The season started vastly different for these two teams. LSU played Oregon on neutral turf (although much closer to Baton Rouge) and beat the ranked Oregon team. Georgia also played on neutral ground (yes, much closer to Athens) against a ranked Boise State team. Georgia was not as fortunate. Boise State thumped the Dogs rather handily. Georgia went on to lose to ranked South Carolina to begin SEC play and Mark Richt was supposedly going to finish the season coaching at Siberia U.
I watched both the Boise State and South Carolina games and saw marked improvement in UGA's effort. Were it not for a couple of unfortunate ball bounces and trick plays, UGA would have likely won. The look on Steve Spurrier's face during the game would not have landed him a job on the popular deoderant commercial ~ he let a national TV audience see him sweat.
That was almost three months ago. LSU has continued their march to an undefeated season ~ 12-0. That's no slouch by anyone's standards, let alone to go unscathed through the SEC West. UGA has also gone on their impressive run of 10 straight wins, through the SEC East. Say what you want, the SEC is the most grueling college football schedule in the country. To get to the SEC Championship Game at the end is a monumental milestone for both teams.
Much has been said about a possible LSU - Alabama rematch for the National Championship. I have an opinion about that, however not to be shared in this space. Since LSU and UGA have not met on the football field in a couple of years, I did some research on their 2011 seasons. Their schedules included at least six common teams. LSU and UGA won all six of those games. Since teams can (and should) improve throughout the season, I wanted to choose games that were relatively close to one another to compare. I chose the Mississippi State and Auburn games.
Without boring you with all the specific numbers (go to ESPN.com and look them up yourself if you're that interested), I noticed these games were remarkably similar.
For example, against Mississippi State, Georgia had 20 first downs while LSU had 21. Incidentally, both allowed MSU 13. LSU amassed 361 total yards to UGA's 315. The time of possession was within three minutes of each other. Final scores? LSU won 19-6 while UGA won 24-10.
In the Auburn game, UGA had 30 first downs, holding Auburn to only 9. In that category, LSU had 23 and Auburn had 18. Total yards ~ Auburn racked up 195 against UGA's defense, while gaining 248 against LSU. Incidentally, LSU looked strong against that Auburn defense, gaining 393 yards! But hold on to your hat, Lee Corso . . . UGA rolled up 528 yards against that Auburn defense! The possession time for LSU and Auburn were within 1:10 of each other. Georgia's offense stayed on the field almost 41 of their 60 minute game. The final scores were almost identical. LSU 45-10; UGA 45-7.
All things considered, LSU may have a better team on paper. LSU may win the game, we don't know yet. But that's why they play 'em. And so, to our friends at ESPN who so aptly predict college football games so well during this time of year, NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND!! I wouldn't be so quick to write off a strong showing by the Georgia Bulldogs this weekend in Atlanta. Win, lose, or draw, I think it will be a completely different team's showing than what the Nation saw in the opening week against Boise State.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Is It Really Worth It All?
I've never seen him cleaned up. I've never seen what the top of his head looks like because he always has on a cap. His beard is always scruffy, and never trimmed. His clothes, quite honestly, are rarely neat. Most of the jeans he wears are what we once called, high-waters. I even saw men who looked neater who lived at the Union Rescue Mission where I worked while living in Tennessee.
Most every morning, this newspaper delivery man comes into the hotel where I work for a cup of coffee. Normally, I expect to see him about 4:15-4:30, but on this particular morning, he was running late. I mean, REALLY late! In fact, I thought I had missed him since it was already after 5:00. But, here he came.
We've had a few conversations about the 'stuff' of life. We've had passing conversations about politics as I've tuned the TV to Fox News. We've talked about vehicles while he showed me his beat-up pick up truck. There have been at least one in-depth conversation about spiritual matters. That one was around Easter, and I prayed the seed that was planted would be used to bear fruit.
But this morning, he was running too late for much beyond a passing hello. He did, however, make one statement as he left the hotel lobby. After noting the time, he muttered, "Some days I wonder if it's worth it."
He didn't take the time to expound on his troubles of the day. He didn't belabor the point he had made. In fact, I had to strain to hear it.
It was a comment I wish could have started one of our conversations. I really wish he hadn't been running so far behind today. I would have gladly shared the lyrics of a song Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote back in the mid-60's.
Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He Lives, all fear is gone
Because I KNOW, He holds the future
And life is worth the living,
Just Because He Lives!
