Friday, February 15, 2008
Buying time
- Reports are that the trade, if it happens, won't go down for another week.
- Best news of the past week. Hopefully they step back, calm down, and realize what they're giving up for 1 guy.
- After watching Phoenix dominate them at the guard position with speed, and hopefully after watching New Orleans do the same next Wednesday, Cuban and Little Whistle will realize that Jason Kidd does not make them any better suited to get out of the Western Conference.
- Dallas basically had 2 scoring threats all game, had JJ Barea running the show for half the game, had Devean George running the point as well, and had 3 starters out. And they still had a chance to win, on the road, against a full strength Phoenix team.
- The West is there. Add in Howard, Harris, and Stackhouse and this team wins the West. They have a Tony Parker neutralizer and Spur-killer. They have 2 centers for Tim Duncan. They have guy who will make Steve Nash work on both ends of the floor. And they have the playoff experience as a team. I just don't get it.
- The latest within the team......
Cohesion likely Dallas Mavericks' next problem
Trade that hasn't happened could hang over team's head
02:56 AM CST on Friday, February 15, 2008
PHOENIX – The plane ride from Dallas to Phoenix was so quiet, you could hear a season drop.
Mavericks officials will tell you that's an exaggeration. They reject the notion that the club stands at a season-altering crossroads after the trade that wasn't.
What did you expect them to say?
Ask the Mavericks their thoughts heading into the All-Star break, and you get more spin than substance. The next six days leading up to the trade deadline are about emotional survival rather than a reflection on the state of the franchise.
"For us, it's business as usual," guard Jason Terry said. "When I say us, I'm saying the guys who aren't supposedly involved. I don't know how the other guys are feeling, but I can only imagine the distraction it could be.
"I spoke with Stack [Jerry Stackhouse] briefly. He was in good spirits. DH [Devin Harris] seemed like he was taking it a little hard, but this is his first time for something like this.
"I mean, what can you tell them? There's not much you can really say."
The club's unrequited pursuit of Jason Kidd has created an uneasy dynamic. If one or two players are part of a deal that stagnates, the frustration can be contained. It is a little easier to manage. But this is different.
One-third of this team – Harris, Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Devean George and Maurice Ager – knows the Mavericks are willing to cut them loose to acquire the New Jersey Nets All-Star. Their lust to put Kidd back in a Mavericks uniform won't end because George has temporarily blocked the deal.
The players not part of the trade proposal are confronted with the sobering reality that the Mavericks' front office no longer believes this team has what it takes to win a championship this season.
And you thought all coach Avery Johnson had to do Thursday was prepare his team to face Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and the rest of the Phoenix Suns.
"I probably have 100 different weaknesses that you guys [media] print on a weekly basis or talk about, but communication is not one of them," Johnson said.
"At the end of the day, 95 percent of these deals never really happen. This one hasn't been perfectly drawn up, so we have to manage it.
"That's my job. It's not basketball coach. It's managing injuries and managing playing time, managing highs, managing lows. Managing hiccups."
A hiccup? You might as well call the nearby Grand Canyon a geographical indentation.
I'd argue this is a crisis point if not resolved in the next few days. How can the Mavericks keep their current team intact? How can they not do whatever it takes to bring Kidd in now?
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has told the players what he has told the media. No one knows what is going to happen. He raves about what good guys he has on this team and how they remained focused against Portland and Phoenix after the news broke.
So Mark, tell us how this thirst for Kidd doesn't send the message that management has lost faith in this team's ability to climb the mountain?
"It's not about how we can't win," Cuban said. "I love our team. We're always going to be opportunistic to see if we can improve. That's just the way it is."
And what about five players knowing they may not be part of the club's future?
"Other than Dirk [Nowitkzi] and J.J. [Barea] and Nick [Fazekas], just about everybody out there has been traded," Cuban said.
"I felt bad when we traded Buck [Greg Buckner]. I felt bad when we traded Juwan Howard the first time. I felt bad when we traded Erick Strickland. It's hard because you get to know and like these guys.
"It would not be fun to lose Stack. It would not be fun to lose Devin Harris."
Terry refuted the notion that the last 24 hours could negatively impact the team's chemistry if a satisfactory solution isn't found. He said every season is about dealing with issues on and off the court and your ability to work through them.
And what about the vote of nonconfidence that is implicit in management's pursuit of Kidd?
"They're not saying we can't go all the way," Terry countered. "They're just saying if we can make this team better, we'll try to do so.
"Who knows if this [trade] will work out or not? We hope it does. If not, we're still confident in the team we have going forward."
What did you expect him to say?
- Streak ends at 7. Big weekend coming up. 2nd place Anaheim tonight. 1st place Detroit on Sunday.
Dallas Stars' record chase stopped short, 5-2
12:23 AM CST on Friday, February 15, 2008
By CHUCK CARLTON ccarlton@dallasnews.com
GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Stars' franchise record for consecutive wins remains stuck on seven.
Goaltender Marty Turco will have to wait for career victory No. 200.
Everything the Stars had done so well for so long during their streak disappeared in a 5-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, from the standout goaltending to the superlative special teams.
"In this little run we had, when the power play needed a big goal, we got it," captain Brenden Morrow said. "When the goaltender needed a big save, we got it. Tonight, they kind of got those breaks. They earned them."
And the Stars didn't.
The performance was the last thing the Stars (35-21-5) needed in the tight Pacific Division race and with their next two games against Western Conference powers Anaheim and Detroit.
The Stars face the Ducks tonight to complete a two-game road trip and return home Sunday to play the Red Wings, possessors of the league's best record.
"Because we lost one game is not going to change a thing," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "We have to play with that same desperation, whether it's tomorrow or the next day. We could win another seven in a row, and we would still be desperate for an eighth."
Even before Radim Vrbata (one goal, two assists) delivered a clinching short-handed goal in the third period, the warning signs were apparent.
