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Spent a great day with Rocky Mountain SABR today. The day started with a business meeting in the press box lounge at Coors Field. The most interesting item discussed is a plaque that the chapter is having created and that will be installed near Invesco Field pointing out the previous location of Bears Stadium (old Mile High) where the Denver Bears were for a long time the presence of professional baseball in Denver. Looks like the ceremony may be sometime in May of this year, perhaps on the 19th.
The keynote speaker was Rockies first base coach Dave Collins. Collins is in his fourth season as the Rockies first base coach and is also the team’s outfield and baserunning instructor. This is his fourth organization as a coach having worked for the Cardinals in 1991-92, the Reds from 1999-2000, and the Brewers in 2002. He’s also down everything from working as an advanced scout, a baserunning and bunting coach for the Tigers in 1996, and managed the Rockies high-A affiliate in Salem in 2001 (where he had Garrett Atkins, Matt Holliday, Clint Barmes, Aaron Cook, and Choo Freeman).
What I found most interesting about his talk was how amazingly candid he was in all areas including his assessment of his own skills, feelings about former teammates and managers, and especially his thoughts about the young players the Rockies are now grooming.
He began by relating the story of how he was drafted. He grew up in South Dakota and at that time they didn't even have high school baseball. They did a legion level baseball in what was known as the Basin League. It turned out that a scout attended one of those games and happened to sit next to a guy who had attended the state track meet who had seen Collins win multiple events. He had also heard that Collins played baseball and so the scout made a trip up to see Collins three days before the draft. After pitching to Collins and watching him run and throw he discussed it with him and told Collins that he would draft him. Sure enough the Angels then selected him in first round (6th pick) of the 1972 amateur draft (Secondary Phase). Although he didn't have the skills scouts generally look for, Collins feels that he was drafted because the scout saw in him an attitude of "must have" instead of "want to have" and it was that heart and determination that allowed him to succeed thereafter.
When he got to rookie ball he was intimidated by the talent (except running) of the other players but he says what he learned is that the "talent" you need can be developed if you get the right teaching and instruction. What can't be taught is how bad to want it - so called makeup. Turns out he was the only player who made it to the bigs from that rookie league team and he attributes that to the fact that he always believed he was going to make it.
He then went on to describe his playing career and was emphatic in stating that the turning point for him came when he was traded to the Reds following the 1978 season. He obviously reveres his teammates from those days and made a special point of noting that Pete Rose was like no one else. His enthusiasm, intensity, and work-ethic were second to none, and that enabled him to raise the level everyone around him.
Later when he was asked the inevitable question about Rose and the Hall of Fame he not surprisingly said that Rose should be inducted as a player because of his great accomplishments. However, and on this I certainly agree, Rose does not deserve to make any money from the game today because of what he's done. In Collins' words "actions have consequences" and Pete must pay for his. His view is one that clearly delineates Rose's playing career from his managing career - something that not everyone is able or willing to do. As I've said before, if it can't be shown that Rose bet on baseball during his playing days, then he deserves induction as a player. However, I'd heard in the past that his betting may not have been relegated to his managing days in Cincinnati.
As a way of illustrating the attitude of Rose Collins related this anecdote. When Pete was going for his 4,000th hit he was 13 away but had 6 games to go before getting back to Cincinnati. When asked by a reporter if he thought he'd break the record before the home fans, Rose immediately said no, he would break the record in the last game of the current series or the first game of the next. His reasoning was that he'd get 13 at bats by then and his mindset was that he'd get 13 hits in a row. To emphasize the point Collins said with a straight face - "that's the way Pete Rose thought".
From there his remarks turned to the current crop of Rockies. His attitude is that the Rox will win the division if they develop that winning attitude. He was quick to add that a division title will be possible because there is no 100 win team in the division. In his view, this season will show who among the young players is the heart of the team and who are the true teammates - who are the "victors" and who are the "victims".