I sing that song a lot. The quartet I sing with ends all our concerts with it. As we sing that song, what a joy it is to see the expression on the faces of those in the congregations. There is a sense of relief at being reminded that God still has things in control. God hasn't forsaken us; He hasn't abandoned us. God still loves us and He proved that love when He died, and ROSE from the grave!
Life can sometimes throw a nasty curve that surprises us. But it has NEVER surprised God! There may be a pothole in the middle of what you thought were your well-laid plans, but by God's help, you can navigate through it or even dodge around it. The key is found in maintaining our faith in the God who is never surprised. The object is to make sure our plans are founded in the Father who is able to guide us through life's potential potholes.
Be encouraged to stand firm in your faith in Him. Allow Him to lead you in His best plans for your life. Then, you can say with complete certainty, "Yes, life is worth it!"
Most every morning, this newspaper delivery man comes into the hotel where I work for a cup of coffee. Normally, I expect to see him about 4:15-4:30, but on this particular morning, he was running late. I mean, REALLY late! In fact, I thought I had missed him since it was already after 5:00. But, here he came.
We've had a few conversations about the 'stuff' of life. We've had passing conversations about politics as I've tuned the TV to Fox News. We've talked about vehicles while he showed me his beat-up pick up truck. There have been at least one in-depth conversation about spiritual matters. That one was around Easter, and I prayed the seed that was planted would be used to bear fruit.
But this morning, he was running too late for much beyond a passing hello. He did, however, make one statement as he left the hotel lobby. After noting the time, he muttered, "Some days I wonder if it's worth it."
He didn't take the time to expound on his troubles of the day. He didn't belabor the point he had made. In fact, I had to strain to hear it.
It was a comment I wish could have started one of our conversations. I really wish he hadn't been running so far behind today. I would have gladly shared the lyrics of a song Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote back in the mid-60's.
Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He Lives, all fear is gone
Because I KNOW, He holds the future
And life is worth the living,
Just Because He Lives!
I sing that song a lot. The quartet I sing with ends all our concerts with it. As we sing that song, what a joy it is to see the expression on the faces of those in the congregations. There is a sense of relief at being reminded that God still has things in control. God hasn't forsaken us; He hasn't abandoned us. God still loves us and He proved that love when He died, and ROSE from the grave!
Life can sometimes throw a nasty curve that surprises us. But it has NEVER surprised God! There may be a pothole in the middle of what you thought were your well-laid plans, but by God's help, you can navigate through it or even dodge around it. The key is found in maintaining our faith in the God who is never surprised. The object is to make sure our plans are founded in the Father who is able to guide us through life's potential potholes.
Be encouraged to stand firm in your faith in Him. Allow Him to lead you in His best plans for your life. Then, you can say with complete certainty, "Yes, life is worth it!"
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Bruce Bochy Botched It!
Beware, this post will have a lot of numbers and statistics that, for a non-baseball fan will mean absolutely nothing. If you are a baseball fan, and in particular, a Braves fan, read on with interest.
First (or I suppose second, now) and foremost, I'll begin by saying I do not envy the job of the manager of an Major League Baseball All-Star Game. There are many people who are upset because they feel their favorite players or teammates should have been chosen to be an All-Star. I also will acknowledge that the manager has to work with many stipulations that may or may not be realized by the average fan. That having been said as a type of disclaimer, I will use this format to express my displeasure with the choices of the National League manager, Bruce Bochy of the San Fransisco Giants.
Popular vote of baseball fans around the world select the Game's starters. While that is also a bit of a farce from time to time, I must say that this year's National League starters seem quite deserving of the honor. (It is completely ironic to me, however, that most of the starters will have little to do with the outcome of the game.) The players then have a vote. In researching (yes, I did research for this post), I wanted to find out who was chosen by the players. Some, by reading various articles, I learned were chosen that way, but I was unable to find a specific list of such. The rest of the rosters are determined by the managers of each team (selected on the basis of the prior year's World Series participants). The glitch here is that each team must be represented by at least one player. So, if the fans have not elected a starter, or the players have not elected a representative from a team, the manager must find someone on that team to be an All-Star.
The statement is well-known, "You can make statistics say anything you want." Baseball is a game of statistics. There are statistics for everything, including some things that seem totally ridiculous. But when looking at who to select for such a game, for such an honor, statistics must be considered.
