Victor Minicozzi

I spend way too many hours at my desk doing my various jobs.  A saving grace for me is my subscription to MLB.TV.  I get to watch six games at one time if I want much to my wifes dismay.  My excuse is that I’m monitoring my Baseball fantasy leagues but it really is just my love of baseball.  This isn’t a commercial for MLB.TV (if you have interest feel free to email me for info). 

I started watching the Rays games closely about six weeks ago.  This team reminds me of the 1995 Yankees team that was the catalyst to their great run of 4 championship teams from 1996 to 2000.  They have rising stars in Evan Longoria and BJ Upton.  Dioner Navarro has been solid and productive behind the plate.  Eric Hinske has proved to be a great utility guy playing games at 4 different positions while contributing 13 homers and 44 RBI.  Carl Crawford has kicked it into gear after a slow start.

Before the Yankees started buying up all the DH’s around the league again, there success was due to timely hitting, good defense, and of course pitching.  This Rays team has had great pitching and defense in the first half of the year.   A rotation of Kazmir, Shields, Sonnanstine, Garza, and Jackson has been nothing short of spectacular.  The team ERA is 3.65.  Troy Percival was great in the first two months of the season though his performance in June tailed off due to hamstring problems.  However, the closer by committee has been solid with JP Howell and Dan Wheeler handling the duties for the most part.  Last nights game against the Redsox showcased the emergence of Grant Balfour.  He blew them away in the 9th to pick up his second save and may be their closer for the forseeable future.  He’s pitched 16.2 innings and has struck out 25 batters.  He as an ERA of 1.08 and his WHIP is 0.78.  They also have last years number 1 overall pick, David Price destroying the minor league hitters and waiting in the wings to join the staff.

Are the Rays for real?  Can they sustain what they have after the break?  I think so.  The Redsox and Yankees are both flawed teams and aren’t the invincible forces they have been in the past.  The key will be remaining healthy as their weakness is their depth.  I look for them to make a couple deadline deals for some veteran complimentary players to help down the stretch.  Even with the best record in baseball, none of the Rays are having career type years so you don’t expect a large dropoff.  This has the look of one of the special years that don’t come around often and which the city of Tampa has never experienced before. 

Only time will tell of the Rays will continue stinging the competition.  I’m looking forward to the ride.

Victor Minicozzi

As it has been stated repeatedly in the past, nothing good happens at 4AM, especially if your a professional athlete.  Kearse was arrested just outside Vanderbilt University for driving erratically and speeding.  There were two other car occupants.  The car was released to one of the occupants who was not intoxicated.

I don’t have a problem with athletes going out and having a good time and even getting “liquored up” on occasion.  Just use your noodle and have someone else drive the car home.  Hire a limo, walk, call a Taxi.  I’m continually surprised at how this continues to happen week after week and sometimes day after day. 

I’ve never met Jevon Kearse but from what I hear he is a good guy and hasn’t had any previous incidents with the police.  Hopefully this will be his last.  As I have previously written, there has been a great vibe around the time this year and I’m sure the Titans will move on from this distraction. 

Victor Minicozzi

I have to admit it is nice to deal with positive stories about the Titans instead of 3 years of turmoil concerning a certain current Dallas Cowboy.  The Titans will be holding their 10th annual Charity Golf Classic on June 23rd which will benefit the Titans Foundation.  It has raised over $1.2 million dollars since its inception.  The Foundation supports many non-profit organizations throughout Tennessee. 

The Jeff Fisher and Friends Charity Softball Game will be held on June 28th in Nashville.  This event has raised over $300,000 in the past, and benefits several middle tennessee charities including the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Past players have included Eddie George, Vince Young, Chris Hope, Frank Wycheck, Brad Hopkins, Keith Bulluck, and many more past and present Titans players and coaches.

MusicCityMusings

The Titans have added a safety to their roster signing Rocky Schwartz out of Houston.  The Titans now have 88 players participating in their soon to be completed minicamp.

Mike Keith, play by play man for the Titans was recently named the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s 2008 Nashville Man of the Year.   Mike helped raise over $54,000 for research in a 10 week program.

The Titans have implimented Kettlebells to their offseason workout program.  Don’t know what a Kettlebell is?  Well, evidently it is  basically a bowling ball with a handle.  These grueling Wednesday workouts are designed to help with balance, unilateral balance, explosiveness.  Cortland Finnegan has one work for the workouts, torture.

See you all next time for some more MusicCityMadness