He holds Clint Barmes in very high regard as a winner, leader, a player with heart, and although not the most skilled, a player who will find a way to beat you. If you challenge him he'll respond. In his view there is a big difference between stats and what it takes to help a team win. In Barmes' case I hope that's true since statistically I simply don't see how he helps the team win hitting at the top of the order.
Well, he had lots more to say, from the effects of expansion, the impact of Marvin Miller, and especially regarding positioning of outfielders and baserunning given the Rockies array of blunders over the past two weeks but I'll have to save those for later.
I came away from the talk (which lasted almost 90 minutes with questions) with a great deal of respect for Collins despite our likely differing views on a variety of topics related to baseball strategy in particular. He seems like a man of high character and as he says himself, he views his role as that of mentor and not coach which I admire. Although I know our chapter president Neal Williams will extend the official thank-you I know I certainly appreciated Collins' giving his time and insight to our group.
After a nice lunch at a local pub our SABR group then headed back to the ballpark for a prviate tour of Coors Field. Finally, I'm here in the press box getting ready to score tonight's Phillies/Rockies game for MLB. And I'd be remiss if I didn't note that these kinds of experiences are normative for SABR members so of course I'd encourage anyone with a passion for baseball to sign up.
As the US Soccer Attacks clock on my sidebar appropriately sits at 00:00:00:00, I'm realizing my biggest fear from last week's initial T.W.I.S., and that's having to eulogize the 2006 US World Cup squad. After doing what a proper soccer fan would - smashing in a few store fronts, over-turning and igniting cars, and clashing with riot police - I'm now ready to focus my rage into a blog.
The final nail in the Good Ship Tread Upon's coffin was, of course, shoddy officiating. Believe it or not, I can't quibble too much with Jorge Larrionda, the official from the Italy match. His red card on Pablo Mastroeni was not as rash as some may think. I've watched enough international matches to know that lunging into an opposing player with the bottom of both your cleats exposed can, and will, lead to a red card. It was not a wise play by Mastroeni.
It's also probably not one he makes if he is exposed to pressure cooker situations more often, as opposed to playing in front of lukewarm support at cavernous Invesco Field every other week. The Eddie Pope sending off was also not as dubious either since Pope was aware of the fact that he already had one yellow card, and thus should not attempt to tackle anyone from behind. He did not appear up to snuff at this World Cup anyway, so the wisest decision would have likely been for Bruce Arena to take him off at the half for Jimmy Conrad...who played much better than Pope in his 1 1/2 matches. He also keeps an amusing journal on Soccernet, which I linked to him.
Ironically, my biggest issues are with the decisions of the 2-time FIFA World Referee of the Year, Marcus Merk, who essentially gift wrapped both Ghanaian goals in the US' swan song. While Haminu Draman's disposessing of Claudio Reyna in the brief lead-up to his opening goal may not have been a foul in other games, it was by the standards Merk had applied earlier in the match - and would later. Those same hyper-sensitive standards (which were absent in Draman's reverse dead-legging of Reyna) conveniently reappeared when Razak Pimpong took a dive in the American penalty box - leading to the subsequent, damning, Ghana penalty kick. The only way Merk could have enraged me more, is if he adopted this style of officiating:
Okay, that actually might have made it easier to take, because that's pretty damn funny. Obviously, being down 2 questionable goals to your 1 legitimate tally, is a hard pill to swallow. That alone, however, cannot be blamed for this forgettable 3 game stretch.
In my preview, I predicted the US would find a way out of this group before capitulating to Brazil. I can't say I really believed that. Ever the optimist, though, I had to say it in hopes that it would come true. In all honesty, I never really felt that good about this team. There were just too many holes, and the promising players from '02 who should have been much better by now, really weren't. I'm speaking primarily of Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley. While Beasley initially appeared to have benefitted greatly from his move to PSV Eindhoven, he seemed to regress this year under the weight of heightened expectations.
