That's certainly a bummer. Summitt is only 59. She's on the short list of best basketball coaches, men's or women's, ever. Her 1079 wins are tops for any coach. Coach K has 900 for Duke and will become the Men's Division I record holder with Duke's third win next season, presumably against Colgate. For reference, even Pat Summitt stopped coaching and didn't win another game (which won't happen) even at a typical Duke average of 27 wins a season, Coach K would still have to coach for about 8 more years to pass her. Pretty amazing.
Her 8 NCAA Championships would be second to John Wooden I'd assume off the top of my head without looking. Her success put women's basketball on the map, and possibly all of women's sports. She put Tennessee basketball on the map period. For many years the women's team outdrew the men's team. University athletics programs are still men's sports driven, but Pat Summitt has been no less than the second most powerful coach at Tennessee, and would be THE big dog there now given the recent upheavals with both the football team and men's basketball team.
Her legacy is tremendous. For women's basketball she's Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Adolph Rupp, Bobby Knight, and John Wooden rolled into one. She's vowed to keep battling this with medication and mental exercises and intends to coach this coming season.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays again
It was another 1 run win for Detroit. Brad Penny gave up 1 run on 8 hits in 6.1 innings pitched. He leveled his record at 9-9 on the season. The bullpen was in plenty of jams but escaped. Ryan Perry retired Evan Longoria in the 7th inning with the bases loaded after Daniel Schlereth got into trouble. Phil Coke picked up a 2 inning, 5 strikeout, 51 pitch save as Jim Leyland wanted to rest both Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde tonight.
Around the strikeouts Coke gave up a double in each inning. In each inning Jim Leyland decided to intentionally walk the next batter to put runners at first and second. In the 9th that was Longoria again, which is understandable. The runners in the 9th moved up to second and third after a wild pitch, but Coke finally induced a groundout on a full count pitch after a 10 pitch at-bat to seal the 2-1 victory.
Alex Avila delivered an RBI single in the 7th, and Jhonny Peralta followed that with a sac fly to give Brad Penny just enough support. Avila was 2-4 with a double as well. He's now hitting around .430 for the month of August. I guess Jim Leyland knew something when he said he wasn't worried about Avila's 1 RBI month of July.
Victor Martinez also added a double for the Tigers, who had only 8 hits, but did just enough.
The win coupled with Cleveland splitting a doubleheader with Seattle tacked another game on Detroit's division lead. They now lead both the White Sox and the Indians by 6. Both teams are at .500 on the season.
Around the strikeouts Coke gave up a double in each inning. In each inning Jim Leyland decided to intentionally walk the next batter to put runners at first and second. In the 9th that was Longoria again, which is understandable. The runners in the 9th moved up to second and third after a wild pitch, but Coke finally induced a groundout on a full count pitch after a 10 pitch at-bat to seal the 2-1 victory.
Alex Avila delivered an RBI single in the 7th, and Jhonny Peralta followed that with a sac fly to give Brad Penny just enough support. Avila was 2-4 with a double as well. He's now hitting around .430 for the month of August. I guess Jim Leyland knew something when he said he wasn't worried about Avila's 1 RBI month of July.
Victor Martinez also added a double for the Tigers, who had only 8 hits, but did just enough.
The win coupled with Cleveland splitting a doubleheader with Seattle tacked another game on Detroit's division lead. They now lead both the White Sox and the Indians by 6. Both teams are at .500 on the season.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tonight Detroit defeated Tampa 5-2 and added another game to their lead in the Central
Justin Verlander struck out 8 and allowed 1 run in 7 innings pitched to win his Major League leading 19th game. That ties his career high previously set 2 years ago. He also became just the third pitcher in the last 15 years to strike out 7 and go at least 7 innings for 7 straight starts. The others, Pedro Martinez who did it on 4 occasions, and Randy Johnston. Obviously the two dominant power pitchers of their era in their prime. Verlander is obviously moving into that elite level, finally crossing beyond the "very good" he's been at for the last couple years to ascend to the level of "great".
Detroit added some late offense to boost a 2-1 lead. Jhonny Peralta had a 2-run 2-out single in the 8th. Don Kelly hit his 4th homer of the season leading off the 9th. Alex Avila hit a 2-run homer, his 15th of the season, to stake Detroit to the lead. Avila is earning his stud stripes. How's now caught 16 straight games since Victor Martinez has been nursing a sore knee and has been relegated to the DH role. Avila has 5 home runs and is hitting around .420 in that stretch. Certainly not wilting under the workload. Jim Leyland said tonight that Brandon Inge will be the emergency catcher if the need arises.
Jose Valverde gave up an Evan Longoria home run to lead off the 9th and brought the tying run to the plate with 2 outs, but ended the game in a non-save situation.
Seattle beat Cleveland 3-2. 4 straight wins for Detroit. 4 straight losses for Cleveland. Detroit suddenly has a 5 and a half game lead in the Central.