The Stars were whistled for the first four penalties. Phoenix quickly capitalized when Shane Doan blistered a shot from the left circle in the first period.
It was just the third man-advantage goal allowed by the Stars' league-leading penalty kill in its last 34 chances.
"It puts you on your heels and gives the other team momentum," Tippett said of the penalties.
During the seven-game streak, the Stars had allowed two or fewer goals in six of those games. Phoenix had two goals by the end of the first, when Daniel Carcillo scored.
For the second consecutive game, the Stars had difficulty solving Phoenix goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, at least when it mattered.
Skating at home Monday and with the Coyotes playing the second game of a back-to-back, the Stars were able to rally for a win despite 42 saves for Bryzgalov.
This time, a fresher Coyotes defense prevented any late comebacks.
Tippett called the overall execution "poor" and was bothered by his team's passing and inability to finish at the net.
Bryzgalov's biggest of 32 stops might have come against Mike Modano during a second-period power play with Phoenix up, 2-1.
"He made a great save on it," Modano said. "There was a lot of net to look at. It had a bit of bounce to it, so it wasn't something I could catch and release at the same time."
Hope began to fade when former Star Niko Kapanen gave Phoenix a two-goal lead late in the second period.
The Stars' power play that was clicking at 26.7 percent (8-for-30) during the streak failed to score and finished minus-1. Jere Lehtinen's pass eluded Stephane Robidas at the blue line. Vrbata claimed the loose puck and lofted a backhand over Turco to complete the breakaway for a 4-1 lead in the third period.
Turco didn't really allow any bad goals. Neither did he play like the goalie who had a 1.57 goals-against average and .943 save percentage during the streak.
- Salty Dog and the Pot Bellied Pig will battle it out for catcher this spring.
Big catch for Texas Rangers: Only one can start
Laird, Saltalamacchia to compete for club's top catcher position
09:35 PM CST on Thursday, February 14, 2008
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com
SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Rangers may not have had much in their 36 seasons in Texas, but they've had certainty behind the plate.
This year, they don't even have that.
When pitchers and catchers begin the first official workout of spring today, one of the most wide-open catching competitions in the club's history will commence. Gerald Laird vs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Let's get ready to rumble.
"It's open," manager Ron Washington said Thursday after an informal workout in which both catching candidates participated. "It's going to be a healthy competition."
There is so much for the Rangers to sort through this spring between the catchers.
Laird has more experience; Saltalamacchia, acquired from Atlanta in the Mark Teixeira deal, has a higher profile. Laird has a better throwing arm; Saltalamacchia has better power. Laird, who is still only 28, must recover from an awful season at the plate to energize his career; Saltalamacchia must show he's ready to handle a major league pitching staff though he won't turn 23 until May.
The Rangers aren't ruling out the possibility that the loser will be on the roster. But if Laird wins the job, it's likely Saltalamacchia would go to Triple-A Oklahoma to play every day. If Saltalamacchia wins the job, Laird could end up the backup or it could go to veteran Adam Melhuse.
It is indeed foreign territory for the Rangers. They have played exactly 5,700 games since moving to Texas in 1972. The duo of Jim Sundberg (1,426 games) and Ivan Rodriguez (1,495) has combined to catch more than half of those games.
Laird, who has twice won the Rangers' starting catching job with strong spring training performances, is currently seventh on the Rangers' all-time games caught list. A full season behind the plate could move him to fourth. Saltalamacchia has less than a full-season in the majors.
If Laird is to win the starting job for a third time, he must rebound from an awful 2007 season. It began with Washington urging Laird to help the pitching staff, even if it meant sacrificing some offense.
"I think I put too much pressure on him and kept the pressure on him," Washington said. "I think I just hit him with it too hard. I'm going to sit back and relax and let him play baseball. He clearly knows what's expected of him. The guy is a big league catcher."
The pressure built to a breaking point last May when Washington and Laird got in a dugout shouting match over the handling of pitchers. They were eventually separated by pitcher Kevin Millwood. Tension lingered for several weeks. Laird seemed to never recover.
"We just got off on the wrong foot," Laird said. "But by the second half of the season, he understood me and I understood him."
Laird finished hitting .227, a drop of nearly 70 points from 2006. By the end of the season, he was splitting the catching job with Saltalamacchia. Laird's .627 OPS (on-base-plus-slugging percentage) ranked 92nd among 94 AL players with at least 400 at-bats.
Washington met with Laird in Arlington last month to make sure the air was clear. He's also said he will give new catching instructor Matt Walbeck more autonomy to communicate with Laird and Saltalamacchia. Laird, Saltalamacchia and prospect Taylor Teagarden all attended Walbeck's informal minicamp in Arizona last month.
The Rangers have also communicated clearly with Saltalamacchia, who struggled last year with multiple hurdles. In addition to jumping from Double-A to the majors, he was traded and split time between catcher and first base. In December, though, he was told he'd be a full-time catcher in 2007. The Rangers just didn't say whether that would be in the majors or not.
"Catching is something I know," Saltalamacchia said. "There was a lot to learn last year. I know what I have to do and I know how to do it. I've just got to go out and play the game."
- Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson on the 2008 offense.
Watson: Offensive meetings full of 'creative discussions'
BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - 12:46:59 am CST
Class is in session. They gather in the mornings usually, five guys with the shared opinion that a dry-erase board looks best when cluttered with Xs and Os.
Since the craziness of last football recruiting season has ended, Nebraska offensive coaches now have time to actually sit together in the same room, football ideas bouncing around the table, the marker board seeing plenty of use.
“A lot of creative discussions,” Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.
It is only February, but spring football is less than six weeks away — not much time for an offensive staff that just came together in December.
The coaches come to the table with different perspectives, sure. Running backs coach Tim Beck has insightful background on the spread offense after his recent experiences at Kansas. Tight ends coach Ron Brown was at Nebraska in the days when option football permeated the playbook. And offensive line coach Barney Cotton brings the flavor of past offensive coordinator experience.
