Saints Win Super Bowl XLIV

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV, but the game was closer than final score would indicate. The Saints were leading by seven with 3:12 left in the fourth quarter. Peyton Manning was leading the Colts to a potential game tying drive when he threw an interception to defensive back Tracy Porter, who returned the ball 74 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

The Saints were 4½-point underdogs going into the Super Bowl. Coach Sean Payton devised a game plan that was reminiscent of previous Super Bowl winners, but added a wrinkle that shifted the momentum to the Saints.

The Saints figured the best way to keep Peyton Manning and the Colts from scoring was to keep Manning off the field. In Super Bowl XXV, the Giants faced the potent Buffalo Bills offense, but neutralized the Bills by controlling the time of possession with a strong running game.

The Saints did not convincingly control the time of possession over the Colts, but did manage the clock in the second and third quarters. In the second quarter, the Saints had the ball for 13 minutes. They only scored six points on two field goals, but kept the Colt offense on the bench – after the Colts scored 10 points in the first quarter.

In the third quarter, the Saints had the ball for 7:33, and scored 10 points. The Colts scored a touchdown with the only offensive possession in the third quarter. The Colts scored on three of their first five possessions, but had the ball for only eight minutes during this crucial stretch.

The Saints started the third quarter with an onside kick, and kept possession of the football. The Colts were leading 10-6 at the time. Suppose the Colts had the first possession in the third quarter and scored a touchdown. The score would have been 17-6. Or suppose the Colts would have scored with a field goal. Any lead half way through the third quarter could have been a safe lead.

Instead, the Saints kept possession of the football, and scored to take a 13-10 lead. The onside kick shifted momentum to the Saints. Remember, the Colts had the ball for only 2:34 in the second quarter, and then had to wait 3:19 for the Saints to score. The Colts were able to score a touchdown with their only possession in the third quarter to take a 17-13 lead, but Peyton Manning must have been frustrated as he witnessed the Saints march up and down the field on the Colts defense.

The Colt defense held the Saints to six points in the second quarter, even stopping the Saints on fourth and goal, but the Saints offense was in complete control throughout the second quarter, and the rest of the game. The Colts did not have a pass rush. Saints quarterback Drew Brees had ample time to find open receivers.

Brees also borrowed from history, and copied the San Francisco 49ers’ game plan. In the early 1980’s, the 49ers did not have a running game. To compensate, Montana used to dump off passes to running backs, tight ends, and Dwight Clark. The 49ers methodically drove the length of the field. Defenses were forced to choose between rushing the passer, and leaving the secondary exposed, or sending three defensive linemen, and having six or seven defensive backs to cover the offense. The latter option allowed Montana to dissect defenses.

Brees completed 32 passes for 288 yards. He completed 29 of his last 32 attempts. He spread the ball around. Eight receivers caught at least one pass. Most of his passes were dumped underneath for six or seven yards, but Brees was able to complete passes for 10+ yards when he needed to. There were several offensive plays in which more than one receiver was wide open.

The Colts were not able to generate a pass rush. Defensive lineman Dwight Freeney was ineffective because he played with an injured right ankle. The Colts defense did not play aggressively, did not make any adjustments, and allowed the Saints offense to control the tempo of the game.

The Colts defense gave up 332 yards and 24 points, but more importantly their defense allowed the Saints to maintain possession of the football during the middle of the game. This really was a case of the Saints offense controlling the Colts offense.

I thought Manning would be able to score at will against the Saints defense. Offensively, the Colts outperformed the Saints, but the Saints offense kept the Colts offense off the field and off the scoreboard in the second quarter. This was the turning point of the game. The successful onside kick to start the third quarter shifted the momentum.

Coach Sean Payton deserves a lot of credit for taking chances, and crafting a successful game plan.

Governing in the Age of Obama

I believe it was film critic Roger Ebert who said, “You review the movie you saw, not the movie you wanted made.” We should use the same approach in judging President Obama’s first year in office.

Candidate Obama ran on hope and change and his inauguration last January stimulated the imagination of his supporters. A year later, the word “disappointment” is often used to evaluate President Obama’s first year in office.

If we work under the principle of reviewing who President Obama is, rather than the President Obama we would like him to be, then his first year cannot be considered a disappointment.

In 2008, the Democratic Party had two distinctive candidates running for president. Senator Hillary Clinton was the candidate who would fight on every issue. Senator Obama was the candidate who would be able to bring people together to solve our problems. It was a choice between a steamroller and a conciliator.

I believed electing Mr. Obama president of the United States would restore our image throughout the world because the election would demonstrate we prevailed over our original sin of slavery and racism.

In that sense, his first year was a success. President Obama perceives other world leaders as equals. He has demonstrated a willingness to work with other countries on various global issues. He listens instead of dictating policy like his predecessors. No wonder he is more popular overseas than he is in the United States.

President Obama has a gift, an ability to listen and work with others. This ability may work well in foreign policy, but it is not working well domestically. It is not entirely his fault. Structural problems within our government have nullified his ability.

President Obama is not a steamroller. It is not his nature to force others to accept his position. He believes in argument and persuasion and he will not make a decision until he has heard and analyzed everybody’s opinion.

The Conservative opposition’s notion that President Obama is a radical who intends to create a Marxist/fascist state is ridiculous. He campaigned as a centrist, and he has governed as a centrist.

Health care reform is an example of President Obama’s centrist tendencies. He did not want to impose a single payer, Medicare for all health care bill. Instead, President Obama wanted a bill that protected consumers. Furthermore, the single payer legislation would have eliminated the private health care insurance industry. He is trying to regulate the current health care system, not overthrow it.

President Obama believes in bipartisanship. He will stubbornly continue to seek support from Republicans in Congress. It is frustrating to watch President Obama constantly reach out to Senate Republicans, trying to coax at least one vote for his proposals. Republicans continue to reject his efforts, but President Obama is keeping his promise to work with Republicans.