Detroit added some late offense to boost a 2-1 lead. Jhonny Peralta had a 2-run 2-out single in the 8th. Don Kelly hit his 4th homer of the season leading off the 9th. Alex Avila hit a 2-run homer, his 15th of the season, to stake Detroit to the lead. Avila is earning his stud stripes. How's now caught 16 straight games since Victor Martinez has been nursing a sore knee and has been relegated to the DH role. Avila has 5 home runs and is hitting around .420 in that stretch. Certainly not wilting under the workload. Jim Leyland said tonight that Brandon Inge will be the emergency catcher if the need arises.
Jose Valverde gave up an Evan Longoria home run to lead off the 9th and brought the tying run to the plate with 2 outs, but ended the game in a non-save situation.
Seattle beat Cleveland 3-2. 4 straight wins for Detroit. 4 straight losses for Cleveland. Detroit suddenly has a 5 and a half game lead in the Central.
Saturday and Sunday were two scintillating Tiger wins as Detroit swept the Tribe
Saturday Detroit pounded Cleveland 10-1. Brandon Inge triumphantly hit his 2nd home run of the season in his first Tiger at-bat since his designation to Toledo. He hit a 400 foot ground rule double in his second at-bat, missing a 3-run homer by a few feet, and a 3rd RBI of the game due to the bounce over the wall. Still he was 2-4 with his home run and a double, and 2 RBIs. Ironically the last time Inge had 2 extra base hits in a game was August 20, 2010, exactly one year to the day.
Ramon Santiago was 2-3 with 2 RBIs. Victor Martinez was 2-4 with an RBI. Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, and Don Kelly also drove in runs.
Doug Fister was the recipient of all that support. Fister came to Detroit from Seattle having the lowest run support of any starting pitcher in all of baseball. He got plenty Saturday, though he didn't need it. Fister allowed 1 run on 6 hits, with 7 Ks in 7 innings pitched. He improved to 5-13 on the season, 2-1 as a Tiger.
The box score for the season finale will say that Jose Valverde secured his 37th straight save in Detroit's 8-7 win. That's what the box score will say. But it was Austin Jackson who earned the save. He threw a perfect strike to the plate to gun down the tying run, completing a game ending fly out double play to get Valverde out of a runners on second and third with 2 outs jam. Valverde wasn't sharp. He walked a batter and hit a batter to set the dramatic stage.
As fine a game ending walk-off play as I've ever seen. Jackson also did it with his bat. He was 2-4 with an RBI and also stole his 17th base of the season. Delmon Young atoned for being the only Tiger without a hit in the 10-1 rout on Saturday. Young was 2-4 with a 3-run home run and a double - 4 RBIs total. It was Young's second home run as a Tiger.
Victor Martinez hit a 2 run homer, his 8th of the season. Ramon Santiago also drove in a run.
Detroit smacked around Ubaldo Jimenez to the tune of 8 runs on 9 hits in 3.1 innings pitched. There's a little bit of satisfaction in taking it to the big trade deadline acquisition of the Indians, who could have also been a Tiger. That of course is not Jimenez's fault at all. Colorado wanted more than Detroit wanted to give up, and Detroit is right to be pleased with what they got in Doug Fister instead.
Rick Porcello wasn't any better than Jimenez, giving back the lead that Detroit gave him in a 7 run 3rd inning. Porcello. Porcello allowed 5 runs on 7 hits in 3.2 innings pitched. After his 5-0 July, Porcello has been hammered in 3 starts since. His ERA has ballooned over 5 on the year.
Phil Coke was the 5th of 7 Tiger pitchers and got the win with 1.1 innings of relief. He improved to 2-8 on the season, earning his first win since his lone win as a starter early in the season.
Detroit extended a 1.5 game lead in the Central to 4.5 games with one very good weekend of play. It's been a good while since they've swept a series.
Ramon Santiago was 2-3 with 2 RBIs. Victor Martinez was 2-4 with an RBI. Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, and Don Kelly also drove in runs.
Doug Fister was the recipient of all that support. Fister came to Detroit from Seattle having the lowest run support of any starting pitcher in all of baseball. He got plenty Saturday, though he didn't need it. Fister allowed 1 run on 6 hits, with 7 Ks in 7 innings pitched. He improved to 5-13 on the season, 2-1 as a Tiger.
The box score for the season finale will say that Jose Valverde secured his 37th straight save in Detroit's 8-7 win. That's what the box score will say. But it was Austin Jackson who earned the save. He threw a perfect strike to the plate to gun down the tying run, completing a game ending fly out double play to get Valverde out of a runners on second and third with 2 outs jam. Valverde wasn't sharp. He walked a batter and hit a batter to set the dramatic stage.
