Category Archives: Other Sports

Florida Gulf Coast University Basketball vs. Fresno State Baseball: What’s the bigger Cinderella?

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Florida Gulf Coast University is the darling of the NCAA basketball tournament, becoming the first 15-seed to advance to the Sweet 16. It is already being called one of the greatest Cinderella stories in college history. But I had to wonder: how does it compare to perhaps the greatest Cinderella story in baseball, the 2008 Fresno State baseball team?

If you aren’t familiar with it, I can’t blame you, as I’ve mentioned before, not many people pay attention to college baseball, especially outside of the College World Series. So I’ll refresh your memory: in 2008, the Fresno State Bulldogs, who only was able to qualify for the baseball tournament thanks to winning the Western Athletic Conference tournament. They were placed into their initial pool as a 4-seed (early rounds of NCAA baseball tournament are double-elimination pools), the equivalent of being a 13 seed or lower in March Madness.

But, a funny thing happened, not only did they advance through their regional and then super-regional pool, but they ended up winning the College World Series, defeating Georgia. They became the lowest seed ever to win a NCAA championship.

So, is FGCU more impressive than that?

Well, no. Mainly, this is because FGCU hasn’t won the tournament, and it probably won’t. However, should they continue on, that answer could change. The reason for this is because of the differences between baseball and basketball.

You see, unlike baseball, basketball doesn’t have any real “equalizer” position. While having a dominant player like a Lebron James or Kevin Durant definitely can help, there is no pitcher who can shut down the opposing offense or hockey goalie who can stand on his head. That means that, usually, the entire team more or less has to play above expectations if they intend to pull off an upset, or have their opponent have a bad day on the same day they have a few players have a good day. So to pull an upset in basketball is far more impressive and rare than an upset in baseball.

However, as I said, FGCU still has a long way to go. Fresno State, after all, won the whole thing- and that means that the Gulf Coast players will have to win four more games if they aim to take the overall crown of the greatest Cinderella in college sports history.

The time where the 76ers drafted two future MLB Players

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Just in time for March Madness, here’s a weird connection between hoops and Major League Baseball.

To be more specific, one year (1996), the Philadelphia 76ers drafted two college basketball stars who eventually made the rosters of Major League Baseball teams:

Screen Shot 2013-03-21 at 7.29.18 PMIn case you can’t see it, that is Mark Hendrickson and Ryan Minor being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, drafted one right after the other. Minor- who’s main claim to fame was starting at third the day that Cal Ripken‘s streak ended- went straight to baseball, but Hendrickson- who has been pitching in camp for the Orioles this spring- had a brief NBA career (go below the jump for the stats):

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Famous for Something Else: Michael Jordan

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If you don’t know who Michael Jordan is, you have either been in a coma for the last thirty years or you have come from another planet (although even people from other planets knew who Jordan was in his prime). It’s his 50th birthday today. Go below the jump for stuff on him:

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(Not Exactly) Famous For Something Else: Josh Booty

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Tonight, MLB Network debuts a new show called The Next Knuckler, in which Tim Wakefield and MLB Network’s resident goofball Kevin Millar will host a group of ex-quarterbacks, who they will try to teach the magic of the knuckleball, with the winner having a chance to pitch in a spring training game with the Diamondbacks. The ex-QBs include Doug Flutie, John David Booty, David Greene, Ryan Perriloux and, my guess on the odds-on favorite to win: Josh Booty.

Josh Booty? Who is this Josh Booty you say? Well, Josh Booty played quarterback for Louisiana State, and then was a third-string quarterback/practice squad member from 2001-2007 for the Seahawks, Browns and Raiders.

But before his football career, he was a baseball prospect. In fact, he was a big-time prospect, the fifth-overall pick of the 1994 draft by the Florida Marlins. He made it up for three separate cups of coffee with the Marlins:

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
1996 21 FLA NL 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 .500 .500 1.000 169 1 1 0 0 0 0 /5
1997 22 FLA NL 4 6 5 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 .600 .667 .600 1.267 243 3 0 0 0 0 0 /5
1998 23 FLA NL 7 22 19 0 3 1 0 0 3 0 0 3 8 .158 .273 .211 .483 33 4 0 0 0 0 0 /5
3 Yrs 13 30 26 3 7 1 0 0 4 0 0 4 9 .269 .367 .308 .674 85 8 1 0 0 0 0
162 Game Avg. 162 374 324 37 87 12 0 0 50 0 0 50 112 .269 .367 .308 .674 85 100 12 0 0 0 0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/13/2013.

