CQI13

I'd be against the "1 replay", because of that happens, and you use it (validly) early in the game, then the umpires are immune for the rest of the game on bad calls. Cut down on the crotch grabbing, and wasted time during at bats and you have ample time for replays (which would replace the arguing anyway). I'd say you have 1 challenge, but if you get it right, you don't lose it.

Baseball games are 18 minutes longer now than 20 years ago without replay. I'd contend that stepping in and out of the batter's box, Tony LaRussa's way of handling pitchers, and players/managers arguing calls is what extends game by way of dead time. Replay replaces the arguing and is far more efficient. Should it happen? Absolutely. Should they change the call on the previous call? No, there's more pressing needs.

It's a call that didn't affect the result of the game. People need to move on. In Halladay's perfect game a few days ago he got TWO gift strike calls in 3-2 counts. I don't remember anyone complaining then. Fix the parks and make the rules uniform first before you worry about a call like this.

Well, nobody's perfect! [/irony] There is an overabundance of perfect games though. What's it been, 3 in as many weeks? How many had there been in the history of baseball before that?

He can certainly be a serviceable middle/long reliever. The D'Backs are paying next to nothing for him at least (I think Detroit is on the hook for his salary).

He allegedly had S.A.D. (Social Anxiety Disorder). He needs to go down to the minors and get right or he's pretty much done.

I never said they wouldn't get max money. I believe I said they would. But they're still not "max money" guys. I will agree with your second point though. By that logic though, Ben Gordon, Samuel Dalembert, and Charlie Villanueva are max deal guys (because of bad GMs, the market, etc). No way they should be. And that's my point. Dirk, Amar'e, Boozer, and Bosh will get max deals. Whether they should or not is a different story (talent-wise).

I may have Miller confused, but it was whoever they signed the summer they also signed Dalembert.

Howard could be, but he needs more offensive game. Durant will get there. Williams probably more than Paul. For a lot of the other guys, look at what they'll be making at the end of their career. If Duncan got the max, would he still be worth 20 million a year at 39 or 40? Rose hasn't done nearly enough to be a max guy. Is he a very good player? Absolutely. And as much as I love Lee, someone will overpay for him. Just like the Sixers did with Andre Miller and Samuel Dalembert (don't think either was a max deal, but they were compensated too well for their talents). Dalembert especially was getting 2nd man money when he was the third best player. These max deals are a lot like the HoF (which is a joke in basketball, but that's another topic entirely). It's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Very Good to almost Great. A lot of these guys won't be worth the 20 million a year at the end (see: Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady). And two of those guys probably weren't worth it to begin with. To me, the max deals should be reserved for the elite. By definition, it shouldn't be that many of them.

LeBron is a max deal guy (though he'll probably take a 3 year deal this time, get max money next time). Wade is a max deal guy. Gilbert Arenas is NOT a max deal guy. And while Bosh & Amar'e are not Gilbert Arenas, they are not in LeBron and Wade's level either.

He's not a max player guy (much like Boozer and Bosh). Still, they'll get their money somehow. His best bet would be a sign and trade, or he loses a bunch of money (the team you play for is the one that can give you the most money, right?). But then, Phoenix is stuck with someone equal or lesser than Amar'e for the same money. Letting him walk would upset Nash (they got this far this year, but I don't think he'd want to rebuild).

Tim Donaghy is currently 14-2 picking games these playoffs. Awesome!

I'm glad it's LA, hopefully they come through this time. I dislike Boston's Whiny 3, and Gazoo.

I'm not defending him. I just don't believe "clutch." If someone (or him) had made 2 free throws earlier, they wouldn't have been in that position. Hedo wasn't worth what he was asking. So you overpay just because he was good last year? He wanted more money, he got it. A good franchise doesn't overpay. Trust me, I put Vince in the same category as Tracy McGrady & Dirk Nowitzki, among others. Even in his prime, McGrady was not winning you a title.

But no one considers VC the BEST player on Orlando. I have the same feeling with Dirk Nowitzki. If he's the best you have, you're done. Put him alongside another superstar, and it's not on him. As for Orlando's other parts though, that's on their staff for not developing Howard's absolutely brutal offensive game. With his talent, no reason why he shouldn't be averaging 26pts. And not sure what he averages now, but again, with his talent, no way he should be scoring in single digits EVER.

Clutch doesn't exist. But since people keep referring to it, someone tracked that stat as far as game winning shots. Haven't seen one with this year included, but the latest one I found includes this little nugget: http://www.82games.com/gamewinningshots.htm Through the 08-09 season (not including playoffs), Vince Carter had taken less "game winners" and made more than Kobe Bryant. In fact, Bryant was hitting it at a 25% rate. Wonder how the stats have changed since then. Perception is reality I guess, in the NBA. On the topic of VC though, I will say this: If Vince Carter is your best player, you're never getting a championship. Wouldn't affect Orlando, since they had OTHER parts. Certainly true of his time in New Jersey though.

I don't understand how with baseball being so "about the numbers" much validity can be given to HRs and stuff, when the parks aren't uniform...and keep getting smaller.

And yet, some (or all) of that crew will still officiate in these playoffs. That's the bigger issue. Looking back at it, should Gortat's T be rescinded too then, since THAT was undeserved?

I have a problem with that. If they're upset about his/their officiating of the game, don't have them do any more games during these playoffs. But to reverse decisions is just bush league. Especially when the decision didn't directly impact the result.

People were entertained differently back then without dissecting the performances? And that match, looking back on it, wasn't THAT good.

I only get to listen to the first half hour, but I've heard he's been on. Makes perfect sense considering the lackluster series in the previous two rounds.

I still think it's Stern trying to generate some interest in the playoffs after the crap series before these. Hey David, how about not taking 2 weeks for the first round, maybe there'd be more interest then.

HAHAHA, that was hilarious to me. Wow, I guess there is stuff I'm missing. LOL

Same reason why few people ever got up during the People's Elbow or any other ridiculous finisher.

Wasn't Hogan on top forever seemingly in the 80s/90s?