As fine a game ending walk-off play as I've ever seen. Jackson also did it with his bat. He was 2-4 with an RBI and also stole his 17th base of the season. Delmon Young atoned for being the only Tiger without a hit in the 10-1 rout on Saturday. Young was 2-4 with a 3-run home run and a double - 4 RBIs total. It was Young's second home run as a Tiger.
Victor Martinez hit a 2 run homer, his 8th of the season. Ramon Santiago also drove in a run.
Detroit smacked around Ubaldo Jimenez to the tune of 8 runs on 9 hits in 3.1 innings pitched. There's a little bit of satisfaction in taking it to the big trade deadline acquisition of the Indians, who could have also been a Tiger. That of course is not Jimenez's fault at all. Colorado wanted more than Detroit wanted to give up, and Detroit is right to be pleased with what they got in Doug Fister instead.
Rick Porcello wasn't any better than Jimenez, giving back the lead that Detroit gave him in a 7 run 3rd inning. Porcello. Porcello allowed 5 runs on 7 hits in 3.2 innings pitched. After his 5-0 July, Porcello has been hammered in 3 starts since. His ERA has ballooned over 5 on the year.
Phil Coke was the 5th of 7 Tiger pitchers and got the win with 1.1 innings of relief. He improved to 2-8 on the season, earning his first win since his lone win as a starter early in the season.
Detroit extended a 1.5 game lead in the Central to 4.5 games with one very good weekend of play. It's been a good while since they've swept a series.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Tonight Detroit beat Cleveland 4-1 to open a key 3 game series
Detroit entered this 3 game series in Detroit with a 1.5 game lead in the Central over Cleveland. They're hoping to rebound from losing 2 of 3 in Cleveland a week ago or so, and they'll have to do it without Justin Verlander being on the mound for these three games.
So far so good, as Max Scherzer went 7 and allowed only 1 run on a wild pitch and 5 hits. He improved to 13-7 on the season, setting a new career high for victories in a season.
Austin Jackson broke a scoreless tie with a 2 run home run in the 6th. It was his 6th of the year. After Cleveland cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom half, Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta hit back to back 2-out home runs in the bottom of the 7th. It was number 14 for Avila and number 18 for Peralta.
Joaquin Benoit held the 8th and Jose Valverde earned save number 36 on the season.
After the game Detroit recalled Brandon Inge from Toledo and sent Andy Dirks back down. The plan is for Inge to platoon with Wilson Betemit at 3rd. It has been Betemit and Don Kelly of late. It would be great to see Inge make some final contribution to the Tigers after all his years with the team. Especially after it looked like his time was over after the Betemit trade. His future after this season has to be cloudy unless he shows that he really figured out the cause of his season long slump in Toledo and manages to hit and drive in some runs down the stretch.
So far so good, as Max Scherzer went 7 and allowed only 1 run on a wild pitch and 5 hits. He improved to 13-7 on the season, setting a new career high for victories in a season.
Austin Jackson broke a scoreless tie with a 2 run home run in the 6th. It was his 6th of the year. After Cleveland cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom half, Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta hit back to back 2-out home runs in the bottom of the 7th. It was number 14 for Avila and number 18 for Peralta.
Joaquin Benoit held the 8th and Jose Valverde earned save number 36 on the season.
After the game Detroit recalled Brandon Inge from Toledo and sent Andy Dirks back down. The plan is for Inge to platoon with Wilson Betemit at 3rd. It has been Betemit and Don Kelly of late. It would be great to see Inge make some final contribution to the Tigers after all his years with the team. Especially after it looked like his time was over after the Betemit trade. His future after this season has to be cloudy unless he shows that he really figured out the cause of his season long slump in Toledo and manages to hit and drive in some runs down the stretch.
Wednesday night Detroit fell to Minnesota 6-5 to lose that series
Brad Penny allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings pitched. But Jim Thome bit Detroit again with his 3rd homer of the series and number 601 of his career. Jose Valverde came in in the top of the 9th in a tie game in an effort to give Detroit a chance to win it in the bottom half. Instead Valverde gave up 2 unearned runs, fueled by his own error on a bunt. Detroit scored 1 in the bottom of the 9th but neither Ryan Raburn nor Alex Avila could drive in the tying run. Valverde has been shaky in non-save situations and fell to 2-4 on the season.
For Detroit Jhonny Peralta was 2-3 with his 17th home run of the season. Miguel Cabrera was 2-5 with 2 RBIs. Wilson Betemit and Delmon Young also drove in runs.
For Detroit Jhonny Peralta was 2-3 with his 17th home run of the season. Miguel Cabrera was 2-5 with 2 RBIs. Wilson Betemit and Delmon Young also drove in runs.
