Saturday, January 26, 2008
Brandeis Basketball on CSTV
Check out this feature on Kwame Graves-Fulgham and the nationally ranked Brandeis Men's Basketball team done by CSTV.com
Monday, January 21, 2008
Amazing Prediction...
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A Good Baseball Debate
Trying to keep this as much a PED-free zone as possible, I wanted to start an argument in this spot and see what people's opinions are. This was based on a chat on ESPN.com with Jerry Crasnick and here's what he wrote (with my opinion at the end):
So my editors call me on a slow January day and pose the following question: If I'm a general manager and I'm starting a major league team today, which superstar would I choose: Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols?
Hey, I know that I'll take the Who over Led Zeppelin, Erin Burnett over Maria Bartiromo, Quiznos over Subway, the Cactus League over the Grapefruit League, and "Fargo" over "No Country for Old Men."
A-Rod vs. Albert borders on impossible, but an assignment is an assignment, so here goes:
Pluses for Pujols 
He's listed at just shy of 28, which makes him 4½ years younger than A-Rod. He ranks fifh in career OPS behind Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig and Barry Bonds. He has an amazingly low strikeout total for a power hitter. He won his second straight Fielding Bible Award at first base in 2007. Pujols also has a World Series ring, and he's a .323 career hitter in the postseason -- as opposed to You Know Who, who's had a tendency to melt in October recently.
He's listed at just shy of 28, which makes him 4½ years younger than A-Rod. He ranks fifh in career OPS behind Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig and Barry Bonds. He has an amazingly low strikeout total for a power hitter. He won his second straight Fielding Bible Award at first base in 2007. Pujols also has a World Series ring, and he's a .323 career hitter in the postseason -- as opposed to You Know Who, who's had a tendency to melt in October recently.
Pluses for A-Rod 
He's missed 20 of 1,134 games since 2001, so his durability is off the charts. He won his third career MVP Award last year amid extraordinary scrutiny in New York. He's incredibly attentive to detail for a superstar. He steals bases (265) when he's not hitting home runs (518). And most important, he puts up huge offensive numbers at third base, a position where it's much tougher to find primo production than at first base.
He's missed 20 of 1,134 games since 2001, so his durability is off the charts. He won his third career MVP Award last year amid extraordinary scrutiny in New York. He's incredibly attentive to detail for a superstar. He steals bases (265) when he's not hitting home runs (518). And most important, he puts up huge offensive numbers at third base, a position where it's much tougher to find primo production than at first base.
That final factor is the tie-breaker for me. It's A-Rod, by a thread. So am I right or am I wrong? Let's hash it out!
Now this question is difficult to answer but even more difficult when you factor in these other factors:
1) A-rod makes a lot more money than Pujols...is salary a factor?
2) Would Pujols be playing 1B without the presense of Rolen? Pujols played everywhere in 2001 and 2002 (3B, 1B, LF, RF, even an appearance at SS) and in 2003 stopped playing 3B with the presense of Rolen. He still wasn't a first baseman at this point full time because the Cardinals still employed Tino Martinez, but his days of third base ended. Not saying he would have ended up staying there, and really, he's not there now, so it may be a moot point, but figured I'd bring it up. (On the same note, A-rod may be more valuable at SS but Jeter occupies that spot).
3) Pujols has serious injury questions and A-rod, despite being a total pussy, never seems to take time off. This is a lot more serious than people lend credence to...look at Don Mattingly's career (among others) once back problems got into the equation.
4) If you do a quick Baseball Reference comparison of the two, you'll find them both compared to center fielders. Pujols is best compared to Joe DiMaggio, while A-rod best compares to Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr. Mantle vs. DiMaggio is another great debate right there.
5) Which league are they playing in? This is huge for Pujols going forth because of the back issues...
Which leads me to my answer...if this team is in the American League, I take the 4 1/2 year age gap and take Pujols...if it's in the National League, I take the more valuable position and A-rod.
Oh and you probably are building this team to win a World Series. Pujols vs. A-rod? I'll take the Pujols ring...
Didn't expect the Yankee fan to answer that way, did you?
Ask me next October, again...I might feel differently
