January, 2010: Week 1
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** Thanks for making The NOR CAL Report a success. Don't forget to tell your friends! **
Welcome back to a brand new year of The NOR CAL Report! We promise to keep on rollin' through the decade — if you do! This week, a look back at the confounding NFL seasons, and the career of Randy Johnson. Plus, hear what to expect for the new year and beyond for all the local squads.
The Raiders put the capper on another stinker of a year. Has JaMarcus played his last down for the silver and black? Or do the Raids' recent ravings tell us all we need to know?
The 49ers, meanwhile, can finally crow about .500. Bad sign: they beat just one winning team all year. Good sign: it's the one team left to beat in the broke down NFC West...
The Sharks have nothing left to prove after an eight-game streak — except that pesky loss to a foe that feels eerily familiar...
The Giants look to rescue the Panda, and Mark DeRosa is the first volley. Do Giants fans still have the satisfaction of dissing the entire infield?
The A's sign Coco Crisp, and while it's easy to ho-hum the move, Jess sees it reshaping the team...
The Kings play like they do have something to prove — and, led by rookie Tyreke Evans, they're proving it...
The Warriors, meanwhile, stink up the Bay even while throwing in a W against the Celts.
It's time to turn over a new leaf — or resolve to keep comin' back to The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT:
The Warriors and Kings look to creep up the standings, while the Sharkies look forward to a rematch in L.A.
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
What to make of the Randy Johnson retirement? (Yes, the Giants could now use an arm.) We ran out of time on the show, but I wanted to point out the brilliant memories — John Kruk in the All-Star Game; the spring training bird explosion; the 1995 and 2001 postseasons, plus the thrill of interviewing the legend with Lex for the show — he ushered permanently into our collective mind. I don't want to say that "anyone" could win five Cy Youngs, overthrow the Yanks' dynasty, hurl two no-nos, and strike out nearly 5,000 — no one has ever put together that resume. But Randy managed to do it all, in style. As unfathomably great as Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, and Roger Clemens were, Randy is THE iconic, dominant pitcher in a hitter's era...
Incidentally, the Unit raves — for him — about his time with the Giants. He even says Jonathan Sanchez "is a lot like I was at his age. He really has everything. He just needs to put it together." Makes you think Jon-Jon never pitches the no-no without Randy around. Ironic that he threw it as Johnson's replacement...
There's already bad news in the wake of the DeRosa signing: he may play left, with Juan Uribe starting at 3B. Sabean gives Uribe a bloated contract for a sub, after a career year, then convinces himself Uribe's a starter — vintage Sabes. Penny-pinching may have cost the G-Men both DeRosa (the 3B) and Uribe (the fill-in) as useful moves, nullifying their entire winter. Plus, after he helped carry the stretch drive, "Count Chocula" Velez is left to rot. Not enough...
Question for A's fans: if OBP was the Moneyball category for the 2000's, what's the cutting edge metric for the 2010's? Billy Beane is showing us the answer: defense (led by statistics like Range Factor). Lex is right to ask of Rajai Davis: wasn't he adequate in center? Sure. But an adequate CF becomes a plus LF. And Coco Crisp — one of those players, ála Mark Kotsay, you truly appreciate the more you watch him — is an upgrade in the middle. So now, with Jake Fox capable of replacing Jack Cust's bat at DH, Billy not only adds Crisp's offense, but subtracts Cust's iron glove. Such defensive security is a must if you're relying on a young, talented pitching staff — just ask the Giants...
Serious about this week's question: who's your bet for most improved team of 2010? I know you won't be afraid to tell us why. (What's that? Money where my mouth is? Process of elimination says it's gotta be the A's or Niners. The A's are hurt by lack of a salary cap, so I'll put on a smile and take Singletary for Coach of the Year. Right or wrong, some talking heads will follow me...)
Got to keep it brief — I have to look up the weather in Costa Rica! (Follow my travels here.) Hey, it's a tough life — and we always give as good as we get, on The NOR CAL Report!