Then there’s receivers coach Ted Gilmore and Watson, the remaining coaching pieces from last year’s offense that finished 11th in the country. They come heavy with information about the West Coast offense, the label attached to Nebraska’s offense under Bill Callahan the past four years.
But when talking about what Nebraska’s offense will become next fall, Watson would rather stay clear of labels.
“We’re not going to be a spread offense, that’s not the deal,” Watson said. “But that’s the beautiful thing about the Nebraska offense. We’re not going to be West Coast, we’re not going to be spread. Those terms are overused by everybody. We’re going to be the Nebraska offense. We’re going to be multiple, balanced and use the field, make the defense defend the field and defend us formationally.”
One might think that the varying offensive backgrounds of Nebraska’s new assistants could make it difficult for them to get on the same page, but Watson said that’s not the case.
“There hasn’t been any obstacles because of the caliber of people I’m working with,” he said. “Everybody has been great around the table in terms of helping to tweak and develop that vision for where I’d like to see us go based on our people.”
During the meetings, Watson said coaches talk through every play, going through every position’s assignment in detail. The coaches talk about why they’d use certain offensive structures, why they’d use certain audibles and how they’d conduct those audibles to make sure the right play was in place.
At some point, the play gets diagrammed on the board, “and then it’s always reinforced by watching it on film,” Watson said. “And when you watch it on film, there’s a reinforcement that comes with it, because you’re seeing the principle being executed on film.”
So far Husker offensive coaches have focused on the running game. Next week Watson anticipates moving the discussion along to the passing game.
Although Brown had been out of coaching four years, the learning curve hasn’t been as difficult as some may think. The terminology may be different, but as Brown said, many basic principles in football stay the same no matter the scheme.
As for the various coaching backgrounds in the meeting room, Brown thinks it only helps.
“Tim Beck may have a slight adjustment about how he did things and that becomes a great idea,” Brown said. “Or Barney maybe will suggest a little different thing here on the line.”
There’s also been talk about simplifying the offense some, Brown said. Watson has said in the past that he’d like to simplify parts while still having multiplicity in the offense’s formation looks, always built around his personnel.
Said Brown: “As a coach, you can really get the players saturated with volumes of knowledge, and more plays and more ideas. But there’s a point of diminishing return.
“There’s a point where a very smart football coach can become too smart for himself and not be able to teach things well to players, where they don’t get enough repetitions.”
Last year, the Huskers were seventh in the country in pass offense (323.8 yards-per-game) and 66th in rushing (144.4).
A bad defense and big deficits were major reasons for those stats being slanted in such a manner. “It’s not fair to talk about last year,” Watson said on the topic of the running game. “You got to throw that out, just situationally.”
Watson believes he’s got the personnel there this fall to be a strong running team, but also a team that brings great physical presence be it a run or pass play.
“And that has nothing to do with plays, it has everything to do with heart,” he said.
“And we feel like our No. 1 mission is to coach that type of effort and create that type of desire to be that type of offense, to be able to take the will of another team just because you’re so relentless in what you do.”
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Cuban panics
- Panic, panic, panic.
- What I don't like about it -
1) Devin Harris provided a jump shooting team its only attack the basket player. He could drive and attack, or drive and kick it out for a jumper.
2) He neutralized Tony Parker and Steve Nash's speed when Dallas played San Antonio and Phoenix. Parker no longer blew by Dallas and into the paint as much, and Nash had to work on defense and could barely keep up with Harris on that end of the floor. This turned the tables in the 2006 playoffs when Harris was inserted into the starting lineup against both teams. That speed edge is now gone. I'm a subscriber to the theory that Speed Kills, in any sport. If you have speed, you win. The Mavericks no longer have speed.
3) Harris was enjoying his best season so far, and at age 24. 48% from the floor, 14 pts a game, 5 assists, and 36% from 3's. Kidd's numbers have trended down, is 35, costs 5 times as much, and has played in a weaker conference.
4) So what is Kidd going to do? Set up jump shooters? The jump shooting problem of this team is still present. No one attacks the rim. They don't have the athleticism on the perimeter, outside of maybe Josh Howard, to have the high flying attack the rim style that Kidd would be good at.
5) So on the team's bread and butter play, the pick and pop, how is Kidd an upgrade? He's a worse shooter than Harris, and can't attack the rim like Harris can when they get a switch. So they'll be running the same plays, but with a worse shooter and penetrator running the point.
6) So Dallas now has to depend on Erick Dampier to be their sole low post defender? When healthy, he's exactly what they need down low. But the problem is, he's never fully healthy. So now who guards Tim Duncan, David West, and Amare Stoudemire when Dampier is either in foul trouble or injured?
- What I can live with -
- If I just have to find positives, be able to move forward, and force myself not to boycott the Mavericks, I guess these will have to do.
- Shawn McCawley, phD, with degrees from Tommy Thomas University and West Stonebriar College, sent me these.
- His assumptions of what Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson may have been thinking.....
- The team is in a funk
- Harris will not stay healthy
- They are done with Ager and Diop
- Dirk has 2 more elite years
- They want to play more small ball like Golden State
- Bass is a long term player
- Shaq and GasPau does not scare them
- They are never going to get healthy with the current team
- If they can re-sign Stack, it will be better.
- Howard, Dirk, Damp, Bass, Jet, and Jones should get very good looks.
- This will provide a spark, not sure how long it will last though.
- Really doesn't care that DH is 25 and Kidd is 35. The window is now plus 2 seasons which is Dirk's window.
- It is all about super stars and Dallas has 2 now.
- In 3 years they will be starting over anyway and he's not convinced Harris will be part of that.
- I still hate it, but whatever, this is the bed that's made, I now must sleep in it.
- John Hollinger agrees with me......
Kidd trade is risky business for Mavs
The Lakers must be falling over with laughter by now.
