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Mailbag: Yost, no-hitters and a fullback dive
By Rob Lucas
Daily News Sports Writer
I had to get another e-mail address with the onslaught of questions I've received over the past two weeks, so without further ado, here are your inquiries with my answers:
Thank God the Brewers finally canned Ned Yost, but is it too late? Blissful in Brookfield. Well Blissful, I'm glad Milwaukee finally was cured of its Yost infection (I'm really not that witty, I saw it on a T-shirt). But I'm with you - I wonder if it came about two months too late (or 12 months, but whatever).
Milwaukee is the second-most talented team in the National League without question. The Cubs are elite while the Phillies, Mets, Astros and Dodgers all have questions like the Brewers do, but do not possess the raw talent Milwaukee does. Can Dale Sveum bring that talent to the surface?
He's going to pull out all stops because this is his audition to be a manger in 2009 and his best chance at keeping his job in Milwaukee. Hopefully (for my sanity), the Crew will pull it out and make the playoffs and make trading Matt LaPorta worthwhile.
That no-hitter was so bogus! It was a home game for the Cubs and my 'Stros had to fly up the day of the game. Come on, Robnificient! Angry at the Astrodome. I agree Angry, the Astros did get screwed. Playing in Milwaukee was like Rocky having to fight Ivan Drago in Russia in Rocky IV (though Rocky won and ended the Cold War in one fell swoop).
However, if the Astros had lost 5-4 in the ninth inning, I would feel worse for them. But they were no-hit by a guy coming off the disabled list. I was sitting in right field Sunday night and never felt like the Astros even threatened to get a hit, much less score a run.
Houston was a red-hot team before the series, but two days off (which their management caused by not moving the series sooner to Milwaukee or Tampa) had a bigger effect on the players than playing in Milwaukee. The Astros have an easy schedule the rest of the way and could catch the Brewers for the playoffs, but if they point to the no-hitter as an excuse it would be just that, an excuse to not blame themselves.
How 'bout them Packers? Brett who? is all I have to say. Lusting over Lambeau. You are right, the Packers do look good - better than I thought they would. Aaron Rodgers has surprised me with his poise in the pocket and this is all without Ryan Grant doing a lick besides count his money.
One problem though - the team is having trouble finishing. Sure, they are 2-0, but wins over Minnesota and Detroit (a combined 0-4) aren't like wins over Pittsburgh or Dallas.
Monday's game with the Cowboys will show how far Rodgers and the Packers have come. If they can pull off the upset (it would be an upset because Dallas has absolute freaks on offense) then Titletown can start buying up hotel rooms in Tampa. But if Dallas dismembers Green Bay, then the coaches need to make some serious adjustments.
Fullback dive on 4th-and-1? Seriously? Your roommate. I know - I'm as baffled as you are.
Stunned disbelief was my reaction to Ron Turner's play call on fourth down of the Bears/Panthers game Sunday. With a rookie running back who has already shown the ability to get the tough yard and a defense that was pinching the middle, Turner decided to give it to Jason McKie on fourth down and basically hand the game to Carolina and Jake “I whine like an unfed cat” Delhomme.
Chicago has been tortured by Turner's ineptitude for far too long now. While fans watch gutsy teams like the Broncos (and by gutsy, I mean more talented) go for two to win, Turner continues to wallow in worthlessness.
Until he is eliminated from the coaching staff and Rex is back in the starting lineup, the Bears are a .500 team at best.
Is Bucky the best team in the Big Ten? Curious in Cudahy. That is a question that will be answered on Oct. 12th - a day after the Badgers finish a three-game stretch of at Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State at home. Both the home games are Saturday night affairs, which is a true advantage for Wisconsin and their, umm, unnaturally happy fans.
The Badgers have the running game to beat anyone in the Big Ten, but it depends on how their defense handles Penn State's spread and Ohio State's talent. I'd be concerned about Michigan, but boy are they just flat out awful.
