Impressive record
This week's top 10:
- 10. Hit machine. It was fun watching Ichiro chase down an 84-year-old record, but let's not kid ourselves here. George Sisler got his 257 hits in a 154-game schedule; Ichiro didn't get hit 257 (or 258) until his 160th game.
Like Maris chasing Ruth 33 years ago, the single season hit record is now divided. It doesn't diminish Ichiro's accomplishment, rather it puts greater emphasis on just how impressive Sisler's feat is.
- 9. College Football I. The Penn State-Minnesota game Saturday at the Metrodome forced the Indians-Twins game, also at the Metrodome, to be suspended in the 11th inning so stadium workers could make the conversion to football.
Three things to think about here: One, it's just stupid to schedule two events on the same day, the first of which could theoretically never end. Two, it says a lot about the place of football versus baseball in popularity. Three, it says even more about the power of TV, as ESPN Regional broadcast the game.
- 8. The DH debate. Edgar Martinez wraps up his career today, and now the debate will center on whether or not he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
His hitting stats probably merit induction, but critics argue that while he was the greatest designated hitter of all time, he was ONLY a DH, and therefore is not worthy.
I think it's fairly obvious that he should be voted in, and on the first ballot. He WAS the greatest DH of all time, and that alone is enough for me. Rollie Fingers is in the Hall, and was "only" a closer.
The rules of baseball allow for designated hitter. He played the position and was the greatest ever. End of story.
And besides, when Mark McGwire and Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs get in the Hall, do you honestly think voters will stop to consider their fielding prowess before electing them? It all just seems a tad hypocritical to me.
- 7. College Football II. Purdue laid a pounding on Notre Dame in South Bend yesterday. So does this mean Ty Willingham is back on the hot seat? Or was he ever really off?
- 6. Still waiting 'til next year. The Chicago Cubs' choke over the last 10 days is one for the ages. To be sure, it's the greatest collapse in the wild-card era. Two losses to the Mets and a sweep by the Reds with the postseason on the line is inexcusable.
On the flip side, should the Astros secure the wild-card today (and they have Clemens on the mound), it will be remembered as one of the great second-half rallies.
- 5. Reverse field. Now that Ricky Williams has to pay back more than $8 million to the Dolphins, how much you want to bet his retirement doesn't last through November?
- 4. College Football III. Kudos to the Montana State Bobcats for picking up a road win at Idaho State to start the Big Sky season. Who would have thought the game would end up so low scoring?
I would write more, but unfortunately I didn't get a chance to watch the game. And unless you have Dish Network, you didn't either.
It's just bad business for the Big Sky Conference to sell broadcast rights to a network (Altitude Sports out of Denver) that has limited distribution. (Conversely, it's terrific business for Altitude to sign up games to use as leverage.)
I have hard time figuring out whose interests the conference was serving by doing this. It sure wasn't the fans' or the universities' of Montana.
- 3. If I had a vote … I would vote for Barry Bonds as the NL MVP and Derek Jeter as the AL counterpart.
Bonds is pretty obvious to me, but Jeter is an admittedly more curious choice. He doesn't have great overall numbers, but after his terrible start they look pretty darn good, and there simply isn't anyone more important to the Yankees than Jeter. The leadership on that team begins and ends with him.
For Cy Young, I'd go with Randy Johnson (yes, Randy Johnson) and Johan Santana. Johnson accounts for nearly a quarter of the abysmal Arizona Diamondbacks' wins, and has a perfect game to boot. Aside from the win-loss record, his stats are great, and he deserves the award.
Managers of the year would go to Bobby Cox (Another division title after all the players they dumped? Get outta here.) and Buck Showalter, who had the Rangers in contention up through the last couple of weeks.
- 2. College Football IV. Like their cross-state rivals, the Grizzlies started the Big Sky season on the road and return home with an impressive win under their belts.
What I found most surprising is that Craig Ochs led the way. After last week's game, I didn't think he'd play. Ochs is a terrific talent, but he just doesn't have a body made to take the punishment of football. You can bet he will miss more time as the season progresses.
- 1. Sweating the small stuff. The Fashion Police at the NFL league office threatened to fine Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer unless he removed a tribute to his former Arizona State and Arizona Cardinals teammate Pat Tillman.
Tillman retired from the Cardinals to join the Army and was killed in Afghanistan earlier this year. The NFL had all players wear commemorative decals on their helmets on Sept. 12 to honor Tillman, but apparently that's as far as the league wanted the tribute to go.
Plummer continued to wear the sticker, and the league threatened to fine him unless he removed it, as it was in violation of the uniform code.
Plummer caved and will not wear it anymore, but this is pettiness taken to a heretofore unimagined level. The NFL should be embarrassed and ashamed that this became an issue.
Andrew Hinkelman is a sports writer for The Daily Inter Lake. He can be reached at hink@dailyinterlake.com