President Obama said he wanted an administration that was willing to embrace ideas from Republicans as well as Democrats.

Negotiations over last year’s stimulus package was an example of President Obama’s willingness to consider Republican ideas. Most economists argued the stimulus bill should be a pure jobs bill aimed at so-called “shovel ready projects.” Republicans argued for tax cuts. The same economists counter argued that tax cuts were not necessary. Tax cuts would lessen the impact of the stimulus bill. President Obama listened to the Republicans and included tax cuts in the stimulus bill. President Obama’s concession to the Republicans was for naught because they voted against the stimulus bill.

President Obama does not lead in a vacuum. He shares power with Congress, and the Senate is responsible for government inaction during Obama’s first year in office.

Before the inauguration, Senator Harry Reid said that the Senate was not going to rollover for President Obama. That was a bold statement considering the Democrats in the Senate allowed President Bush to prosecute a false war against Iraq.

For a brief period in late 2009 and early 2010, Democrats had 60 seats in the Senate, enough to defeat a filibuster. Even with this tactical advantage, the Senate was unable to pass health care reform in a timely manner.

The problems in the Senate are structural. Senate Republicans have adopted former First Lady Nancy Reagan’s anti-drug mantra of “Just Say No” as a political tactic, and have colluded to vote against President Obama’s proposals. Republicans are forcing the Democrats to vote as a bloc to stop filibusters and enact legislation.

The Republican Party is acting like the Sunnis in Iraq. The Sunnis initially refused to participate in the new Iraqi government. They wanted to continue ruling Iraq, like they did before the American invasion. Republicans do not want to cooperate. They want to run the country, like they did from 2001 to 2006.

Before President Obama, a simple majority (51 votes) was needed to pass legislation. Currently, bills need a supermajority (60 votes) to pass.

The problems in the Senate are exacerbated by a weak Majority Leader. Current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will never be confused with former Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson. Democratic senators are not afraid of Mr. Reid. He cannot impose his will on his colleagues. President Obama would be better served if he had a steamroller as Majority Leader in the Senate.

Republicans are betting the economy will not improve in 2010. Voters will blame President Obama. Republicans are gambling voters will punish the Democrats in the fall.

Republicans are aided and abetted by the Mainstream Media (MSM). President Obama’s failures are exaggerated. Republican talking points have a wide platform, greater than Fox News. President Obama’s birth certificate has received an inordinate amount of attention. Several thousand tea-bag protesters are magnified as a vast movement against President Obama. False notions, like death panels in the health care bill, are given constant coverage, thus making it a legitimate issue to cover. A special election in Massachusetts, to replace deceased Senator Ted Kennedy, won by a Republican is reported as a referendum on President Obama’s policies.

The MSM constantly give a platform to the Republican opposition who use the coverage to portray President Obama’s agenda as radical. Republicans use code words to inflame the public, like radical, socialist, and fascist. Big government becomes totalitarian. Repeat code words enough, and President Obama’s approval ratings will drop.

This tired tactic is not even original. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and current political pundit Bill Kristol used these tactics against the Clinton Administration.

President Obama is not beyond criticism. He prides himself on considering all options before making a decision, but in two instances he did not consider all the options available to him.

First, the health care reform bill. President Obama did not include the single payer option in negotiations with Congress. Also, President Obama did not include a provision to purchase cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and Europe. Furthermore, he did not include a provision to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies.

Second, the war in Afghanistan. President Obama limited his choices to no escalation, and escalating troop levels by 20, 40 or 60 thousand troops. Withdrawing troops, the best option in my opinion, was never considered.

President Obama has demonstrated the tendency to limit his policy decisions to a group of second best options while completely ignoring the best options. He tries to build consensus by seeking policy options that are not disagreeable.

Liberals and progressives were expecting another FDR, but Mr. Obama never campaigned as a progressive. He wanted to bridge the gap between liberals and conservatives and he’s trying. It is not his fault Republicans are refusing to cooperate.

He wanted to tone down the rhetoric in Washington. President Obama has not resorted to denigrating the opposition, but the Republicans are.

During the presidential campaign, he figured out independent voters were not interested in ideological solutions. Voters wanted someone who could manage the country and the economy. President Obama is trying to be a nonpartisan manager.

President Obama is trying to be the president he campaigned to be. The problem has been governing. The inability to govern is not entirely his fault. President Obama’s most neglected accomplishment during his first year in office was demonstrating our system of government is obsolete and is in need of repair.

Please go to the enclosed link for a list of President Obama’s achievements during his first year: http://mediamatters.org/research/201001270003?lid=1092301&rid=40913829

McGwire Wrong About Steroids

In the summer of 1998, it became obvious that Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa was going to break Roger Maris’ single season home run record. I remember a conversation I had with a friend that summer. I said it was a shame a steroid user was going to break that record. Almost twelve years later, Mark McGwire confirmed “what people have suspected.”[i] He used steroids during most of his career.

McGwire was hired as the hitting coach for the St Louis Cardinals. He had to address the steroid issue before spring training. McGwire released a statement to the media in which he admitted to using steroids during the off season in 1989 and 1990, in 1993, and throughout the rest of the decade, including 1998, the year he broke the single season home run record.

In his statement, and later in an interview with Bob Costas on the MLB Network, McGwire stated he used steroids to overcome a series of injuries that limited his playing time. He thought steroids would allow his body to heal faster. Once healthy, and able to play for a full season, McGwire continued using steroids because he believed steroids helped his body recover after games, and allowed his body to withstand the rigors of a 162 game season.

I have always argued steroids help baseball players recover energy faster. McGwire is the first baseball player to actually admit to using steroids as a method of sustaining physical performance during a baseball season. “I took very, very low dosages because I wanted my body to feel normal,” McGwire said. “The wear and tear of 162 ballgames… and what I had to go through to get through all these injuries…”[ii]

But McGwire did not make the connection between steroids and performance. In his mind, steroids helped him recover from injuries and from the grind of the long baseball season. He believes that he would have hit 70 home runs in a season or almost 600 home runs in his career without steroids. McGwire is wrong.