An examination of some statistics clearly show that Bruce Bochy should have made some different selections. I'm a Braves fan. I've been a Braves fan for a long, LONG time. I'm pleased that Brian McCann was elected a starter for this year's team. He deserves that honor. I'm tickled that Jair Jurrjens was selected as a pitcher this year. He deserves that honor. Chipper Jones was selected by the players. He even thought his manager was playing a practical joke when he was informed of his All-Star selection. He said he was shocked. Quite frankly, so was I. Jonny Venters is a relief pitcher on my favorite team that has done extremely well this year. He deserves the chance to be there.
There are two deserving Braves players, however, who were omitted from the roster this year. Yes, I know there are others from other teams that deserve to go, too. That may be, but this is where things get dicey. Four pitchers from San Fransisco (Bruce Bochy's team) were selected to the roster. One of which (Ryan Vogelsong) is a 'feel-good' selection. His story is one that just gives people the warm fuzzies. If Coach Bochy wants to make him a selection to fulfill the 'every team must have a player' rule, then fine. Select him, fulfill your 'every team must have a player' rule, and select others who deserve the honor by their on-field play. Take a look at the numbers posted by the other pitchers chosen:
Matt Cain 7-4 record with a 3.02 ERA in 17 games. He has pitched 113.1 innings, giving up 94 hits and 37 earned runs. He has walked 29 batters while striking out 95. Opposing batters are hitting .223 against him.
Tim Lincecum is 6-7 (yes, a LOSING RECORD) with a 3.14 ERA in 18 games. He has pitched 117.1 innings, giving up 99 hits and 41 earned runs. He has walked 41 while striking out 126. Opposing batters are hitting .230 against him.
Adam Berry, writing for MLB.com (7/4/11 6:35PM Bochy Happy With NL All-Star Picks) said this about his interview with the manager, inferring the thoughts came from the manager, although quotes were not used. "Lincecum, who is coming off a rough stretch in June, deserved the spot for his performance this year and his status as one of baseball's most exciting pitchers." Friends, he's been a major league pitcher since 2007, pitching in 62 career games. Forgive my lack of correct English, but Nolan Ryan, he ain't!
Contrast these statistics to those of Braves pitcher, Tommy Hanson. Hanson is 10-4 with a 2.52 ERA in 16 games. He has pitched 96.1 innings, giving up 66 hits and 27 earned runs. He has walked 34 while striking out 103. Opposing batters are hitting .192 against him. He spent a couple weeks on the Disabled List, causing the fewer innings pitched. The guy has been dominant during most of his starts.
Let's look at a couple of relievers. Brian Wilson, closer for the Giants, who made the All-Star team has an impressive 6-1 record with a 3.03 ERA. He has pitched 38.2 innings, saving 24 of 28 opportunities. He has allowed 33 hits, 13 earned runs, walking 22 and striking out 36. Opposing batters are hitting .238 against him.
Craig Kimbrel, a rookie closer on the Braves pitching staff, has compiled the following numbers in the first half of the season. He has a 2-2 won-lost record with a 2.51 ERA in 44 games. He has saved 25 of 30 opportunities in 43 innings, giving up 12 earned runs. He has walked 18 while striking out 67. Opposing batters are hitting .188 against him.
Lest anyone think I'm simply crying foul because of a couple of Braves pitchers, I would also mention a Pirates pitcher, Correia. He is 11-6 with a 3.74 ERA pitching 113 innings in 19 games. He's walked 25 while striking out 57 and batters are hitting .260 against him.
As I said, I do not envy the job of a manager trying to make selections to the All-Star Game. There is absolutely no way to get it perfect. Someone who deserves the honor will be disappointed. But this year, I believe the statistics bear it out ~ Bruce Bochy, you BLEW IT!!!
First (or I suppose second, now) and foremost, I'll begin by saying I do not envy the job of the manager of an Major League Baseball All-Star Game. There are many people who are upset because they feel their favorite players or teammates should have been chosen to be an All-Star. I also will acknowledge that the manager has to work with many stipulations that may or may not be realized by the average fan. That having been said as a type of disclaimer, I will use this format to express my displeasure with the choices of the National League manager, Bruce Bochy of the San Fransisco Giants.