In the wake of their acquisition of Pau Gasol -- a trade that cost them nothing of value -- two of their biggest rivals for Western Conference supremacy responded by dealing key pieces of their core for Eastern Conference legends in their mid-30s. First, of course, came Phoenix's deal for Shaquille O'Neal last week, and now the Mavericks have jumped in with today's close-to-completion deal for Jason Kidd.
This isn't nearly as bad as the Shaq trade -- let me get that out of the way up front. But it has the same whiff of panic to it, coming as it did after the Mavs suffered consecutive whippings at the hands of second-tier Eastern teams, and following Mark Cuban's insistence that Dallas wouldn't unload half its team for Kidd.
But that's exactly what they're about to do. Dallas is about to send Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Devean George, Maurice Ager, cash and two first-round picks to New Jersey for Kidd, Antoine Wright, Malik Allen and a second-rounder. (Technically it would be two trades, with Wright for a No. 2 as a side deal in order to meet league roster requirements).
Obviously, the two protagonists are Kidd and Harris. So let me ask you a provocative question that I brought up when the three-way version of this deal was kicked around: Would you trade Harris for Kidd, straight up?
Based on notoriety alone, most would offer a quick yes. But shine that light a little closer. Kidd's PER this season is 16.07, while Harris is way ahead at 18.66. This may shock some people who have only seen the reports of his triple-doubles, but Kidd is scoring at a much lower rate this season, shooting a hideous 36.7 percent from the field, and his turnover rate has skyrocketed. While he's far from the only culprit, his decline is one reason the Nets are 25th in offensive efficiency; the Mavs, in contrast, are second with Harris as quarterback.
Per 40 minutes, Harris averages nearly seven points more; that's huge. He also gets to the line more than twice as often and shoots a far better percentage from the field. His true shooting percentage of 59.2 dwarfs Kidd's 48.3. Think about that difference for a second -- for every nine shots they take (including free-throw sessions), Harris has a one-point advantage.
Finally, Harris is a huge plus at the defensive end, where he has the quickness to defend the Parkers, Pauls and Nashes of the West and was second in the league in offensive fouls drawn last season, according to 82games.com. By my methods, he was the best defensive point guard in the league in 2006-07. Unfortunately, the one guy he struggled against was Baron Davis, a fact that may be seared in the Mavs' memories given how last season ended.
Kidd's two big advantages are passing and rebounding, and they're gargantuan differences, make no mistake. But if you break it down, it seems his numbers in those two categories might decline in Dallas' system.
As far as assists go, the Mavs are one of the league's most isolation-heavy teams and annually have among the league's lowest rates of assisted baskets; the Nets are the opposite and are annually among the highest. It's possible Dallas changes some of that to take advantage of Kidd, of course, but somehow I imagine the high-post isos for Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard will remain the bread-and-butter of the offense.
Additionally, Kidd's passing skills are most lethal in transition, but the Mavs run infrequently. While some still imagine this as a Wild West Don Nelson outfit, Dallas has been one of the league's slowest-paced teams ever since Avery Johnson took over.
On the rebounds, New Jersey's frontcourt rebounding was historically bad for the first two months of this season, as I mentioned in another piece earlier on -- leaving a ton of boards available for Kidd to grab. In fact, Kidd's rebound rate has declined quite a bit since Josh Boone took over for Jason Collins, as fewer caroms were left over for the guards. Similarly, he won't have as many boards available for him to snag in Dallas, where the Mavs are already seventh in the league in defensive rebound rate (nearly all of Kidd's boards are defensive).
OK, so he won't score as much as Harris and he might lose a bit on his rebounds and assists. One can still come up with some offsetting positives. For starters, Kidd is a leader in a locker room that appears in need of one. Dallas' testicular fortitude has been questioned in the past two postseasons, so perhaps he can make a difference there. And it's possible he'll be more motivated in Big D than he was in New Jersey; at the very least, I suspect he'll suffer from fewer headaches.
In addition, Kidd is a good defender against bigger guards, which means Dallas might be able to play him and Jason Terry together for 40 minutes and dispense with the 30 scoreless minutes they're getting each night from the Eddie Jones-Trenton Hassell combo. (Although just in case they get nostalgic, Wright's addition makes it a trio of wing guys who can defend but can't score).
But before you get too excited, look into the future. Kidd is 10 years older and costs five times as much; even after Harris' extension kicks in he'll be triple the cost. Which player do you think you'd rather have in 2008-09? What about in 2009-10, presuming the Mavs extend Kidd, when he'll be 36 and Harris 26?
I know, I know -- this move was made primarily with this season in mind. So let's say after all that you still like Kidd better than Harris. Do you like him so much better that you're willing to include Stackhouse and Diop and two first-round draft choices?
Diop was Dallas' starting center and best low-post defender (Side note: guess that Shaq trade had them real worried, huh?), while Stackhouse was one of their most important bench players. In fact, the irony of this trade is that a big reason for Dallas' recent struggles is that Harris and Stackhouse have been injured.
The Mavs are 4-4 since Harris went out; Stackhouse has played only once in that time, for just 11 minutes. It's an ugly 4-4 too. Of the wins, two were against Memphis and one was Milwaukee; the losses included one-sided setbacks against Detroit, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
That takes us to an aspect of this trade nobody is paying any attention to: Harris' huge impact on the Mavs' success over the past two seasons. In 2006-07, when Dallas won 67 games, guess who had the biggest on-court/off-court point differential? Hint: It wasn't the MVP. According to 82games.com, Dallas was a whopping +14.2 points per 48 minutes with Harris on the court. Moreover, the Harris-Nowitzki combo was the single most effective player combination in the league.
This year, the Harris-Terry-Howard-Nowitzki-Dampier unit has played 164 minutes together and outscored opponents by 43 points (that's a whopping 12.6 points per 48 minutes). The four most common Harris-Terry arrangements all have massively positive point differentials, adding up to an advantage of +20.7 points per 48 minutes(!). So much for the idea that you can't play two small guards together.