First, steroids are performance enhancing drugs. That is why steroids are banned from every sport. Taking McGwire’s statement at face value, steroids allowed him to take the field because steroids helped heal his body. “During the mid-90s, I [McGwire] went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a rib cage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle.”[iii]

In the interview with Bob Costas, McGwire admitted he contemplated retiring from baseball in 1996. Without steroids, McGwire’s career would have been shortened due to injury. In that sense, McGwire is wrong about steroids.

Second, McGwire used steroids to get through the 162 game season. Steroids helped his body recover after each game, and he was able to perform at peak physical condition by the end of the season. That created an unfair advantage.

Mike Piazza was a gifted offensive player. He produced great offensive numbers during the early part of the season with the New York Mets, but as Piazza got older, his numbers routinely dropped off in August and September. Piazza was a catcher. He used to get hit with foul balls, errant baseball bats, blocked pitches in the dirt, and was run over by opposing players. The wear and tear of the 162 game season physically drained Piazza. Piazza was a baseball player that did not take steroids. His late season performances are a testimony to that statement. McGwire had an offensive advantage Piazza did not have.

Third, steroids increase strength. McGwire argues his ability to hit home runs was due to hand-eye coordination, but McGwire does not talk about another important factor in hitting – bat speed.

McGwire’s muscle mass increased when he used steroids. He became stronger, therefore he was able to generate greater bat speed after he got stronger. After using steroids, McGwire was able to make contact, through greater bat speed, earlier in the hitting zone, and had better success driving the baseball. Pitches that used to jam him, or he used to hit off the end of the bat suddenly became tape measured home runs – which brings me to…

Fourth, McGwire was a pure home run hitter. He hit over .300 once – over a full season. In 1998, he hit .299. He was a fly ball hitter. Early in his career, McGwire admittedly “hit wall scrapping home runs.”[iv] He attributed his unfathomable home run production in the late 90’s to better technique. But he got stronger through steroids, even if it was low dosages, and he was able to hit the baseball harder. Fly balls that normally would have been caught at the warning track became home runs.

McGwire never got more than 161 hits in a season. Early in his career, the percentage of home runs in relation to hits was in the 30% range. But the percentage increased to over 40% when he was using steroids. McGwire was getting about 145 hits per season during the late stages of his career, but over 40% of those hits were home runs.

McGwire refuses to acknowledge the connection between steroids and performance because then he would have to admit his career statistics are illegitimate. McGwire believes he could have hit 70 home runs in a baseball season without steroids, but steroids helped him stay healthy, improved his stamina, increased his bat speed, and gave him the strength to hit tape measured home runs.

But I do not blame McGwire for tainting some of Major League Baseball’s most treasured home run records. He played during a time when Commissioner Bud Selig, the Major League Player’s Association, the media and fans casually ignored steroid use. They were all caught up in an orgy of tape measured home runs, and refused to acknowledge the infestation of steroids.

I can forgive McGwire for using steroids, but I cannot and will not accept his rationalization that steroids did not impact his performance during his career.


[i] Mark McGwire statement to the media, January 11, 2010.
[ii] “Transcript: McGwire Interview,” MercuryNews.com, January 11, 2010.
[iii] Mark McGwire statement to the media, January 11, 2010.
[iv] “Transcript: McGwire Interview,” MercuryNews.com, January 11, 2010.

If I Had a Ballot

The National Baseball Hall of Fame will announce the 2010 inductees on January 6, 2010. Candidates must appear on 75% of the ballots to be elected. Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) can vote for up to 10 candidates.

I am not a member of the BBWAA, but if I was, these are the candidates I would vote for:

Roberto Alomar
This is Alomar’s first year on the ballot. He was clearly the best second baseman of his era. He won 10 Gold Gloves. Alomar had incredible range. I never saw a second baseball that could cover as much ground as he did.

He was a career .300 hitter. In 17 seasons, Alomar hit over .300 nine times. His 2,724 career hits ranks 53rd on the all time hits list. He won four Silver Slugger awards.

He was the starting second baseman in nine All Star Games, and was selected as a reserve in three All Star Games.

Barry Larkin
This is Larkin’s first year on the ballot. He was the best shortstop National League of his era. He was a career .295 hitter with 2,340 total hits. He was the first shortstop to hit over 30 home runs and steal over 30 bases in the same season (1996).

Larkin won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1995. He won 3 Gold Gloves and 9 Silver Slugger awards. He was the starting NL shortstop in five All Star Games, and was selected as a reserve in seven All Star Games.

I am partial to the American League; therefore I did not have the opportunity to watch Barry Larkin play, but as an avid baseball fan, I read about Larkin, and was aware of his greatness as a player.

Roberto Alomar and Barry Larkin are the definite first ballot candidates of the 2010 class, but there are other first ballot candidates that are not as obvious.

Fred McGriff
This is McGriff’s first year on the ballot. Fred McGriff home run numbers will suffer in comparison to the steroid inflated home run totals generated by other players during his career.

From 1987 through 1999, McGriff hit over 30 home runs 8 times, and a total of 390. By comparison, Barry Bonds hit over 30 home runs 9 times and a total of 445 home runs during the same period.

During this 12-year period, the best player in baseball out homered McGriff by 55. In other words, Bonds hit 4.5 more home runs per year than McGriff.

McGriff was a throw back home run hitter. He consistently hit over 30 home runs each year when 30 home runs meant something.

McGriff yearly totals do not compare favorably with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jose Canseco, and Juan Gonzalez. But the home run was cheapened during McGriff’s playing career. Hitting 50 home runs in a season became the norm due to steroids.

