Thursday Thoughts: Porcello Shafted; Smoltz or Miner; Whither Vick? Mexico City vs. Green Bay
Open Mike | by Mike O'Hara | 08.13.2009/7:55AM
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A four-bagger of thoughts on the world of sports:
1. Porcello Shafted: I don’t know if Porcello intentionally threw at Red Sox slugger Kevin Youklis Tuesday night, but it doesn’t matter. The five-game suspension levied against Porcello was blatantly unfair.
Ask yourself this: if Youklis had glared at the mound, then trotted to first, would Porcello have been ejected? No way. Next step – would he have been suspended? Again, no way.
Porcello was suspended for defending himself against a hitter who charged the mound. It’s an example of blatant cowardice and protectionism by Major League Baseball for one of its sacred cows, the Boston Red Sox.
2. John Smoltz vs. Zach Miner: If Smoltz is put on the open market and is willing to pitch as a spot relief man – two or three innings in middle relief – I’d take him over Zach Miner any day, any hour, any minute, any second.
Miner seems to have a pathological aversion to challenging hitters and throwing the ball over the plate. He nibbles, nibbles, nibbles, and gets deeper into trouble along the way.
Smoltz’s pitching savvy and heart are a better alternative. Besides, he could end his career where it didn’t start in 1987—- when the Tigers traded him to the Braves for Doyle Alexander.
3. Michael Vick: Tony Dungy, Vick’s mentor, has said in national interviews that Vick will be signed by a team this week. Dungy has not specified which team will sign Vick.
The question is not whether Vick deserves to be signed. It’s whether he can help a team and play quarterback better than others at the position. And stripping away all the exterior issues – his conviction for the dog-fighting enterprise, public reaction, public relations – the answer is simple.
Of course he’s better than many others already in camps.
NFL.com, the NFL’s official website, listed 116 active quarterbacks Thursday morning. Michael Vick’s name is not on the list.
Tell me there are 116 quarterbacks are better than Michael Vick.
4. Mexico vs. Green Bay: Oh, those Lions. There’s always competition for the worst of the worst. On Wednesday afternoon in Mexico City, the U.S. soccer team lost to Mexico, 2-1. The U.S. is now 0-23 with one tie in games played in Mexico.
The Lions, as we all know, have lost 18 straight games to the Packers in the state of Wisconsin.
Which is worse – 0-23-1, or 0-18?
We may not have the answer until Mexico City freezes over.
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