No, we're not done yet -- there's one final point to consider. The Nets will likely buy out Stackhouse, but there's no guarantee Dallas will be able to re-sign him; in fact, by rule they aren't allowed to for 30 days.
In the meantime, is it that hard to imagine bench-starved Cleveland diving in with the $4.1 million remaining on its midlevel exception, or the Pistons ($3.86 million) bringing him back to Motown to replace the struggling Jarvis Hayes? For that matter, what about the Spurs ($4.4 million) or Suns (full midlevel) breaking out the wampum just to spite their Western rivals? Keep in mind, too, that these salaries would be prorated for the rest of this year, lowering the luxury tax hit those teams would take.
In the final analysis, then, it seems Dallas gave up quite a bit to make what is, even with the most rose-colored glasses, a marginal upgrade at the point. It's possible it could work, but my issue with this deal is that the risk and reward seem out of line. Much like Phoenix with the Shaq deal, I can't help but wonder if the Mavs are fixated on what Kidd was 18 months ago rather than what he'll be over the next 18 months.
Let me repeat that I'm not nearly not as down on this trade as I am on Phoenix's. But on balance, I think it puts Dallas farther from a title rather than closer. And as a result, I suspect Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak may be having a quiet chuckle when he checks his Blackberry today.
- 2008 Texas Rangers Pitching Report.
Ryan makes opening pitch to Texas Rangers
New president visits spring training, begins work with Daniels
09:40 PM CST on Wednesday, February 13, 2008
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com
SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Rangers don't officially open spring training until today, but already there is a fundamental communication problem between new president Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels.
Daniels is an e-mail fiend; Ryan barely turns his computer on.
Other than having to rely on that old-fashioned device known as a telephone, it appears the Daniels-Ryan management era has begun smoothly.
Ryan spent more than four hours Tuesday meeting with the core of the baseball operations staff, including Daniels.
He addressed the group for barely more than a minute to start the meeting. His message: He's excited, but club personnel shouldn't be nervous. Ryan said he wants to win with the people to whom he was speaking.
"It was a very positive meeting," Ryan said Wednesday. "The thing I took out of it was that I felt everybody was very comfortable with one another and with giving their opinion."
Daniels said Ryan praised the scouting and player development staff for building the farm system. The Rangers' system was recently ranked fourth among the 30 major league organizations by Baseball America.
"All the things that have been written about the organizational structure and changes – that's water cooler fodder," Daniels said. "To see him in this setting and to hear him speak, it was clear that it was just a group of baseball people with the same feelings: They want to win championships together."
Ryan was in Surprise only for the day Tuesday. He is expected to return to camp in late February for an extended stay and is likely to have a second extended stay toward the end of camp.
Ryan has not yet held similar meetings with business operations executives but is expected to be in the Arlington offices late next week.
Daniels said he intends to consult with Ryan before the Rangers set their final 25-man roster. While Tuesday's meeting was the first face-to-face, nuts-and-bolts meeting between Daniels and Ryan, the two have had several phone conversations in the last week.
"Every year, every team is going to tweak things a little," said Daniels, about to start his third season as GM. "What's different is that we'll have another experienced baseball man as part of the decision. I have no apprehensions or insecurities about this. I trust Nolan, and I trust that good baseball people are going to see the fruits of our labor."
On Wednesday, Ryan's biggest baseball activity was limited to the two minor league teams he owns. Ryan-Sanders Baseball agreed to two-year player development contract extensions with the Houston Astros for the Triple-A club in Round Rock and the Double-A team in Corpus Christi. Both contracts now run through 2010, which is also the length of the Rangers' contracts with Triple-A Oklahoma and Double-A Frisco.
REPORTING FOR DUTY
Rangers pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Surprise, Ariz., today and their first workout is Friday. A few quick hits on the pitchers:
Numbers: 28 pitchers will be in camp, including seven nonroster invitees.
Absent: RHPs Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando remain in the Dominican Republic unable to procure U.S. work visas.
The rotation: It's is basically set with RHPs Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Brandon McCarthy, Jason Jennings and LHP Kason Gabbard. RHPs Luis Mendoza and Robinson Tejeda and LHP A.J. Murray could potentially get into the mix if there is an injury or if Gabbard badly stumbles.
The bullpen: The Rangers need some sturdy middle-innings pitchers and long relievers. There are perhaps as many as three jobs open and as many as eight pitchers fighting for them.
Decisions: Tejeda and LHP John Rheinecker are both out of options. If they don't make the club, they'd either have to be traded or exposed to waivers.
Injuries: Only RHP Thomas Diamond, who is recovering from last April's Tommy John surgery, is limited.
Prospect to watch: RHP Luis Mendoza averaged 13.4 pitches per inning and held opponents to a .297 on-base percentage in six major league appearances. Those were his only games above Double-A. He's on the outside of the rotation looking in, but a spring full of ground balls could make the Rangers think twice.
Veteran to watch: RHPs Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla and Jason Jennings are all coming off career-worst ERAs. The Rangers need all three to have strong springs and fast starts to the regular season.
- About time Tom Hicks makes a fan-friendly move.
Dallas Stars to lower ticket prices
To raise awareness, president will make 4,000 seats 37 percent cheaper
02:49 AM CST on Thursday, February 14, 2008
By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News
mheika@dallasnews.com
FRISCO – Jeff Cogen is having a sign made that captures his philosophy as the new president of the Stars. It will read: "Nothing happens until the building is full."
Cogen, a former vice president of the Stars who returned to the team in November to take over for outgoing president Jim Lites, has had a couple of months to survey the ticket situation and the environment surrounding the team. He said he has come up with a new strategy for selling the game of hockey in Dallas.
In large part, it's the same strategy he had when he helped the Stars bring the team to Texas in 1993 – and that's get fans into games any way possible.
To help create that environment, Cogen is sending out a new ticket pricing plan to season ticket holders that next season will lower the price of about 4,000 upper bowl tickets by an average of 37 percent. He said he will release the official prices to the media once the ticket holders have been informed.