** Thanks for making The NOR CAL Report a success. Don't forget to tell your friends! **
Welcome back to a brand new year of The NOR CAL Report! We promise to keep on rollin' through the decade — if you do! This week, a look back at the confounding NFL seasons, and the career of Randy Johnson. Plus, hear what to expect for the new year and beyond for all the local squads.
The Raiders put the capper on another stinker of a year. Has JaMarcus played his last down for the silver and black? Or do the Raids' recent ravings tell us all we need to know?
The 49ers, meanwhile, can finally crow about .500. Bad sign: they beat just one winning team all year. Good sign: it's the one team left to beat in the broke down NFC West...
The Sharks have nothing left to prove after an eight-game streak — except that pesky loss to a foe that feels eerily familiar...
The Giants look to rescue the Panda, and Mark DeRosa is the first volley. Do Giants fans still have the satisfaction of dissing the entire infield?
The A's sign Coco Crisp, and while it's easy to ho-hum the move, Jess sees it reshaping the team...
The Kings play like they do have something to prove — and, led by rookie Tyreke Evans, they're proving it...
The Warriors, meanwhile, stink up the Bay even while throwing in a W against the Celts.
It's time to turn over a new leaf — or resolve to keep comin' back to The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT:
The Warriors and Kings look to creep up the standings, while the Sharkies look forward to a rematch in L.A.
Played: 1952 | Download | Duration: 01:12:59
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
What to make of the Randy Johnson retirement? (Yes, the Giants could now use an arm.) We ran out of time on the show, but I wanted to point out the brilliant memories — John Kruk in the All-Star Game; the spring training bird explosion; the 1995 and 2001 postseasons, plus the thrill of interviewing the legend with Lex for the show — he ushered permanently into our collective mind. I don't want to say that "anyone" could win five Cy Youngs, overthrow the Yanks' dynasty, hurl two no-nos, and strike out nearly 5,000 — no one has ever put together that resume. But Randy managed to do it all, in style. As unfathomably great as Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, and Roger Clemens were, Randy is THE iconic, dominant pitcher in a hitter's era...
Incidentally, the Unit raves — for him — about his time with the Giants. He even says Jonathan Sanchez "is a lot like I was at his age. He really has everything. He just needs to put it together." Makes you think Jon-Jon never pitches the no-no without Randy around. Ironic that he threw it as Johnson's replacement...
There's already bad news in the wake of the DeRosa signing: he may play left, with Juan Uribe starting at 3B. Sabean gives Uribe a bloated contract for a sub, after a career year, then convinces himself Uribe's a starter — vintage Sabes. Penny-pinching may have cost the G-Men both DeRosa (the 3B) and Uribe (the fill-in) as useful moves, nullifying their entire winter. Plus, after he helped carry the stretch drive, "Count Chocula" Velez is left to rot. Not enough...
Question for A's fans: if OBP was the Moneyball category for the 2000's, what's the cutting edge metric for the 2010's? Billy Beane is showing us the answer: defense (led by statistics like Range Factor). Lex is right to ask of Rajai Davis: wasn't he adequate in center? Sure. But an adequate CF becomes a plus LF. And Coco Crisp — one of those players, ála Mark Kotsay, you truly appreciate the more you watch him — is an upgrade in the middle. So now, with Jake Fox capable of replacing Jack Cust's bat at DH, Billy not only adds Crisp's offense, but subtracts Cust's iron glove. Such defensive security is a must if you're relying on a young, talented pitching staff — just ask the Giants...
Serious about this week's question: who's your bet for most improved team of 2010? I know you won't be afraid to tell us why. (What's that? Money where my mouth is? Process of elimination says it's gotta be the A's or Niners. The A's are hurt by lack of a salary cap, so I'll put on a smile and take Singletary for Coach of the Year. Right or wrong, some talking heads will follow me...)
Got to keep it brief — I have to look up the weather in Costa Rica! (Follow my travels here.) Hey, it's a tough life — and we always give as good as we get, on The NOR CAL Report!
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