Popular vote of baseball fans around the world select the Game's starters. While that is also a bit of a farce from time to time, I must say that this year's National League starters seem quite deserving of the honor. (It is completely ironic to me, however, that most of the starters will have little to do with the outcome of the game.) The players then have a vote. In researching (yes, I did research for this post), I wanted to find out who was chosen by the players. Some, by reading various articles, I learned were chosen that way, but I was unable to find a specific list of such. The rest of the rosters are determined by the managers of each team (selected on the basis of the prior year's World Series participants). The glitch here is that each team must be represented by at least one player. So, if the fans have not elected a starter, or the players have not elected a representative from a team, the manager must find someone on that team to be an All-Star.
The statement is well-known, "You can make statistics say anything you want." Baseball is a game of statistics. There are statistics for everything, including some things that seem totally ridiculous. But when looking at who to select for such a game, for such an honor, statistics must be considered.
An examination of some statistics clearly show that Bruce Bochy should have made some different selections. I'm a Braves fan. I've been a Braves fan for a long, LONG time. I'm pleased that Brian McCann was elected a starter for this year's team. He deserves that honor. I'm tickled that Jair Jurrjens was selected as a pitcher this year. He deserves that honor. Chipper Jones was selected by the players. He even thought his manager was playing a practical joke when he was informed of his All-Star selection. He said he was shocked. Quite frankly, so was I. Jonny Venters is a relief pitcher on my favorite team that has done extremely well this year. He deserves the chance to be there.
There are two deserving Braves players, however, who were omitted from the roster this year. Yes, I know there are others from other teams that deserve to go, too. That may be, but this is where things get dicey. Four pitchers from San Fransisco (Bruce Bochy's team) were selected to the roster. One of which (Ryan Vogelsong) is a 'feel-good' selection. His story is one that just gives people the warm fuzzies. If Coach Bochy wants to make him a selection to fulfill the 'every team must have a player' rule, then fine. Select him, fulfill your 'every team must have a player' rule, and select others who deserve the honor by their on-field play. Take a look at the numbers posted by the other pitchers chosen:
Matt Cain 7-4 record with a 3.02 ERA in 17 games. He has pitched 113.1 innings, giving up 94 hits and 37 earned runs. He has walked 29 batters while striking out 95. Opposing batters are hitting .223 against him.
Tim Lincecum is 6-7 (yes, a LOSING RECORD) with a 3.14 ERA in 18 games. He has pitched 117.1 innings, giving up 99 hits and 41 earned runs. He has walked 41 while striking out 126. Opposing batters are hitting .230 against him.
Adam Berry, writing for MLB.com (7/4/11 6:35PM Bochy Happy With NL All-Star Picks) said this about his interview with the manager, inferring the thoughts came from the manager, although quotes were not used. "Lincecum, who is coming off a rough stretch in June, deserved the spot for his performance this year and his status as one of baseball's most exciting pitchers." Friends, he's been a major league pitcher since 2007, pitching in 62 career games. Forgive my lack of correct English, but Nolan Ryan, he ain't!
Contrast these statistics to those of Braves pitcher, Tommy Hanson. Hanson is 10-4 with a 2.52 ERA in 16 games. He has pitched 96.1 innings, giving up 66 hits and 27 earned runs. He has walked 34 while striking out 103. Opposing batters are hitting .192 against him. He spent a couple weeks on the Disabled List, causing the fewer innings pitched. The guy has been dominant during most of his starts.
Let's look at a couple of relievers. Brian Wilson, closer for the Giants, who made the All-Star team has an impressive 6-1 record with a 3.03 ERA. He has pitched 38.2 innings, saving 24 of 28 opportunities. He has allowed 33 hits, 13 earned runs, walking 22 and striking out 36. Opposing batters are hitting .238 against him.
Craig Kimbrel, a rookie closer on the Braves pitching staff, has compiled the following numbers in the first half of the season. He has a 2-2 won-lost record with a 2.51 ERA in 44 games. He has saved 25 of 30 opportunities in 43 innings, giving up 12 earned runs. He has walked 18 while striking out 67. Opposing batters are hitting .188 against him.
Lest anyone think I'm simply crying foul because of a couple of Braves pitchers, I would also mention a Pirates pitcher, Correia. He is 11-6 with a 3.74 ERA pitching 113 innings in 19 games. He's walked 25 while striking out 57 and batters are hitting .260 against him.
As I said, I do not envy the job of a manager trying to make selections to the All-Star Game. There is absolutely no way to get it perfect. Someone who deserves the honor will be disappointed. But this year, I believe the statistics bear it out ~ Bruce Bochy, you BLEW IT!!!
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