"I don't want to tread water," Cogen said. "I think it's time for bold, innovative moves."
The special pricing is only for fans who buy full-season packages, but Cogen said he believes the value is there to entice many fans to move from partial season plans up to full season plans. And he admits that he has a specific business purpose in mind.
The Stars used to have 14,000 full season tickets and a waiting list when they moved to American Airlines Center in 2001. They used to pull television ratings that hovered near 3.0. They once had a sellout streak that reached 238 consecutive games.
Now, the season ticket "comparables" (meaning the combination of all full and partial season ticket plans) is around 11,500, the television ratings hover near 0.5 and the sellout streaks are closer to three or four games in a row.
While the Stars' official average attendance ranks 12th in the league at 17,841 this season, Cogen said he wants bodies in the building from the start of the season to the end.
The former president of the Rangers and Florida Panthers said he believes there are still plenty of Stars fans out there who want to cheer for the team. The Stars marketing plan for 2008-09 will involve a season of celebrations tied to the 10-year anniversary of winning the Stanley Cup during the 1998-99 season and the 15-year anniversary of the team coming to Dallas.
"I've got the hook with the Stanley Cup and the 15-year anniversary," Cogen said. "So the push for us is: Where is this base where we used to do 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 television ratings and had a [season ticket] waiting list? I don't think they've moved. I don't think they hate us. I think they like us."
Cogen said he plans to send out the pricing packages to everyone who has ever had a season ticket with the Stars in hopes of getting bodies back in the building.
Because lower bowl tickets are selling out at about 90 percent, the pricing there will remain the same for next season. However, Cogen said he wants to add "value" to those tickets with passes to the VIP club, bonus tickets and events exclusively reserved for lower bowl season ticket holders. Cogen said he would like to bring back former Stars players to help celebrate the anniversaries at these events.
The bottom line is he wants to get fans excited about his product again. The first step in accomplishing that task, he said, is getting people to see a game.
"If we can get you into the arena, A: We can probably get you back. And B: You're going to go home and watch television and you're going to tell your friends and you're going to play stick hockey in the streets and you're going to buy our T-shirts and read the blogs," Cogen said. "That's my vision, anyway."
- Tough as nails.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
On this bus alone
- In today's ESPN-run, 24/7 media, microwave, now now now, sports society, there is no patience. There's no stepping back and refraining from knee jerking. There's no research, there's rarely any facts to back up claims from fans and media types. That's why this latest uproar over the Mavericks is just ridiculous.
- Let's establish what the Mavericks are and what they lack, and what their future is.
- What they are (Disclaimer - this is when healthy)
1) A top tier team (when healthy) who has won 60, 52, 58, 60, 67, and 55 wins (2008 projected), and a team who has been to an NBA Finals within the past 2 years.
2) A team that is 22-6 against the supposed "bulldog" Western Conference this year.
3) A team that up until injuries to 3 of their top rotation guys, was among the most dominant and impressive in the league. (See below for the case on that).
- What they lack -
1) Backup point guard - We know by now what Jet Terry isn't, he's not a point guard. We do know he's a dynamite, albeit streaky, shooter, their instant offense off of the bench along with Jerry Stackhouse, and their #2 clutch 4th quarter scoring option behind Dirk. JJ Barea is NBA D-League garbage. A team with NBA Title hopes should not have JJ Facking Barea as their backup poing guard.
2) Health -
a) This is a true "sum of the parts" type team. This is not a superstar driven team. Yes, Dirk's the star, he takes the big shots, he's the go-to guy. But he alone cannot get it done. If there's one complaint I can agree with on this team, it's the over-reliance on the system or the role players.
b) They rely on role players playing their part in order to sum out to a dominant team.
- Erick Dampier MUST be down low protecting the rim.
- Jason Terry MUST come off the bench to play the 2 guard and be a reliable outside shooter.
- Jerry Stackhouse MUST come off the bench and be the nuts of the team and be instant offense.
- Devin Harris MUST supply speed & athleticism on the perimeter, drive to the basket, set up the offense, and run the break.
- Josh Howard MUST drive the lane, run the floor, be long on defense, and hit the mid-range jumper.
c) You take any of these cogs out of the machine, let alone 3, and you have a team that is suddenly pushing everyone up a couple of spots on the assembly line. Guys are in spots they are in no way good enough for.
d) You're telling me a team that now has JJ Barea running the point, JET Terry playing out of position, a regressing Diop protecting the rim, and the triumvarate of Trenton Hassell, Eddie Jones, and Devean George trying to imitate the Stack/JET roles is going to be successful?
3) A proper evaluation of what Josh Howard is - I haven't liked this guy since the Finals run in 2006. He's a nice player, don't get me wrong, but people around here SEVERELY overrate him. He's NOT the 2nd All-Star Dirk needs beside him. He's fancied himself a jump shooter. He doesn't even attempt to make a big shot or want the pressure associated with the 4th quarter. Without a point guard running the floor and without a run game on offense, he becomes a guy who lives on the 3 point line and thinks he's Reggie Miller.
- What the future holds -
1) Here's my plan - Get healthy. Stop overreacting. 2 starters and another heavy minutes guy are gone!!
2) Right now, in season, see if you can shop around for a backup point guard and a shooter (whether a guard or shooting big man). Don't blow anything up yet. If you have to touch the top 6-7 players on your team to get a trade done, don't do it. Roll with this team.
3) The West is not as strong as people would have you believe. Dallas, when healthy, can handle anyone out there. They are as strong as any team around when all of their parts are healthy.
4) This offseason (given they don't win the championship), shop Josh Howard. Sell on this guy right now. Declare anyone outside of Dirk on the block. Tell Dirk to take this summer off and enforce it. I only do all of this, if at the end of the year, I have decided that this current mix will never have a full season of health, and is too injury plagued. That's when I blow this thing up.