Hitting 500 home runs was the magic number. It meant automatic induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame. McGriff hit 493 home runs. Steroids have overshadowed McGriff’s career. There are seven players, who were suspected or accused of using steroids, ahead of McGriff on the all time home run list.

Critics will mention McGriff never won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, but he was in the top ten in MVP votes six times.

McGriff had the unfortunate luck of playing in the same league as Barry Bonds from 1991 to 1997. Bonds won two MVP awards (1992 and 1993). Ken Caminiti, an admitted steroid user, won the MVP in 1996. Larry Walker won the MVP in 1997. Walker’s offensive numbers were inflated because played for the Colorado Rockies.

McGriff had over 100 RBI’s five times in his career. His 1,550 RBI is ranked 41st on the all time list. He is front of Hall of Famer Willie Stargell and right behind Hall of Famer Willie McCovey on the RBI list. Also, six players suspected or accused of using steroids are ahead of McGriff on the RBI list.

McGriff was the starting first baseman on three All Star Games, and he was selected as a reserve in two other All Star Games. McGriff won the 1994 All Star Game MVP on the basis of one at-bat.

The 1994 All Star Game was played in Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The American League was leading 7-5 going to the bottom of the ninth inning. Lee Smith was pitching in relief. Marquis Grissom led off the inning with a walk. Craig Biggio grounded to third base, and Grissom was forced out at second.

Manager Jim Fregosi kept McGriff on the bench because he wanted McGriff to face Lee Smith in the ninth inning. McGriff hit a home run off Lee Smith to left-center, and tied the game. The National League won the game in the bottom of the tenth inning, 8-7.

McGriff was not the most dominant first baseman of his era. He was not the most prolific power hitter of his era, but his reputation as a home run hitter was diminished due to the steroid era.

Edgar Martinez
This is Martinez’s first year on the ballot. He was primarily a Designated Hitter during his 18-year career. It was not due poor defensive skills. He was a third baseman by trade, but unfortunately Martinez was as a fragile as glass. It seemed he got hurt every time he put on a glove and was asked to play the field.

My most vivid memory of Edgar Martinez was during the 1995 playoffs against the New York Yankees. Martinez massacred the Yankee pitching staff. Anything over the plate was hit hard. It felt like he was hitting with runners in scoring position in every inning. His batting average in that series was .571. He hit two home runs and drove in 10 RBI.

Martinez was a late bloomer. He did not become a regular until he was 27 years old. Otherwise his career numbers might be more impressive. His career batting average is .312. He hit over .300 ten times during his career. He won two batting titles. Martinez drove in over 100 RBI’s six times. He ranks 41st on the all time doubles list.

Martinez was the starting DH in four All Star Games, and was selected as a reserve in three All Star Games.

Andre Dawson
This is Andre Dawson’s ninth year on the ballot. I have heard that Dawson’s .323 On Base Percentage (OBP) is the statistic that is keeping him out of the Hall of Fame. If it’s true, then it is one of the most ridiculous baseball related argument ever made. Andre Dawson is a Hall of Famer.

Sometimes statistics do not tell the whole story. In 21 seasons, Dawson hit over 30 home runs three times. He drove in over 100 RBI’s four times. He batted over .300 four times. These numbers do not appear impressive.

But Andre Dawson was a five-tool baseball player. He could hit for average, hit for power, play great defense, had a great throwing arm, and could run – until artificial turf ruined his knees.

Dawson was a dominant player. He was the best player on the Montreal Expos and the Chicago Cubs.

Dawson won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1977. He won the MVP Award in 1987 while playing on a sixth place team. He was the top ten in MVP votes three times. He was the starting outfielder in seven All Star Games, and was selected as a reserve in one All Star Game. Dawson won eight Gold Gloves and four Silver Slugger awards.

Dawson’s career statistics are more impressive. He is 36th on the all time home run list with 438; 45th on the all time hit list with 2,774; 34th on the all time RBI list with 1,591; 25th on the all time total bases list with 4,787; and 48th on the all time doubles list with 503. He stole 314 bases. Dawson is in the top 50 of five all time offensive categories.

Dawson last played over 140 games in 1992. Baseball has changed a lot since 1992. A baseball player who averages 27 home runs, 98 RBI’s with a .279 batting average will not look impressive next to the gaudy numbers produced in an offensive laden, small ballpark, inferior pitching, steroid era. But if you saw Andre Dawson play, you saw a Hall of Famer.

Bert Blyleven
This is Blyleven’s 13th year on the ballot. Winning 300 games is the magic number that gets pitchers inducted into the Hall of Fame. Randy Johnson may be the last pitcher to win at least 300 games.

Blyleven won 287. There may not be another pitcher who will ever approach 287 career wins as well.

Pitching has changed in the time that I have been a baseball fan. Pitchers were expected to pitch complete games and accumulate over 250 innings.

Currently, pitchers are on pitch counts, and are expected to throw for six innings in a game. Instead of innings, pitchers accumulate no decisions.

Bert Blyleven is a dinosaur. Pitch counts did not matter. At the age of 20, Blyleven pitched 278.1 innings. At age 21, 287 innings. At age 22, 325 innings. Compared to pitchers of this era, Blyleven is a Hall of Famer.

But is Blyleven a Hall of Famer compared to pitchers of his era? It depends on whom you compare Blyleven to.

Blyleven won 20 games once. He struck out over 200 batters eight times in his career. His ERA was under 3.00 nine times. He pitched over 200 innings sixteen times. An average Blyleven season would be 14 wins, 12 losses, with a 3.31 ERA, 245 innings pitched, and 183 strikeouts. These are not overwhelming statistics.

But compare Blyleven with Hall of Famer Don Sutton. There numbers are similar. Sutton won 20 games once. He struck out over 200 batters five times. His ERA was under 3.00 eight times. Sutton pitched over 200 innings 20 times. An average Sutton year would be 14 wins, 11 losses, with a 3.26 ERA, 235 innings pitched, and 159 strikeouts.

