* "We gave them a damn playoff game. Isn't that enough?"
Burfict wasted his time and money traveling to New York. (Come to think of it, shouldn't a dangerous character like that be on someone's no-fly list?)
On further review, maybe Goodell should have amended his penalty.
For wasting everyone's time with an appeal of such blatant lawlessness, the commissioner should have added a few more games to Burfict's suspension.
---
--CHANGE OF VENUE?
The high schools are in a tizzy because some of the WPIAL championship games will not be played at Heinz Field.
This season the high schools will be reorganized into six classifications, up from four. The Steelers have made Heinz Field available for the four-game marathon, which typically takes up most of a Saturday in November.
There's no way to play six games in a single day, and there's no way the field could hold up under the grind of six games over two days.
The result is two of the games will be played somewhere else, and that might not be a bad thing.
Heinz Field (and Three Rivers Stadium) before it has been a carrot for the high school teams. Advance to the championship round and you can play on an NFL field. The kids get to spit on the same turf that the pros do.
That's undoubtedly a thrill for most players, whose football careers will end with high school. But is it really that great?
Over the course of the long day, the WPIAL sells about 15,000 tickets. People drift in and out depending on their rooting interest.
So even under optimum conditions, the stadium is three-fourths empty for all of the games. What kind of atmosphere is that?
Would it be so bad if the games were played at one of the upscale high school stadiums with the stands packed?
---
--A WONDERFUL LIFE
Lou Michaels died recently at 80. He played for the Steelers a long time ago, a burly defensive lineman who also doubled as the team's kicker.
There was a time when a kicker was expected to play another position to justify his roster spot.
This is interesting since the Steelers have re-signed long snapper Greg Warren to another one-year contract. In his 11 seasons, Warren has earned two Super Bowl rings and been paid nearly $8 million. Just for long snapping.
Specialization pays well these days.
But it can't be a comfortable feeling when the receptionist sends word that Vontaze Burfict is in the lobby.
Burfict of the Cincinnati Bengals was at NFL headquarters last week to appeal the three-game suspension he'd been handed for his violent spree in the playoff game against the Steelers last month.
Burfict was the guy who lined up Antonio Brown and drilled the Steelers' receiver in the helmet after he'd failed to catch a pass. That play also accounted for half of the 30 yards in penalties the Steelers were gifted by the Bengals, which allowed them to kick an easy game-winning field goal.
There's no word on how long the meeting took, but Burfict soon found out that his suspension had been upheld.
We're all left to wonder on what grounds he filed the appeal?
* "Pacman Jones said it was a smart play."
* "At least I didn't kick him when he was down, like they do in WWE."
* "Bugs Bunny blows up Wile E. Coyote all the time and nobody suspends him."
* "We gave them a damn playoff game. Isn't that enough?"
Burfict wasted his time and money traveling to New York. (Come to think of it, shouldn't a dangerous character like that be on someone's no-fly list?)
On further review, maybe Goodell should have amended his penalty.
For wasting everyone's time with an appeal of such blatant lawlessness, the commissioner should have added a few more games to Burfict's suspension.
---
--CHANGE OF VENUE?
The high schools are in a tizzy because some of the WPIAL championship games will not be played at Heinz Field.
This season the high schools will be reorganized into six classifications, up from four. The Steelers have made Heinz Field available for the four-game marathon, which typically takes up most of a Saturday in November.
There's no way to play six games in a single day, and there's no way the field could hold up under the grind of six games over two days.
The result is two of the games will be played somewhere else, and that might not be a bad thing.
Heinz Field (and Three Rivers Stadium) before it has been a carrot for the high school teams. Advance to the championship round and you can play on an NFL field. The kids get to spit on the same turf that the pros do.
That's undoubtedly a thrill for most players, whose football careers will end with high school. But is it really that great?
Over the course of the long day, the WPIAL sells about 15,000 tickets. People drift in and out depending on their rooting interest.
So even under optimum conditions, the stadium is three-fourths empty for all of the games. What kind of atmosphere is that?
Would it be so bad if the games were played at one of the upscale high school stadiums with the stands packed?
---
--A WONDERFUL LIFE
Lou Michaels died recently at 80. He played for the Steelers a long time ago, a burly defensive lineman who also doubled as the team's kicker.
There was a time when a kicker was expected to play another position to justify his roster spot.
This is interesting since the Steelers have re-signed long snapper Greg Warren to another one-year contract. In his 11 seasons, Warren has earned two Super Bowl rings and been paid nearly $8 million. Just for long snapping.
Specialization pays well these days.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Altoona Mirror, February 7, 2016
Antonio Brown emerged from his late-season concussion fog to do some interviews last week.
The Steelers receiver was on 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM) and left no doubt that he felt the vicious blow to his head by Cincinnati's Vontaze Burfict was deliberate.
Brown said Burfict "wanted to kill me," which is a pretty good indication of where the Bengals-Steelers relationship stands these days. The last couple of games between the teams have shown things have crossed a line, and it's up to the NFL to get it under control before next season's two meetings.