Bottom Line -
- This is nothing more than pure overreaction without stepping back and taking a look at facts and what has already gone on this season.
- All the calls for blowing this thing up will only hold water for me if they continue to be injury plagued. If none of these players can stay healthy, than I'll get on board with shipping a lot of these guys and re-stucturing the roster. But right now, I'm holding on to the belief that this injury bug will pass.
- They struggled early as Dirk allowed role players to find their places and get minutes, shots, and experience. And also to allow Josh Howard to hopefully grow into a reliable 2nd All Star on the team.
- Avery has gotten burned in the playoffs when he has to rely on his bench. Because these bench guys never got the minutes in the regular season, when they got thrust into the playoff spotlight, they were horrible. He has vowed not to let that happen this year. Thus the early season struggles.
- Once Dampier came back healthy and Devin Harris came into his own in December, they took off, beat good teams, had players in the exact roles they needed to be and looked as good of a team as they ever have.
- Guys went to the roles they belonged to. Devean George and Trenton Hassell became 8th and 9th men. JJ Barea was in the D-League. Diop was spelling Dampier for only 15 minutes a night. JET and Stack were coming off of the bench. Harris was attacking the rim. And Dirk was finally Dirk. To the post-2000 Maverick fan, it wasn't impressive because they just look at the total Win/Loss record. But to the informed basketball fan, they were more of a well-rounded team than they ever have been. They were slowing it down, they were running, they were playing great defense, and they were rolling.
Check out this run in Decemeber, the only stretch this team was full healthy.
- New Orleans - W
- Houston - W
- Orlando - W
- Phoenix - W
- Golden State - W
- Detroit - W
- LA Lakers - W
- Denver - W
- Take Barbosa, Bell, and Diaw off of Phoenix and tell me what you get. Take Billups and McDyess off of Detroit and tell me what you get. Take away 3 starters/heavy minute guys off of any team, and you get a fractured team.
- This team is better equipped now than when they were in Miami in 2006. When they were 6 minutes away from going up 3-0 in the NBA Finals. I didn't realize what a 100% healthy Erick Dampier meant to them. He was dominating the paint and cutting down on the lay-up line that you're seeing now. And what a difference an improved Devin Harris meant for the team. He supplies the speed edge on a team that lacks it overall. He can neutralize the speed of Steve Nash, Tony Parker, and Chris Paul. He can make them work on defense by driving the lane and running the floor. And he makes Josh Howard a lot better by running the floor with him and getting him mid-range jumpers.
- I also hope this proves to everyone that Josh Howard IS NOT a superstar, or reliable. What makes Dirk all that more amazing is what the team has done post-Nash. Every dominant team has at least 2 bona-fide, no doubt All Stars. Dallas has 1. It's why teams can triple team him and get away with it. And yet, post-Steve Nash, on a team with Dirk and bunch of above average guys, the team has won 58, 60, and 67 games, and had an NBA Finals appearance.
- Imagine if Dirk had a legit star next to him like San Antonio and Phoenix have? So to see all that Dirk has accomplished when the opposing team knows who the ball is going to in the 4th quarter, is quite impressive. I don't think he gets enough credit for Dallas' success the past few years. People don't bring up his lack of support enough.
- I'll remain the only one on this bus. This current mix has proven to me it can beat the top teams, can come within 6 minutes of an NBA Championship, and can make this thing happen when healthy. It's a marathon, what happens in February will be long forgotten in March.
- Pitchers and Catchers report tomorrow. Glorious baseball returns.
Rangers Spring Training quick hits
2007 record
75-87, fourth place, AL West
Projected batting order
1. DH Frank Catalanotto
.260 BA, .337 OBP, .444 SLG, 11 HR, 44 RBI in 2007
2. 2B Ian Kinsler
.263 BA, .355 OBP, .441 SLG, 20 HR, 61 RBI in 2007
3. SS Michael Young
.315 BA, .366 OBP, .418 SLG, 9 HR, 94 RBI in 2007
4. CF Josh Hamilton
.292 BA, .368 OBP, .554 SLG, 19 HR, 47 RBI in 2007
5. 3B Hank Blalock
.257 BA, .350 OBP, .471 SLG, 19 HR, 70 RBI in 2007
6. RF Milton Bradley
.306 BA, .402 OBP, .545 SLG, 13 HR, 37 RBI in 2007
7. 1B Ben Broussard
.275 BA, .330 OBP, .404 SLG, 7 HR, 29 RBI in 2007
8. LF Marlon Byrd
.307 BA, .355 OBP, .459 SLG, 10 HR, 70 RBI in 2007
9. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
.266 BA, .310 OBP, .422 SLG, 11 HR, 31 RBI in 2007
Projected rotation
1. Kevin Millwood, 10-14, 5.16 ERA in 2007
2. Vicente Padilla, 6-10, 5.76 in 2007
3. Jason Jennings, 2-9, 6.45 in 2007
4. Brandon McCarthy, 5-10, 4.87 in 2007
5. Kason Gabbard, 6-1, 4.65 in 2007
Projected bullpen
Closer: C.J. Wilson, 12/14 saves, 3.03 ERA in 2007
RH setup man: Joaquin Benoit, 7-4, 2.85 in 2007
LH setup man: Eddie Guardado, 0-0, 7.24 ERA in 2007
The new guys
Josh Hamilton: The Rangers went looking for a power-hitting outfielder and picked up Hamilton from the Reds for pitcher Edinson Volquez. Hamilton has a history of injuries and personal issues, but he also had a .918 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) last year. The Rangers haven't had an outfielder with that high of an OPS since Juan Gonzalez in 1999. If he stays healthy, Hamilton could be an impact bat in the middle of the lineup. He also has a powerful throwing arm that should be a highlight of the Rangers outfield defense.