Compared to Sutton, Blyleven’s career statistics and his ranking on several all time lists make him a Hall of Famer.

His 287 career wins – 27th on the all time wins list. Sutton is ranked 24th with 324 wins.

Blyleven career innings pitched is 4,970 – 14th on the all time innings pitched list. Sutton is ranked 7th on the list with 5,282.3.

Blyleven is ranked 4th on the all time strikeout list with 3,701. Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and Steve Carlton are ahead of Blyleven. Sutton is ranked 7th with 3,574.

Blyleven is ranked 11th in games started with 685. Sutton is ranked 3rd with 756.

Blyleven is ranked 91st in complete games with 242. Sutton is ranked 176th with 178 complete games.

Blyleven is ranked 9th in shutouts with 60. Sutton is ranked 10th with 58 shutouts.

If Don Sutton is a Hall of Famer, then Bert Blyleven is a Hall of Famer.

Jack Morris
This is Jack Morris’ eleventh year on the ballot. He was one of my favorite pitchers during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. He was a horse. You could count on Jack Morris to pitch deep into games and accumulate innings during the course of a 162 game season. He was capable of winning a game 1-0. But Morris won plenty of games in which he allowed over four runs.

Unfortunately, his career ERA of 3.90 reflects the fact Morris pitched to the scoreboard with some disregard for his ERA. In seven seasons, Morris’ ERA was over 4.00. In 18 seasons, he never had an ERA under 3.00.

He won 20 or more games three times. He pitched over 200 innings eleven times. He struck out over 200 batters only three times. For a dominant pitcher that is a low number.

He was the ace on three different teams. He started three All Star Games, and was selected as a reserve in two other All Star Games. Morris never won the Cy Young Award, but was in the top ten in voting seven times. He was the World Series MVP in 1991. He will be remembered for pitching a classic 7th game of the World Series in which he pitched 10 innings and won the game 1-0 over the Atlanta Braves.

In baseball, statistics are a point of reference. The past is compared with the present through statistics.

Jack Morris was a great pitcher in his era even if the statistics do not support my argument. At times, I witnessed greatness when he pitched.

Ron Santo (Veteran’s Committee)
Ron Santo is no longer on the Hall of Fame ballot. His last year on the ballot was 1998. Only the Veteran’s Committee can elect Ron Santo to the Hall of Fame.

Ron Santo’s played at the same time as Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson. Maybe Santo is being unfavorably compared to Robinson.

Robinson won 16 Gold Gloves. Santo won 5 Gold Gloves. Robinson also played in six World Series. In the 1970 World Series, Robinson displayed his great fielding ability, and was awarded the MVP. He was also the American League MVP in 1964, and the MVP of the All Star Game in 1966.

Santo never played in a World Series. He never won the MVP. But Santo hit over .300 four times. Robinson hit over .300 twice. Santo hit over 30 home runs four times. Robinson never hit 30 home runs in a season. Santo had four 100 RBI seasons. Robinson had 2.

Santo was overlooked because he played on a team that was not as successful as the Baltimore Orioles (from 1966 to 1974), but Santo was one of the best third baseman of his era.

Natalie

Adrian Monk is a memorable character. He is a man most find to be intolerable because of his countless quirks, phobias and idiosyncrasies. He suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which can be excruciatingly frustrating.

But Mr. Monk has a special assistant, Natalie. At first, Natalie thought he was odd and strange and sometimes unbearable. She wondered if she could trust the man who suffered from hundreds of phobias. She wondered if he was dependable.

But Natalie has a good heart. She was able to look past the quirks, phobias and idiosyncrasies and understand Mr. Monk is a brilliant, sensitive man who is able to authoritatively function beneath the façade of phobias.

Natalie is also a memorable character. Mr. Monk is able to function with Natalie’s steady guidance. She is patient and kind, understanding and companionate, intelligent and independent, protective and assuring. She has an inner strength that compensates for Mr. Monk’s inner fears.

I admire Natalie because she reminds me of someone special in my life. She also has a good heart. She is patient and kind, understanding and companionate, intelligent and independent, protective and assuring. She has integrity and an inner strength I admire. I seek her opinions because I trust her judgment.

I do not possess the quirks, phobias and idiosyncrasies Mr. Monk is burdened with, even though my Natalie has on occasion said I am crazy, and I should be committed to an institution. There is some merit to her observation, but she says it with affection and humor, not with malice and we are able to laugh at that statement.

But there were times when I was unbearable and irritating and most people would have walked away, but my Natalie was patient because she understood that aspect of my personality, like bad thunderstorms, would pass.

My Natalie finds in me qualities that make up for the obstinate aspects of my behavior and she believes in our friendship.

It may have taken Mr. Monk some time to fully appreciate Natalie, but I immediately realized how important my Natalie is to me not long after I met her.

In contrast with Mr. Monk, I am able to function, but I cannot imagine my life without her. She is indispensable. Everyone should have a Natalie in their lives. I thank God I have a Natalie in my life.

Mr. Monk Lives Happily Ever After

Watch a television show long enough and you will become emotionally attached to the characters. Detective Adrian Monk is a sympathetic character, a former police detective who mourns the death of his wife and is constantly battling phobias, depression and a crippling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

There are only two episodes left in the final season of Monk. Monk was reinstated in the San Francisco Police Department in “Mr. Monk and the Badge.” He retained the rank of Detective First Class, but the reinstatement ended his working relationship with his assistant Natalie Teeger.

Monk quickly realized he was unhappy. He was not working with Captain Stottlemeyer and Lt Disher. His new partner and co-workers did not like him. They did not tolerate his quirks and idiosyncrasies. He lost the freedom to choose which homicide cases to work on.

Monk resigned from the police force at the end of episode. Captain Stottlemeyer and Lt Disher suggested he exit the building through the west entrance. A surprise was waiting for him. It was Natalie. She wanted her job back. The episode ended with Monk and Natalie arguing over her salary. This would have been a perfect ending.