As for Donovan - this may be picking at low hanging fruit - It's so frustrating to watch someone who could potentially be a star in a World Class league be perfectly content to be the big fish in the small pond that is Major League Soccer. He claims to want what is best for soccer in America. I he really meant that, he would sack-up and head to Europe for 4-6 years. The fact that casual fans only quadrenially pay attention to soccer in this country seems lost on him. No amount of winning MLS Cups, or scoring goals domestically, will cause Joe Six Pack to take notice. Helping your team to the World Cup Semi-finals, or beyond, will. There are dozens of teams in Europe's top leagues who could use his services. Time for him to find one.
As for Bruce Arena - I think this should be the last time we see him on the sideline for US Soccer, barring resurfacing after a successful stint in Europe. While he's definitely been valuable in this period of US Soccer, he was a little out of his depth in this World Cup. Despite all the rosy memories of '02, we still were a goal post away from suffering this same fate after failing to show up against Poland. What this team now needs is a proven winner on the international level. Someone who can mesh our propensity to be unselfish, entirely to a fault, with some attacking juice. Who that man is remains a question mark. I'm guessing he'll come from Northern Europe (but not Sweden), and is currently preparing for his next match in Germany.
As was our format from last week (By the way, ESPN still sucks at broadcasting soccer), some individual plaudits from the last 7 Days:
Best Managerial Moves: Spain's Luis Aragones, while unhappy with his team's performance against Saudi Arabia, effectively turned a tenuous game against Tunisia on it's ear by inserting Raul, Cesc Fabregas, and Joaquin very early in the 2nd Half (something Arena could learn to do). 3 goals later, Spain was on their way to the 2nd round.
Interestingly, as it stands right now, they could possibly face South Korea. I'm sure the Spanish would relish the opportunity to avenge their 2002 ouster, which came thanks to the requisite shady World Cup officiating.
Best Forward: It's a tough pick, but we'll go with the current tournament leader, Germany's Miroslav Klose. He seems to score in 2's notching a pair against Costa Rica, and again in Der Nationalen Mannschaft victory over Ecuador. Nonetheless, he seems to show up for Group play, scoring all 5 of his '02 goals in this stage. For Germany to advance into the latter stages of this Cup, he'll need to finally get some braces in the Knock-out Stage.
Best Midfielder:: He's here, he's there, he's every f$#*in' where, Joey Cole!! Joey Cole!!. He seemed destined to waste away on Chelsea's bench behind all the high-priced talent pouring in. Now, he seems indespensable to Club and Country. His opening cracker against Sweden, and his deft chip - leading to Steven Gerrard's goal - propelled England to the top of their group...even if they still can't beat the Swedes.
Best Defender: Okay, my last chance to be a homer in this World Cup. I'm going to be lazy and give it to Oguchi Onyewu. Despite a rough start against the Czechs, Gooch played out of his mind against Italy. He neutralized the scoring machine that is Luca Toni (he was eventually subbed out), and played very well against Ghana, even though he'll most be remembered for being the victim of Marcus Merk's sense of self-importance. If he had another center back of comparable quality back there with him from the beginning, this could have been a very different trip for the Americans.
Forgot to do this one last week, Best Keeper: Gianluigi Buffon - while dealing with his name being soiled in the Italian media, came through with a strong effort against the Czechs. He held off a rasping strike from club teammate Pavel Nedved, and several other Czech attacks, before his fellow Azzuris finally got on the board and clinched their advancement. I give it to him not only for his solid play, but for doing so on a day he could have potentially been indicted in the Italian soccer scandal. It turned out to be a doubly great day for him, as he was spared that ignominy.
By the way, I had meant to give this award last week to Trinidad and Tobago's Shaka Hislop for his stunning display against Sweden. I am sure he was fuming after my snub.
That's all for now, stay tuned for next week's Yank-free addition of ThisssWeeek Innn Soccer!
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