August 20, 2020
TODAY’S COLUMNS:
Scott discusses SEC Football
Dennis opines on the safety of HS referees in 2020…
Jon evaluates the fate of the Baseball no-hitter
Please scroll down below.
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HULLABALOO HOORAY
A message from the Great Jim Springs: Dear Friends… We are writing to request your kind assistance. Kathy and I moved back home twelve years ago to be with our aging mothers in the latter years of their lives, Kathy's in Arkansas, mine here in Denham Springs. They have both passed away now, taking with them the anchors that kept us tethered to our Southern roots. As much as we love being home, we love Kathy's children and grandchildren more… and they live in Washington state where Kathy and I first met. Our beautiful home, built with Jack Hartman-integrity, is for sale as of today! We wish to sell it ourselves, and that's where you might assist us by helping spread the word. The biggest challenge of For Sale by Owner is marketing and visibility--getting the news out. The Address is 650 Pine Street, DSLA, and my cell is (225) 588-0366. Or you can email me at JimSpring53@hotmail.com. You can also see the house at fsbobr.com (ID# 569639) or at Zillow.com. Thank you.
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Before I get to the SEC schedule, allow me to pout a little bit. I am not supposed to be writing this article. I am supposed to be writing about the Saints first preseason game. So in that light, allow me to imagine for a moment.
The Saints played a typical first preseason game against the Rams. Of course, we knew we wouldn't see any of Brees, Kamara, or Thomas. It was good to see Jameis Winston and he looks good. The question on him will only be decision making in real games. Taysom still runs out the pocket too soon.
The draft picks were impressive. Ruiz, Trautman, and Baun played well. Too bad the undrafted free agent wide receivers didn’t get much of an opportunity. I am also disappointed the first defense allowed the Rams to go right down the field. The defense wasn’t physical, but that is what happens in the first preseason game.
While none of that actually happened, do you doubt that is exactly what would have happened if the game had been played?
Back to reality, the SEC has a football schedule. In this unique format, I think it is interesting to see what the best game might be each week. Did we actually get a more exciting schedule?
The first weekend, September 26th, has four games that shouldn’t be close. The best game on paper is Kentucky at Auburn. It will be interesting to see if Patrick Nix has a better idea of where to go with the football in the pocket.
Week 2 has two excellent games. Texas A&M thought this would be their year. The old schedule was a cakewalk until late in the season when they had LSU and Alabama. Now, the Aggies have the Tide in week 2. Meanwhile, Patrick Nix better figure it out quickly as Auburn is at Georgia. That will be a tall task for the War Eaglers.
October 10 has two more good games. Tennessee at Georgia will be another opportunity for Jeremy Pruitt to show he has Tennessee headed in the right direction. The best game, though, will be Florida at Texas A&M. Yet another week Aggie fans may wish they had the old schedule. Playing Florida after Alabama is rough.
Week 4 is the first highlighted game for LSU. The Tigers are at Florida the week after the Gators play at A&M, which is an advantage for LSU. The other huge game that week will be Georgia at Alabama.
At this point, I want to pause and point out the enormous TV ratings the SEC will get if this weekend happens and the Big 10 and Pac 12 in fact do not play.
October 24, the best game is Alabama at Tennessee. The Tide normally crush the Vols, but this brings me back to the theme I am seeing. Normally, it is rare for SEC teams to play quality opponents back to back. And when they do, teams usually struggle in the second game. Alabama at Tennessee after playing Georgia should at least be a game worth watching.
On Halloween, LSU should play Ole Miss, but the SEC stopped caring about that a long time ago. The best game, by far, will be Tigers at Tigers when LSU plays Auburn.
Week 7 only has 4 games. The best will be the cocktail party in Jacksonville. Is this Florida’s year? I doubt it.
LSU and Alabama keep their off weeks heading into the game of the year in the SEC. It might not actually be, but I am playing the odds. I hate that Alabama gets to play in a mostly empty Tiger Stadium this year. I hate that one of the best home schedules on paper won’t come to fruition for LSU fans. But I digress.
Week 9 doesn’t have any great matchups. The best one is Tennessee at Auburn. The other game with potential could be Ole Miss at A&M.
Rivalry week will be great as always. The Iron Bowl, Egg Bowl, and the A&M only Beats LSU in 7 Overtimes Bowl.
Then the added week which might be a little awkward. A&M and Auburn will most likely be coming off physical losses and play in Auburn. Florida and Tennessee hasn’t been a good game in a while, but has potential.