But Monk has not the solved the murder of his wife. This will not be a surprise. Monk will finally solve the murder of his wife in “Mr. Monk and the End.”

There is another issue that needs to be addressed. The relationship between Monk and Natalie needs to be determined.

There are three possible outcomes. First, Monk and Natalie will continue their working relationship. She will continue to be Dr. Watson to his Sherlock Holmes.

Second, Monk and Natalie become involved in relationships. Casper Van Dien will reprise his role as Lt Steven Albright in the final episode. Lt Albright first appeared in “Mr. Monk is Under Water.” Lt Albright was a friend of Mitch Teeger, Natalie’s deceased husband. Lt Albright and Natalie flirted during the episode, and considered romantic scenarios had Lt Albright met Natalie first.

Natalie mentioned Lt Albright would be her date for the wedding reception in “Mr. Monk is the Best Man.”

As a fan of the show, I noticed the writers would mention something that may appear to be a minor detail, but eventually becomes a major plot point. A relationship between Natalie and Lt Albright cannot be casually dismissed.

However, if Natalie does get involved with Lt Albright, then she will have to break up her partnership with Monk. Monk needs an assistant who is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. A married woman could not provide that service.

Moreover, if Natalie will not be a part of Monk’s life, then Monk will have to also get involved in a relationship. It will be hard to squeeze in a new romantic interest in the final two hours and I doubt the writers will end the series with Monk all alone. That outcome would be too sad.

Third, Monk and Natalie become involved in a romantic relationship that would lead to marriage.

Lt Albright’s inclusion in part one of “Mr. Monk and the End” maybe a plot device designed to bring conflict to Natalie’s character, forcing her to choose between Monk and Lt Albright.

A relationship between Monk and Natalie is not implausible. Monk has the tendency to bond with people who have lost their spouses.

In “Mr. Monk Falls in Love,” he became infatuated with Leyla Zlatavich, a woman whose fiancé and family were murdered by a war criminal.

In “Mr. Monk and the Lady Next Door,” his neighbor, Marge Johnson, was a widow who continued to grieve the death of her husband and son. Marge Johnson became Monk’s surrogate mother.

In “Mr. Monk and the Foreign Man,” he befriended Samuel Waingaya, a Nigerian immigrant whose wife was killed in a hit and run incident.

Leyla Zlatavich, Marge Johnson, Samuel Waingaya and Natalie have one thing in common. They all lost their spouses.

Natalie noticed Monk’s special qualities. In her first episode, “Mr. Monk and the Red Herring,” Monk was chasing a suspect who was carrying a fish and a valuable moon rock. The suspect fell and dropped both items. Monk was trying to decide between the fish and the rock. He decided to save the fish. Natalie told her daughter, Julie, that her father was the only other man who would have made the same decision. Afterwards, she agreed to work for Monk as his assistant.

Natalie was dating in some episodes. Monk made the observation, in “Mr. Monk and the Red Herring,” when he noticed birth control pills in her purse.

She dated a doctor in “Mr. Monk and the Leper” and a lawyer in “Mr. Monk Goes to the Hospital.”

But she felt guilty over leaving Monk in the hospital by himself, and ended her lunch date with the lawyer. She returned to the hospital, and found out Monk was hospitalized with serious injuries. Monk’s medical chart was switched, and he was about to receive a dose of medication he was allergic to. Natalie discovered the plot to kill Monk and saved his life. She promised never to leave him alone, and except for Lt Albright, she has not expressed interest in any other men.

Natalie cares for Monk. In “Mr. Monk and the Man Who Shot Santa Claus,” he shot a man, dressed as Santa Claus, in self-defense, but the media portrayed Monk as some sort of monster. Monk wanted to tell his side of the story, but Natalie advised against it. “I have heard your side of the story, and I love you, and I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said Natalie.

Natalie was devastated, in part two of “Mr. Monk is on the Run,” at the apparent death of her boss. However, she figured out Monk faked his own death, found him working in a car wash in Las Vegas, and was overwhelmed with emotion when she saw he was still alive.

The eighth season seemed to suggest a possible romantic relationship between Monk and Natalie. There were hints in the previous seasons, but the hints became more pronounced this season.

In “Mr. Monk’s Favorite Show,” Monk told Natalie that his favorite television show, as a child, was his substitute family. He was sad because he felt he did not have a real family. Natalie told Monk he did have a family – Julie and her.

There was more affection manifested in physical contact between Monk and Natalie. Natalie held Monk more than usual. She walked arm in arm with him. She hugged him more often, like in the climactic scene of “Mr. Monk is Someone Else.” Natalie hugged Monk and said, “I was worried about you.”

In “Happy Birthday Mr. Monk,” she hugs him twice after she finally surprised him with a birthday party. Usually, Monk does not like to be touched and he does not like physical displays of affection.

Monk and Natalie were acting like a couple. They argued like a couple in “Mr. Monk and the UFO.” They attended Julie’s play in “Mr. Monk and the Critic.” Monk went to Natalie’s family reunion in “Mr. Monk and the Dog.”

In “Mr. Monk and Sharona,” Monk acted like a spouse who was caught with another woman. Natalie walked in on Monk and Sharona. Monk became defensive.

Natalie was more playful. In “Mr. Monk and the UFO,” she wanted to see Monk’s bellybutton. The running gag of the episode was that UFO aficionados thought Monk was an alien. Aliens do not have bellybuttons. The UFO aficionados wanted to see Monk’s bellybutton. They were convinced Monk did not have a bellybutton, therefore he was an alien.

In “Happy Birthday Mr. Monk,” Natalie unsuccessfully tried to surprise Monk with a birthday party. Monk challenged Natalie, implying she would not be able to outsmart him. Natalie accepted the challenge.