If you are interested, here’s how he did in the minor leagues at the plate:

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
1994 19 2 Teams 2 Lgs Rk-A- FLA 14 58 52 6 12 1 0 1 3 1 0 5 12 .231 .298 .308 .606 16 3 0 1 0 0
1994 19 Marlins GULF Rk FLA 10 42 36 5 8 0 0 1 2 1 0 5 8 .222 .317 .306 .623 11 2 0 1 0 0
1994 19 Elmira NYPL A- FLA 4 16 16 1 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 .250 .250 .313 .563 5 1 0 0 0 0
1995 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A–A FLA 105 434 396 39 74 20 1 7 43 5 4 30 130 .187 .251 .295 .547 117 13 5 0 3 0
1995 20 Elmira NYPL A- FLA 74 313 287 33 63 18 1 6 37 4 4 19 85 .220 .278 .352 .630 101 12 5 0 2 0
1995 20 Kane County MIDW A FLA 31 121 109 6 11 2 0 1 6 1 0 11 45 .101 .182 .147 .329 16 1 0 0 1 0
1996 21 Kane County MIDW A FLA 128 529 475 62 98 25 1 21 87 2 3 46 195 .206 .275 .396 .670 188 11 1 1 6 0
1997 22 Portland EL AA FLA 122 480 448 42 94 19 2 20 69 2 2 27 166 .210 .254 .395 .649 177 12 1 0 4 1
1998 23 2 Teams 2 Lgs AA-AAA FLA 109 409 374 37 68 11 3 13 50 1 2 27 118 .182 .235 .332 .567 124 15 1 1 6 2
1998 23 Portland EL AA FLA 71 273 247 28 50 8 3 10 39 1 1 20 74 .202 .261 .381 .642 94 10 1 1 4 0
1998 23 Charlotte IL AAA FLA 38 136 127 9 18 3 0 3 11 0 1 7 44 .142 .184 .236 .420 30 5 0 0 2 2
5 Seasons 478 1910 1745 186 346 76 7 62 252 11 11 135 621 .198 .256 .356 .613 622 54 8 3 19 3
A (2 seasons) A 159 650 584 68 109 27 1 22 93 3 3 57 240 .187 .257 .349 .607 204 12 1 1 7 0
AA (2 seasons) AA 193 753 695 70 144 27 5 30 108 3 3 47 240 .207 .257 .390 .647 271 22 2 1 8 1
A- (2 seasons) A- 78 329 303 34 67 19 1 6 38 4 4 19 89 .221 .277 .350 .626 106 13 5 0 2 0
Rk (1 season) Rk 10 42 36 5 8 0 0 1 2 1 0 5 8 .222 .317 .306 .623 11 2 0 1 0 0
AAA (1 season) AAA 38 136 127 9 18 3 0 3 11 0 1 7 44 .142 .184 .236 .420 30 5 0 0 2 2
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/13/2013.

And so, since he’s, to my knowledge, the only guy in this MLB Network show who actually has played professional baseball, he should be considered the favorite.

OLYMPICS CONTINUUM: In which the IOC kicks out wrestling, basically the oldest sport there is

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Well, let it not be said that Olympics discriminates based on age: they have reportedly cut wrestling from the 2020 Olympics.

Yes, wrestling. One of the oldest sports in the world and one practiced unquestionably around the world, a mainstay of the Olympics since ancient times, has been dropped from the Olympics, while such sports as Modern Pentathlon, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Synchronized Swimming will remain.

In other words, yes, baseball and softball no longer have the biggest beef with the Olympics. Also, if I’m track and field or boxing, I’m starting to get worried about 2024, because if they can cut out wrestling, nobody is safe, even if the Ancient Greeks played it.

49ers, 34-24.

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That’s my prediction, anyway.

Famous for something else: John Lynch

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John Lynch made 9 Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl during his career as a strong safety in the NFL, and he now does some broadcasting on FOX. But he does hold a unique spot in baseball history as well: He threw the first pitch in the history of the Florida (now Miami) Marlins.