I have tried to downplay the potential of college football actually happening this fall so I don’t get disappointed. Just writing this article has me fired up. I hope we are actually able to see these games. If not, I will write pretend breakdowns of those games too.
HEY REF
I know how important football is to many families, coaches, schools and parents because I’ve put in some thirty years working games on Friday nights in the Baton Rouge area. This COVID-19 pandemic has everyone working non-stop trying to find ways to keep the virus from spreading as deaths continue to rise. One of the earliest things scientists found out was this virus spreads from person to person through close contact and body fluids like sweat and/or spit. This is very alarming since the game of football is centered on constant contact and collisions.
For that matter many college and professional players have opted out and will not play this year. We’ve seen the NFL, the NCAA and our own LHSAA either delay the start of their seasons or downright cancel everything. Those schools that have committed to some sort of season for 2020 are trying many things they hope will protect their players, coaches and fans. Some stadiums will be without fans in them or have a capacity from 25% to 50%. The GAMBLE here is with fewer fans in the stands it’ll translate to a lower possibility of spreading the infections. Many restaurants, stores and businesses are now requiring those that enter their establishments wear protective masks. Teams will also enforce its players, coaches and fans wear medical masks. Schools are going further in their attempts to protect its players and coaches by requiring them to be fitted for clear face shields. And of course that has caused some protests because some feel their freedoms are being taken away by mandating they wear these protective items.
I’ve seen and read articles on what’s being done to help protect coaches, players and fans but not much on what’ll be done to help protect the officials. I haven’t received much from the LHSAA explaining what they’ll do or what they’re thinking of doing to help protect the refs. And no matter what they come up with at the end of the day there really isn’t much that can be done to protect the crew of officials. The job of officiating football puts us in the middle of everything that happens. When players collide their sweat, spit and other body fluids are sprayed onto everything within ten feet. At times you might have anywhere from four to eight players slamming into each other. And the possibility of a fight breaking out is there on each and every play. And when they do break out we’re supposed to try and separate opponents as quick as we can so the fight doesn’t involve more players.
The LHSAA is putting an end to opposing players shaking hands before the game, all high-fives and celebrations after scores and/or big defensive stops. Taking all those instances out of the games is yet another attempt at keeping the virus in check. But what will they expect us to do when there’s a huge pileup and we have a couple very intense and excited players jumping on top of the pile? Unless I’m in a sealed plastic suit from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet the instant I touch any player that has the virus I’m contaminated! Our uniforms aren’t anywhere close to keeping us protected from the sweat we’re smeared with as we constantly make contact with players. With this virus even a slight bump with a player or players has the ability to kill me if I make contact with a contaminated player. And this will be a constant threat to the officials unless each and every player is tested and his results are known before the beginning kickoff. You might think it’s crazy to test each player before each game and know his results before he’s allowed to play but that’s the only way we’ll know if a player is positive that night.
Here’s another threat, the crew of officials usually has a designated meeting place and ride together to the game and back. If a crew member gets contaminated during that night’s game and the crew is together after the game then it’s a possibility to contaminate the entire crew of officials. But here’s THE BIG ONE that I haven’t heard anyone mention. In the past fifteen to twenty years refs are carrying “game” insurance in case a player’s parents sue the officials for just about anything during that night’s contest. So, what’s to keep them from being sued if a player gets the virus during that just completed game and it’s found out a member of the crew had tested positive? We live in a sue happy society so don’t say it can’t happen.
In 2020 I believe the median age for high school football officials is somewhere in the early to mid-50s. I’m one of those guys and there’s no way I’m gambling my health, my life and those of my family for high school football. When I told some of my ref friends I’m not working football this year some said they don’t think this virus is for real or something we need to worry about. And some say they don’t believe they can get it from high school age kids. I’m not going to call them crazy but I will say gambling with your life is crazy. I just hope the LHSAA does the right thing and shuts everything down. In Louisiana we live for football, it just wouldn’t be the right if some died for football.
Till next week… …
FINE IDEAS
Will there ever be another Preston Gomez or Jimmy Qualls?
Some random thoughts on Baseball no hitters, some of which I came up with while watching last Thursday night’s Chicago Cubs—Milwaukee Brewers game. Yu Darvish of the Cubs threw 6 no-hit innings, before the Brewers Justin Smoak took him deep to open up the 7th. The Cubs held on for a 4—2 victory. Joe Buck and John Smoltz were on the call.