I don't understand the uproar over Terrelle Pryor being suspended the first 5 games of the NFL season
There's been a lot of uproar about NFL Commissioner Goodell making Pryor eligible for the NFL Supplemental Draft, but suspending him for the first 5 games. There was talk of "collusion" with the NCAA, since it had already suspended him for the first 5 games of this season before additional information came to light that ultimately made him ineligible due to the benefits that he took over the last couple years at Ohio State.
Since he was now ineligible, Pryor decided to declare for the NFL Draft. But since he did that after the submission deadline he wasn't eligible for the regular draft. Thus the supplemental draft, though there was debate over the fact that his situation wasn't exactly a circumstance outside of his control, which is the normal criteria for opening a supplemental draft. In that case he'd have to wait for next year's draft. Just like Mike Williams did out of USC a few years ago. Williams went pro late, then tried to sue his way into the NFL Draft. He lost the suit, and they didn't open up a special draft for him. He had to wait until the next April.
Goodell felt that Pryor had manipulated the timing of when he confessed additional violations to the NCAA, which then escalated things from a "minor" 5 game suspension to being totally ineligible, so that he could avoid the draft and talk to teams individually to try to get some control over what team takes him in the supplemental draft. Any team can make a pick, they just lose a corresponding regular draft pick the next draft.
Had Pryor finished off his admissions to the NCAA earlier he could have then declared for the regular draft, but he'd then be stuck playing for the team that drafts him. He still is now, but teams don't have to draft in the supplemental draft if there's nothing that interests them. I think there are 4 or 5 players overall this year due to various circumstances. So Pryor can make a sales pitch to stir up interest.
He'd also been due a 5 game suspension from the NCAA. Given that he left the NCAA on bad terms, due to being caught receiving improper benefits, like free cars, from a booster, it's totally reasonable for the NFL to hold to the same thing. The NCAA and NFL don't work together, nor should they be obligated to. But since 99.9 % of players in the NFL come in from college football, the NFL should do its part to help uphold the integrity of the NCAA by not turning a blind eye to players who violated rules so badly that they got suspended, then later lost their eligibility in a situation that ultimately got Ohio State on NCAA probation and Coach Jim Tressel fired. If the NFL does nothing that just says "do what you want guys. Don't worry about what the NCAA does to you. Come to the NFL. We'll forget all about it and give you millions of dollars." That would just make things worse
A case could also be made of "if you don't play by the NCAA rules who says you'll play by the NFL rules?" So that shouldn't be rewarded. In truth Pryor not being able to play or practice for the first 5 games is minor. He probably wouldn't be playing anyway. He can still be at his team facilities and it would probably take him 5 games to learn his team's offense and get into football shape again, all of which he can do in that 5 weeks.
Since he was now ineligible, Pryor decided to declare for the NFL Draft. But since he did that after the submission deadline he wasn't eligible for the regular draft. Thus the supplemental draft, though there was debate over the fact that his situation wasn't exactly a circumstance outside of his control, which is the normal criteria for opening a supplemental draft. In that case he'd have to wait for next year's draft. Just like Mike Williams did out of USC a few years ago. Williams went pro late, then tried to sue his way into the NFL Draft. He lost the suit, and they didn't open up a special draft for him. He had to wait until the next April.
Goodell felt that Pryor had manipulated the timing of when he confessed additional violations to the NCAA, which then escalated things from a "minor" 5 game suspension to being totally ineligible, so that he could avoid the draft and talk to teams individually to try to get some control over what team takes him in the supplemental draft. Any team can make a pick, they just lose a corresponding regular draft pick the next draft.
Had Pryor finished off his admissions to the NCAA earlier he could have then declared for the regular draft, but he'd then be stuck playing for the team that drafts him. He still is now, but teams don't have to draft in the supplemental draft if there's nothing that interests them. I think there are 4 or 5 players overall this year due to various circumstances. So Pryor can make a sales pitch to stir up interest.
He'd also been due a 5 game suspension from the NCAA. Given that he left the NCAA on bad terms, due to being caught receiving improper benefits, like free cars, from a booster, it's totally reasonable for the NFL to hold to the same thing. The NCAA and NFL don't work together, nor should they be obligated to. But since 99.9 % of players in the NFL come in from college football, the NFL should do its part to help uphold the integrity of the NCAA by not turning a blind eye to players who violated rules so badly that they got suspended, then later lost their eligibility in a situation that ultimately got Ohio State on NCAA probation and Coach Jim Tressel fired. If the NFL does nothing that just says "do what you want guys. Don't worry about what the NCAA does to you. Come to the NFL. We'll forget all about it and give you millions of dollars." That would just make things worse
A case could also be made of "if you don't play by the NCAA rules who says you'll play by the NFL rules?" So that shouldn't be rewarded. In truth Pryor not being able to play or practice for the first 5 games is minor. He probably wouldn't be playing anyway. He can still be at his team facilities and it would probably take him 5 games to learn his team's offense and get into football shape again, all of which he can do in that 5 weeks.
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