Jason Jennings: The Rangers signed him after dealing Volquez to the Reds. Jennings was hurt all of 2007 and ended up having elbow surgery. But he had a 3.78 ERA in 212 innings for the Rockies in 2006, and the Rangers hope that's the kind of pitcher they are getting. If they do, Jennings could be a solid No. 3 starter behind Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla. He is from Dallas and is a free agent after the season. The Rangers hope those are powerful motivators.
Milton Bradley: A favorite of manager Ron Washington, Bradley is coming off knee surgery but is hoping to be ready for Spring Training. If so, he'll be the starting right fielder. He is solid offensively and defensively and plays the game hard but has a hard time staying healthy. He had over 500 at-bats in a season just once in his eight-year Major League career.
Ben Broussard: Another Washington favorite who is trying to re-establish himself as an everyday first baseman after filling a utility role for the Mariners in 2007. Washington said he is an above-average first baseman and the manager is going to give Broussard a chance to play every day, including against left-handers. His career 162-game averages are .267 with 27 doubles, 20 home runs and 73 RBIs.
Eddie Guardado: A left-handed reliever who has 183 career saves, Guardado is competing with C.J. Wilson for the closer's role. He pitched in 15 games last season after sitting out a year because of Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. He allowed just one run in his last 9 2/3 innings last season, giving the Rangers hope that he'll be ready to go in Spring Training.
Kazuo Fukumori: The right-handed reliever from Japan was 4-2 with a 4.75 ERA and 17 saves in 34 games for the Tohuku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2007 before undergoing surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. He had 21 saves and a 2.17 ERA in 2006. The Rangers will likely take it slow with him in Spring Training.
Prospects to watch
Eric Hurley: He was 7-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 15 games at Double-A Frisco and 4-7 with a 4.91 ERA in 13 games at Triple-A Oklahoma. The Rangers will give him a good look in spring but probably will let him keep pitching at Triple-A. He could definitely come quick.
Taylor Teagarden: The former Texas Longhorn has overcome elbow and back issues, hitting .310 with 27 home runs and 83 RBIs in 110 games between Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco. He is still building up endurance behind the plate as he caught just 44 games last year while being used as a DH in 66.
Matt Harrison: A left-handed pitcher acquired in the Mark Teixeira trade, Harrison was 5-7 with a 3.39 ERA in 20 starts at Double-A and 5-0 with a 2.00 ERA in seven starts in the Arizona Fall League. Probably headed for Triple-A.
German Duran: He hit .300 with 22 home runs and 84 RBIs as an All-Star second baseman for Frisco. He is coming to camp with a chance to earn a job as a utility player. The Rangers have used him in the outfield and third base over the winter and may even look at him at first base.
Returning from injury
Hank Blalock: He missed over three months of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery on May 21. He returned in September but was limited to designated hitter duty. He said he is at full strength now and ready to return to third base for Spring Training. He is obviously a huge key for the Rangers.
Brandon McCarthy: His season last year was cut short because of blister problems and a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade. The Rangers are counting on a full season from him as their No. 4 starter. They'd like to get 180 innings out of him.
Joaquin Arias: Once a top prospect, Arias missed just about all of last season with a shoulder injury. Now he is in danger of falling behind Elvis Andrus in the Rangers' organizational depth chart. He needs a big year at Triple-A.
On the rebound
Vicente Padilla: He missed two months last year because of an elbow injury but was 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in his last eight starts. The Rangers may go slower with him in Spring Training but they definitely need him back to his 15-win form of 2006. Padilla has spent the winter in Nicaragua and the Rangers won't know what they have until Spring Training.
Kevin Millwood: He should be the Opening Day starter for the third straight year and his importance to the team can't be overstated. He was 6-7 with a 6.16 ERA before the All-Star break and 4-7 with a 4.29 ERA after the break. The Rangers have been pleased with his offseason conditioning program.
Frank Francisco: He had a 3.78 ERA with an opponents' batting average of .224 in the first half of last season and a 5.54 ERA in the second half while opponents hit .302 off him. The Rangers are still waiting for him to regain the overpowering stuff he had a few years ago before missing almost two full seasons because of Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery.
Kameron Loe: The right-hander was 6-11 with a 5.36 ERA in 23 starts last year and had a 5.40 ERA in five relief appearances. He also spent time on the disabled list with lower back tightness. The Rangers have used him as a starter in the past but he comes to camp this spring as a bullpen candidate.
Long gone
Sammy Sosa: He led the Rangers in home runs and drove in 92 runs but the Rangers decided not to re-sign him. Their biggest concern was a .222 batting average and a .410 slugging percentage against right-handed pitching.
Brad Wilkerson: Injuries kept him from being the players expected they were getting from the Washington Nationals for Alfonso Soriano. He showed some power last year filling in at first base for Teixeira, but the Rangers wanted a more natural first baseman and traded for Broussard instead.
Akinori Otsuka: The right-handed reliever was having an excellent season until he started experiencing elbow problems at the end of June. He did not pitch again over the final three months of the season and the Rangers weren't comfortable with where he was this offseason. They non-tendered him in December.
Triple play: Three questions that need answers
1. Who will be the closer?
Both Guardado and Wilson are on the record as saying they want the job. The Rangers are non-committal. Joaquin Benoit has done it on occasion and Fukumori was a closer in Japan. The Rangers probably won't rush him into the job.
2. Who will be the catcher?
Jarrod Saltalamacchia can play first base, but the Rangers want him to concentrate on catching. That puts him in direction competition with Gerald Laird, who was their Opening Day catcher in 2007. It's hard to imagine the Rangers letting Saltalamacchia sit around as a backup and it's hard to imagine Laird settling for that role.
3. Who will be the cleanup hitter?
Sosa was the Rangers' primary cleanup hitter last year, but Marlon Byrd did it for much of the final two months. Blalock is the only player on the roster who has driven in over 100 runs in a season, but Washington seems reluctant to put him in the cleanup spot. This may be the right spot for Hamilton.
The bottom line
Everybody needs to show they are healthy and be productive. The Rangers may have more "what-ifs" on this team than they ever had going into Spring Training.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)