Before Smoak’s home run, Buck and Smoltz were already speculating that the 7th inning might be the last for Darvish given that his pitch count was approaching his limit. Darvish did complete the 7th inning, allowing only one hit. After that, the game was turned over to the Cubs bullpen.
Last season, there were 2 no hitters pitched. Mike Fiers of the Oakland Athletics blanked the Cincinnati Reds. The Houston Astros Justin Verlander stymied the Toronto Blue Jays. Both the A’s and the Astros prevailed 2-0. It was Fiers’ second no-hitter of his career and Verlander’s third. The irony is that Fiers had turned in the cheating Astros to major league Baseball prior to the 2019 season.
Verlander, with 2 Cy Young awards and 3 runners-up to his credit, is a certain Baseball Hall of Famer, possibly on the first ballot five years after he retires. If Fiers wants to get into Cooperstown, he’ll have to fly or drive there. A very good starting pitcher, but far from elite, Fiers should go down in history for his being the whistle-blower in the Astros sign-stealing scandal… and his 2 no hitters.
The fact that Verlander and Fiers both retired 27 batters without a hit last year serves as a microcosm of the caliber of pitchers that have pitched no hitters throughout history. There have been 303 no hitters in the history of Baseball. Nolan Ryan had 7 of them. Other Hall of Famers with no hitters in the last 70 years are Roy Halladay, Randy Johnson, Jack Morris, Tom Seaver, Bert Blyleven, Dennis Eckersley, Phil Niekro, Bob Gibson, Jim Palmer, Gaylord Perry, Catfish Hunter, Sandy Koufax (4 no hitters), Juan Marichal, Jim Bunning, Hoyt Wilhelm and Bob Feller (with 3 no hitters all told). Joining the list of pitchers of the ilk of Fiers include no hitters by the likes of Edison Volquez, Jordan Zimmerman, Homer Bailey, Josh Beckett, Matt Cain, Phillip Humber, Terry Mulholland, Kevin Gross, Jim Abbott, Chris Bosio, Tommy Greene, Tom Browning, Juan Nieves, Joe Cowley, Mike Witt and several others. This is an abbreviated list. Many who have been average pitchers otherwise have been invincible on one night.
So, you can be a good or even average or mediocre starting pitcher, but you don’t have to be great, to pitch a “No-No”. Conversely, if you don’t pitch a no-hitter in your career, it could mean you weren’t very good, or just average, or, for that matter one of the all-time greats. The number of no hitters hurled by Braves Hall of Famers Greg Maddox, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz? Zero!!! Yet, in my book, all 3 were better pitchers than 7-time no-hit performer Nolan Ryan. (Send in your Feedback on this opinion to Ask Jon—see bottom of column.)
Will there be any no hitters this year? With pitch counts limiting the innings a pitcher can work, the availability of an abundance of relief specialists ready in the bullpen and the 60 game season mentality managers have in preserving their starting pitchers, it seems likely that there will not be a no hitter pitched this year. A complete game from a starter—a prerequisite for a no-hitter-- is a rarity, let alone a no hitter. Through a little bit more than a third of a season, one can literally count the number of complete games on one hand. It is astonishing. The 4 complete games pitched have so far this season have been by Lance Lynn of the Detroit Tigers, Gerrit Cole of the NY Yankees, Kyle Hendricks of the Chicago Cubs and Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals. Cole’s effort was in a 7 inning game. The good news for no-hitter fans is these are all staff aces or really good pitchers. Think more Justin Verlander than Mike Fiers.
Of the Hall of Famers that have pitched a no-hitter, a couple of them—Dennis Eckersley and Hoyt Wilhelm—also made their mark in Baseball as terrific relief pitchers. Just like John Smoltz.
Jim Abbott had a successful 10 year career in the Bigs, despite the fact that the lefty pitcher was born without a right hand. His numbers don’t justify it, but there should be a strong case for Abbott to be in the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in Baseball after overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.
In 1952, Virgil Trucks of the Detroit Tigers tossed 2 no hitters. His record that season? 5-19.
Preston Gomez and Jimmy Qualls are 2 otherwise obscure names in Baseball history who both have notoriety for breaking up late no hitters—but in decidedly different ways.
Manager Preston Gomez pinch hit for 2 pitchers working on no-hitters through 8 innings. Gomez sent up a pinch hitter for Clay Kirby when Gomez managed the San Diego Padres in 1970. As the Houston Astros manager in 1974, Gomez pinch hit for Don Wilson in similar circumstances. Both the Padres and the Astros were behind when Gomez made his moves, and both ended up losing their games. Wilson, nevertheless, has 2 no hitters to his credit.