Football is a nasty, violent game, but it's not a street fight between gangs. Things haven't been this far off the rails since the Steelers and Oakland Raiders couldn't stand each other 40 years ago.
Does it have to be that way? (Cue the background music for another old guy reminiscence about the 1970s Steelers in the next paragraph).
Jack Lambert played as tough as anybody in his era. When the Steelers played Kansas City, Lambert and Chiefs center Jack Rudnay would meet post-game in a laundry area between the two locker rooms and unwind with civil conversation and cold beer. They competed fiercely, but they respected each other and conducted themselves as professionals. They parted with a handshake, not threats.
There's a different mindset now, undoubtedly fueled by the mindless violence that too often pops up in news headlines. Twitter makes it possible to promote hostility beyond the field.
The Carolina Panthers showed up for a game against the Giants brandishing a baseball bat on their sideline. That helped lead to ugliness during the game.
Weeks after a disabling injury, Brown says his opponent deliberately tried to maim him.
How far is too far? We're getting a pretty good idea.
Now it's up to the NFL to do something about it.
---
--EQUAL TIME
The NFL announced it would adopt a version of the "Rooney Rule" that will require teams to interview female candidates for administrative jobs.
The original Rooney Rule was designed to give racial minorities representation in the interview process. Sadly, it's proven fairly easy to circumvent.
There is no indication the Rooneys actually had any input on this latest version. It appears the name is just being borrowed.
It would be interesting -- and telling -- if the Steelers actually advocated for women job seekers.
There was a time a generation ago when almost any woman seeking a job in their organization was cast as a "secretary." There was one woman, armed with a college degree, who was assigned the duties of answering phones and typing. There didn't seem to be any thought she could contribute more.
It took a while for things to change, and it took some prodding.
---
--NEW VOICE
One thing about the Pirates' hiring of new play-by-play voice Joe Block?
Steve Blass' stories will all be new to him.
---
--SUPER PICK
A question first. If the commercials are all can't miss material and the halftime show is spectacular, when is America supposed to get its bathroom break?
Anyway, if you're offended by Cam Newton's touchdown celebrations, this could be a frustrating evening.
From here it looks like Carolina will win and cover the point spread. It could be a large margin.
A defense that aggressive and active against a quarterback as immobile and limited as Peyton Manning looks like an uncomfortable match for Denver.
Manning closing his career with a championship would be a storybook ending, but it seems highly unlikely.
The Steelers receiver was on 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM) and left no doubt that he felt the vicious blow to his head by Cincinnati's Vontaze Burfict was deliberate.
Brown said Burfict "wanted to kill me," which is a pretty good indication of where the Bengals-Steelers relationship stands these days. The last couple of games between the teams have shown things have crossed a line, and it's up to the NFL to get it under control before next season's two meetings.
Football is a nasty, violent game, but it's not a street fight between gangs. Things haven't been this far off the rails since the Steelers and Oakland Raiders couldn't stand each other 40 years ago.
Does it have to be that way? (Cue the background music for another old guy reminiscence about the 1970s Steelers in the next paragraph).
Jack Lambert played as tough as anybody in his era. When the Steelers played Kansas City, Lambert and Chiefs center Jack Rudnay would meet post-game in a laundry area between the two locker rooms and unwind with civil conversation and cold beer. They competed fiercely, but they respected each other and conducted themselves as professionals. They parted with a handshake, not threats.
There's a different mindset now, undoubtedly fueled by the mindless violence that too often pops up in news headlines. Twitter makes it possible to promote hostility beyond the field.
The Carolina Panthers showed up for a game against the Giants brandishing a baseball bat on their sideline. That helped lead to ugliness during the game.
Weeks after a disabling injury, Brown says his opponent deliberately tried to maim him.
How far is too far? We're getting a pretty good idea.
Now it's up to the NFL to do something about it.
---
--EQUAL TIME
The NFL announced it would adopt a version of the "Rooney Rule" that will require teams to interview female candidates for administrative jobs.
The original Rooney Rule was designed to give racial minorities representation in the interview process. Sadly, it's proven fairly easy to circumvent.
There is no indication the Rooneys actually had any input on this latest version. It appears the name is just being borrowed.
It would be interesting -- and telling -- if the Steelers actually advocated for women job seekers.
There was a time a generation ago when almost any woman seeking a job in their organization was cast as a "secretary." There was one woman, armed with a college degree, who was assigned the duties of answering phones and typing. There didn't seem to be any thought she could contribute more.
It took a while for things to change, and it took some prodding.
---
--NEW VOICE
One thing about the Pirates' hiring of new play-by-play voice Joe Block?
Steve Blass' stories will all be new to him.
---
--SUPER PICK
A question first. If the commercials are all can't miss material and the halftime show is spectacular, when is America supposed to get its bathroom break?
Anyway, if you're offended by Cam Newton's touchdown celebrations, this could be a frustrating evening.
From here it looks like Carolina will win and cover the point spread. It could be a large margin.
A defense that aggressive and active against a quarterback as immobile and limited as Peyton Manning looks like an uncomfortable match for Denver.
Manning closing his career with a championship would be a storybook ending, but it seems highly unlikely.
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