Monk thought Natalie was staging the birthday party at the victim’s apartment. Monk, Natalie, Captain Stottlemeyer and Lt Disher were searching the victim’s apartment, but Monk was not able to concentrate on the case. Captain Stottlemeyer was frustrated. Natalie started winking at Monk and Monk became flustered.

Later in the episode, it appeared Monk was enjoying the mind games with Natalie.

Monk’s OCD symptoms are partially in remission. Monk’s problem with OCD began in his childhood. The OCD was partially in remission when he married Trudy, but her death exacerbated his symptoms.

In the last scene of “Happy Birthday Mr. Monk,” he fed Natalie a piece of cake with his fork. Monk has a severe case of germ phobia. For Monk, sharing a fork is an intimate moment.

An example of Monk’s extreme phobia of germs was displayed in “Mr. Monk Gets Lotto Fever.” Monk repeatedly wiped the spoon with a napkin before putting it in his mouth.

Monk considers himself a married man. He has never referred to himself as a widower. He talks about Trudy in the present tense. But in “Mr. Monk is Someone Else,” he did not mention Trudy’s name. Instead he mentioned Natalie’s name.

Monk was pretending to be notorious hit man Frank DePalma. Lola, a girlfriend of DePalma’s, cornered Monk in a hotel room. She was making aggressive sexual advances, but Monk discouraged her by saying he had a girlfriend, Natalie.

In “Mr. Monk and the Voodoo Curse,” Natalie became flustered when voodoo dolls appeared to have predicted the deaths of people who passed away under unusual circumstances. An elderly woman was struck in the head by a baseball and a golfer was hit by lightning. Natalie panicked when she received a package with decapitated voodoo doll.

Monk eventually solved the case, but he could not understand why it took him so long to solve the case. According to Natalie, the reason was due to Monk’s concern over her, therefore he was unable to clearly concentrate on the case.

In “Mr. Monk and Sharona,” Captain Stottlemeyer advised Monk to keep Natalie and Sharona apart. Monk was already worried. “I’m losing her (Natalie),” he said.

Natalie and Sharona were worried because Monk disappeared after a fight erupted in the squad room between Natalie, Sharona, Captain Stottlemeyer and Lt Disher.

Natalie and Sharona apologized to each other and complemented each other and discussed which assistant was best for Monk. Sharona expressed guilt over treating Monk harshly. Natalie said Monk needed someone to be tough with him after Trudy’s death. “You got him here,” Natalie said. “You got him to me.”

Then I remembered an important clue from “Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink.” Monk was forced to find another therapist after his therapist, Dr Kroger, quit his practice. The new therapist was reviewing Monk’s file, but Monk was having trouble concentrating because the therapist had one arm. The “asymmetrical” therapist’s amputated right arm triggered Monk’s OCD.

The new therapist asked about Natalie. “In a lot of ways, she reminds me of Trudy,” Monk said.

There are other clues that predate the eighth season.

I am working under the assumption that the writers were developing this story arc from the moment Natalie started working for Monk.

“Mr. Monk and the Cobra.” Natalie argued with Monk over his expenses. Monk was not able to give Natalie a raise because he was still paying the rent for Trudy’s office.

Monk confronted the villain, but he was knocked out. The villain put Monk in a coffin and was buried alive. He had a psychotic break and conjured Trudy to help cope with the claustrophobia. Monk was about to be rescued, but Trudy advised him to, “close my office and pay her what she needs.”

“Mr. Monk Stays in Bed.” Natalie followed a pizza deliveryman to return the $50 he gave her by mistake. The deliveryman was murdered, but Monk got sick and refused to get out of bed. Natalie attempted to solve the crime without Monk, but the murderer caught her. Monk thought he was describing the murder to Natalie over the phone, but the murderer was listening to the call. The murderer took Natalie to a recycling plant to find the evidence, a pizza box with his fingerprints.

Monk realized Natalie was in trouble. Monk got out bed. He got a cab. He was dressed in his pajamas, bathrobe and slippers. He walked into the recycling plant, and stepped on sludge. Monk prevailed over several phobias to save Natalie.

“Mr. Monk and the Daredevil.” Natalie was fighting a criminal on the roof of a building. Monk was still in the staircase when he saw the criminal was about hit Natalie with a pipe. Monk ran out, on the roof, and grabbed the pipe. Monk conquered his fear of heights to save Natalie.

“Mr. Monk Goes to the Bank.” A bank was robbed and the contents of Monk’s safety deposit box were stolen. The treasured item was Trudy’s diamond bracelet. Monk, Natalie, Stottlemeyer and Disher were locked in the vault. Monk figured out the stolen items were stashed in a large safety deposit box. He retrieved the diamond bracelet and placed Trudy’s bracelet on Natalie’s wrist.

“Mr. Monk Buys a House.” Dr Kroger passed away. Monk was referred to Dr Neven Bell. The first session was unsuccessful. Monk informed Dr Bell that he was not satisfied and was going to look for a new therapist, but he sat down again. Dr Bell asked Monk why he was staying. “I can’t leave early. Natalie would kill me,” he said. That is the type of answer a married man would say about his wife.

Also, Monk bought a house. Natalie was upset because she believed she should have been consulted before he bought the house.

“Mr. Monk’s Other Brother.” Monk discovered he has a half brother, Jack Monk, but he did not tell Natalie. Instead, he told her Jack was a pen pal. Monk was forced to tell Natalie the truth after Jack tried to con her. Natalie was angry with Monk. “We’re partners. You’re supposed to trust me,” she said.

There are more clues throughout the five and half years of Monk and Natalie’s partnership. The writers managed the story arc to its only logical conclusion. Monk and Natalie will live on as either as a crime solving partnership, or as a couple. I’m guessing as a couple.

Natalie was the reason Monk was able to function despite the phobias and OCD. She nurtured Monk through difficult circumstances. She was patient and caring and trusted his judgment and she was never threatened by Trudy’s memory.