Well, sort of. You see, in order to let expansion teams get a farm system up and running, it’s not uncommon for them to have farm teams that play even before the parent club does. They also are able to draft players as well.

The Marlins’ first farm team was the 1992 Erie Sailors (remember, the Marlins started play in 1993). And the pitcher who threw out the first pitch for the Sailors in 1992 was… John Lynch. YouTube has video of the event here.

Like most individuals in “Famous for Something Else”, Lynch’s career was short on the diamond, and he probably made a good choice by going into football (although he did do pretty well in his short career).

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
1992 20 Erie NYPL A- 0 3 .000 2.15 7 7 0 0 0 0 29.1 24 15 7 1 17 0 16 2 3 0 128 1.398 7.4 0.3 5.2 4.9 0.94
1993 21 Kane County MIDW A FLA 1 0 1.000 3.00 2 2 0 0 0 0 9.0 4 4 3 1 12 0 3 0 0 0 43 1.778 4.0 1.0 12.0 3.0 0.25
2 Seasons 1 3 .250 2.35 9 9 0 0 0 0 38.1 28 19 10 2 29 0 19 2 3 0 171 1.487 6.6 0.5 6.8 4.5 0.66
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/31/2013.

Famous For Something Else: John Elway

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Unlike some other failed two-sport athletes, John Elway’s stats in the minors were actually pretty good. That said, I’d say he probably made a good decision focusing on the NFL.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
1982 22 Oneonta NYPL A- NYY 42 185 151 26 48 6 2 4 25 13 3 28 25 .318 .432 .464 .896 70 4 0 2 0
1 Season 42 185 151 26 48 6 2 4 25 13 3 28 25 .318 .432 .464 .896 70 4 0 2 0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/31/2013.

Famous for Something Else: Ricky Williams

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Before he played twelve seasons of professional football, Ricky Williams played baseball in the Phillies system, reaching as high as short-season low-A Batavia. Here are his stats from his time on the diamond:

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
1995 18 Martinsville APPY Rk PHI 36 121 113 19 27 1 0 0 11 13 2 6 32 .239 .289 .248 .537 28 1 2 0 0 0
1996 19 Piedmont SALL A PHI 84 288 266 30 50 4 3 3 20 17 8 18 87 .188 .245 .259 .504 69 2 2 2 0 1
1997 20 Piedmont SALL A PHI 37 149 136 12 28 5 0 1 6 10 4 9 44 .206 .268 .265 .533 36 0 3 0 1 0
1998 21 Batavia NYPL A- PHI 13 55 53 7 15 0 0 0 3 6 3 2 16 .283 .309 .283 .592 15 0 0 0 0 0
4 Seasons 170 613 568 68 120 10 3 4 40 46 17 35 179 .211 .265 .261 .526 148 3 7 2 1 1
A (2 seasons) A 121 437 402 42 78 9 3 4 26 27 12 27 131 .194 .253 .261 .514 105 2 5 2 1 1
Rk (1 season) Rk 36 121 113 19 27 1 0 0 11 13 2 6 32 .239 .289 .248 .537 28 1 2 0 0 0
A- (1 season) A- 13 55 53 7 15 0 0 0 3 6 3 2 16 .283 .309 .283 .592 15 0 0 0 0 0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/30/2013.

The PED Double Standard

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As you all definitely know, baseball was hit by a steroid scandal yesterday.

You may have also heard that such a thing struck the NFL, where news again surfaced that Ray Lewis had used a type of “deer-antler spray” that contained a type of illegal hormone for muscle growth. I say “again” because this actually isn’t news, it had first been reported in 2011.

Of course, you probably never heard that, because use of PEDs in the NFL is usually overlooked, or just dismissed, or, in some cases, openly rewarded. Yesterday, for example, Ray Lewis simply said that he’d “never tested positive” and then that was it. ESPN did cover it, but it was nowhere near the level of what would have happened if, say, the same thing had happened to a MLB player the day before the World Series were to start.

(Also, they don’t test for the PED that Lewis is accused of, since the NFL doesn’t have blood tests, so Lewis’ denial, while technically true, isn’t exactly a declaration of innocence.)

It doesn’t stop there (go below the jump):

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