Wisconsin should make a return trip to the Rose Bowl this year with the generous home scheduling. Just hope it isn't against USC.
Thank God the Brewers finally canned Ned Yost, but is it too late? Blissful in Brookfield. Well Blissful, I'm glad Milwaukee finally was cured of its Yost infection (I'm really not that witty, I saw it on a T-shirt). But I'm with you - I wonder if it came about two months too late (or 12 months, but whatever).
Milwaukee is the second-most talented team in the National League without question. The Cubs are elite while the Phillies, Mets, Astros and Dodgers all have questions like the Brewers do, but do not possess the raw talent Milwaukee does. Can Dale Sveum bring that talent to the surface?
He's going to pull out all stops because this is his audition to be a manger in 2009 and his best chance at keeping his job in Milwaukee. Hopefully (for my sanity), the Crew will pull it out and make the playoffs and make trading Matt LaPorta worthwhile.
That no-hitter was so bogus! It was a home game for the Cubs and my 'Stros had to fly up the day of the game. Come on, Robnificient! Angry at the Astrodome. I agree Angry, the Astros did get screwed. Playing in Milwaukee was like Rocky having to fight Ivan Drago in Russia in Rocky IV (though Rocky won and ended the Cold War in one fell swoop).
However, if the Astros had lost 5-4 in the ninth inning, I would feel worse for them. But they were no-hit by a guy coming off the disabled list. I was sitting in right field Sunday night and never felt like the Astros even threatened to get a hit, much less score a run.
Houston was a red-hot team before the series, but two days off (which their management caused by not moving the series sooner to Milwaukee or Tampa) had a bigger effect on the players than playing in Milwaukee. The Astros have an easy schedule the rest of the way and could catch the Brewers for the playoffs, but if they point to the no-hitter as an excuse it would be just that, an excuse to not blame themselves.
How 'bout them Packers? Brett who? is all I have to say. Lusting over Lambeau. You are right, the Packers do look good - better than I thought they would. Aaron Rodgers has surprised me with his poise in the pocket and this is all without Ryan Grant doing a lick besides count his money.
One problem though - the team is having trouble finishing. Sure, they are 2-0, but wins over Minnesota and Detroit (a combined 0-4) aren't like wins over Pittsburgh or Dallas.
Monday's game with the Cowboys will show how far Rodgers and the Packers have come. If they can pull off the upset (it would be an upset because Dallas has absolute freaks on offense) then Titletown can start buying up hotel rooms in Tampa. But if Dallas dismembers Green Bay, then the coaches need to make some serious adjustments.
Fullback dive on 4th-and-1? Seriously? Your roommate. I know - I'm as baffled as you are.
Stunned disbelief was my reaction to Ron Turner's play call on fourth down of the Bears/Panthers game Sunday. With a rookie running back who has already shown the ability to get the tough yard and a defense that was pinching the middle, Turner decided to give it to Jason McKie on fourth down and basically hand the game to Carolina and Jake “I whine like an unfed cat” Delhomme.
Chicago has been tortured by Turner's ineptitude for far too long now. While fans watch gutsy teams like the Broncos (and by gutsy, I mean more talented) go for two to win, Turner continues to wallow in worthlessness.
Until he is eliminated from the coaching staff and Rex is back in the starting lineup, the Bears are a .500 team at best.
Is Bucky the best team in the Big Ten? Curious in Cudahy. That is a question that will be answered on Oct. 12th - a day after the Badgers finish a three-game stretch of at Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State at home. Both the home games are Saturday night affairs, which is a true advantage for Wisconsin and their, umm, unnaturally happy fans.
The Badgers have the running game to beat anyone in the Big Ten, but it depends on how their defense handles Penn State's spread and Ohio State's talent. I'd be concerned about Michigan, but boy are they just flat out awful.
Wisconsin should make a return trip to the Rose Bowl this year with the generous home scheduling. Just hope it isn't against USC.
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