Julie will be going to college, leaving a void in Natalie’s life. She will need someone else to take care for.

Solving Trudy’s murder will give Monk closure. He will be able to proceed with his life, but he will need a partner. Once the fog of Trudy’s murder is lifted, he will realize the only other woman he could truly love is Natalie. At least I hope so.

I was vain enough to think I was the only person who figured out the potential relationship between Monk and Natalie, but I was wrong. I was researching for this article and found scenes from Monk set to music. It appears there are a lot of fans who are rooting for a relationship between Monk and Natalie.

Below are two of my favorite links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbUst4P2WY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re2fWeZxvuQ

A Remarkable Achievement

Sometimes the best surprises are the least expected. The Yankees winning their 27th World Series championship qualifies as a surprise. Honestly, I found the 2009 team under whelming. This team played like a juggernaut, but their accomplishment was due to parity, not overwhelming talent. Their regular season record of 103 wins and 59 losses was a remarkable achievement for a team with noticeable flaws.

The 2009 Yankees had holes in their pitching staff and batting order.

Sabathia and Burnett were free agent imports brought in to bolster a weak pitching staff. The Yankees needed starters with strikeout capability that could routinely pitch seven innings per game – assets the Yankees have not had in the last six years.

Sabathia was the ace of the staff – as expected, but he was the only starter on the team with more than 15 wins – a remarkable achievement for a team that won 103 games in the regular season.

Burnett displayed flashes of brilliance in 2009, but he was prone to erratic outings. The number two starter on the team had 13 wins, 9 losses, pitched 207 innings and had a 4.04 ERA. By comparison, the Yankees fifth starter in 1998, Hideki Irabu, won 13 games, lost 9, pitched 173 innings and had a 4.09 ERA.

Pettitte signed an incentive laden contract late in the off-season. He was slated to return as the fourth starter.

Wang was supposed to be the third starter on the pitching staff. He was injured in 2008. The Yankees were hoping Wang would return to form as a two time 19 game winner, but he was ineffective, then suffered a season ending injury.

Pettitte became the third starter by default.

Chamberlain was slated as the fifth starter, but his innings pitched were going to be monitored. He was coddled in August and September, making him an ineffective starter, and the coddling eliminated Chamberlain as a starter in the post season.

The Yankees used Chad Gaudin, obtained in a trade with from San Diego, and Sergio Mitre, injured throughout 2008, as their fourth and fifth starters after Chamberlain’s workload was deliberately reduced.

Yankee prospect Phil Hughes was pitching in relief when Wang got hurt. Yankee management treated Hughes cautiously. Hughes short major league career has been marred by injuries. Management decided to keep Hughes in the bullpen, reasoning he could become susceptible to an arm injury if he became a starter during the midseason.

The Yankees navigated a 162 game season, and had the best record in baseball with three viable starting pitchers.

The 2009 Yankees had the best record in the American league, and with it the privilege of allowing the Yankees to pick the post-season schedule. They selected the schedule with the most days off, thus allowing the Yankees to use only three starters.

The only way the Yankees could have won their 27th championship was with all those off days in the post season. A compressed schedule would have exposed the Yankees thin starting pitching staff.

The 2009 team hit their way to the pennant, hitting a team record 244 home runs. Seven players hit over 20 home runs.

The Yankees built a bullpen that kept the games close through the late innings, thus giving the offense the opportunity to rally and win.

This team demonstrated remarkable resiliency winning 51 come from behind games, and winning 15 games in their final at bat.

Behind the gaudy offensive numbers was a batting order with holes that was not exploited because of the shortage of quality pitching in baseball.

You will never see pitching staffs like the 1971 Baltimore Orioles, 1972 – 1974 Oakland A’s, 1986 New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves of the 1990’s. Teams cannot afford to keep deep pitching staffs together. To win a championship, teams must develop young pitchers, and hope a group can reach the Major Leagues together, like the 1969 New York Mets.

The Yankees beat up a lot of weak pitching staffs. Even the Philadelphia Phillies, the National League champions, had a weak pitching staff. Their number one starter, Cliff Lee, joined the team on July 30, 2009. Their number two starter, Pedro Martinez, was out of baseball until August. You can argue the Phillies would not have made it to the World Series with the pitching staff they had in April.

A strong pitching staff could shut this team down. The problem is that there are no strong pitching staffs in baseball.

The post season proved the Yankee offense was vulnerable. Teixeira, Cano and Swisher were offensive liabilities. Posada’s post-season average was lower than his regular season average.

Molina’s playing time increased in the post-season because he was Burnett’s preferred catcher. The lineup was diluted when Molina played.

In game five of the World Series, the Yankees used a junior varsity batting order against Phillies ace Cliff Lee. The batting order after Rodriguez was Swisher, Cano, Gardner, Molina, and Burnett.

Damon’s late surge salvaged an otherwise forgettable post-season.

Jeter, Rodriguez and Matsui carried the Yankees to the championship.

The Yankees are not a deep team. Fortunately they were not exposed in the World Series, but they could have been. Cabrera got hurt in game four. Gardner replaced Cabrera. Damon got hurt in game six. Hairston replaced Damon.

Hairston in left field, Gardner in center, and Swisher in right field would have been the starting outfield in the seventh game of the World Series, against Cliff Lee, had the Phillies won game six.

The Yankees record after Rodriguez returned from the disabled list was an unbelievable 78 wins and 36 losses. They were resilient and competed relentlessly. The Yankees should be congratulated for having the best record in baseball during the regular season because it allowed the Yankees to pace themselves during the post-season.

The Yankees rode on the backs of three starting pitchers and won a championship using a favorable schedule. This is a unique accomplishment that will be hard for any team to duplicate.

As a Yankee fan, I am not ungrateful the 2009 team won the World Series, but my enthusiasm is tempered by a diluted baseball product that has not been able to figure out how to keep good or great teams together.