Hall of Famer Tom Seaver never had a no-hitter with the New York Mets, for whom he pitched for 12 years in 2 stints—1967 to 1977 and 1983. The closest he came was in July 1969 against the Chicago Cubs. Seaver was working on a perfect game, having retired 25 Cubs in a row. Qualls lined a pitch into left field for a one out single in the top of the 9th inning. Seaver ended up with a one-hitter in a 4-0 Mets win. This foreshadowed the Cubs blowing a lead in the NL East to the Mets in September. A Black cat came ran out at Shea Stadium when the Mets and Cubs played in September 1969, again at Shea Stadium. Baseball lore has it that this spelled the demise of the Cubs in 69. This was somewhat akin to the Billy Goat curse in 1945! The 1969 Amazing Mets became World Champions.
In a less celebrated game, Seaver was working on a no hitter for the Mets against the Cubs, again, this time at Wrigley Field in September 1975 in a scoreless game. Joe Wallis had a 2 out 9th inning single to break up Seaver’s no-hitter. The Cubs won 1-0 in 11 innings.
The 69 Cubs had Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ron Santo as superstar hitters, with more than functional Don Kessinger, Randy Hundley and Glenn Beckert. Yet, it was Jimmy Qualls who had the historic hit. He was in the Cubs lineup in place of their usual starting center fielder Don Young. Joe Wallis was a somewhat obscure Cub in 75.
These were 2 of 5 career one hitters for Seaver with the Mets. Seaver did get his no hitter, but as a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, in 1975, with the Reds blanking the Cardinals 4-0.
The Mets did not have a pitcher hurl a no hitter for their first 50+ years as a team. The streak was broken when Johan Santana no hit the St Louis Cardinals in an 8-0 Mets victory in 2012. That remains the only no-hitter in Mets history.
The longest streak of never having a no hitter? It was those Mets. This distinction now belongs to the San Diego Padres. And it is current. Their streak started out at the club’s inception—at the start of their expansion season of 1969. So, that makes it 51+ seasons. Do the Padres have a chance of breaking that streak this year? Extremely unlikely. Remember, you need to have a complete game to even have a chance at a no-hitter. The Padres complete game through 25 outings in a 60 game schedule? 0.
Will there ever be another Gomez? With Baseball rules in 2020, with a DH standard in the game, there will be no Gomezes this season. If the National League reverts (regresses in my book) back to having pitchers hit in 2021 and beyond, it is still very unlikely. Starting pitchers rarely see the 9th inning. And, if there is a prospective no-hitter in the 9th inning inning—with the NL having pitchers hit in subsequent seasons—the odds are that your team is winning. Now there could conceivably be certain Gomez-like scenarios that could present themselves when managers have a decision to make. EG, your team is down 1-0 in the bottom of the 8th and has runners on the bases. There are 2 outs and your starting pitcher is coming up. He has thrown 110 no-hit pitches already—just about at his limit. Part of your decision—probably the deciding factor—would be if your team is in playoffs contention or not. If so, you pinch hit for your pitcher. If not, you probably are the antithesis to Gomez and allow him to hit in the 8th and pitch into the 9th.
Of course, there could always be the second coming of Jimmy Qualls on the opposing team gearing up to go down in history when he comes to bat in the 9th inning.
It’s reported that the New England Patriots might play 2 quarterbacks. This is nonsense. If Cam Newton is healthy, he is potentially one of the best in the NFL and will be the Pats starting QB. Jarrett Stidham is young, inexperienced and it is even questionable if he is an NFL caliber starting quarterback. Brian Hoyer is a journeyman. Unless Coach Bill Belichick has one of those 4th and 2 at the 28 moments on a sustained moments, I can’t see it playing out any other way. If not, the league should make Belichick go through its concussion protocol.
The 2 most celebrated Kamala’s in the world made news in the past couple of weeks. They both share the same last name. Kamala Harris is a candidate for Vice-President. Kamala the Ugandan Warrior was a former professional wrestler, who passed away earlier in the month. After some geniuses questioned Kamala Harris’ origin at berth, it has been clarified that she was born in the US. Kamala the Ugandan Warrior’s real name was James-Arthur Harris, and he is not from Uganda, but was born in Senatobia Mississippi.
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