February 19th: Getting an Invitation

Contrary to what the thermometer may be telling you, today is the first day of spring! Pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training, kicking off the beginning of the 2015 baseball season.

As the hot stove cools off and the season approaches, teams prepare to prove that the off-season buzz can turn into regular season success. To beef up their chances, though, each team invites Non-Roster Invitees to take a crack at joining the Major League roster. Each year, you see youngsters making their first attempt at the league alongside older veterans who will have to prove that they still have what it takes to contribute at the highest level. Teams have, in past years, found major contributors hidden in their NRI list.

This year in particular, there are a litany of diamonds in the rough, especially those with prior years of ML service. Some will pan out, while others will be sent to the minors, maybe never to be seen again.

The Zoot Perspective: Left Fielder looks at 10 Non-Roster Invitees who could make a significant impact on their new ball club:

1. 

   Ryan Ludwick, OF - Rangers
   Ludwick spent most of his time with the Reds either looking over his shoulder waiting to be replaced, or on the DL. Now that he’s free of that contract, he has the chance to go to the relatively depleted Rangers and stake a claim on the left field gig currently held by...well, nobody.
   
2. Wandy Rodriguez, SP - Braves
   After coming into the league as a highly anticipated prospect with the Astros, Rodriguez’s time with the Pirates was relatively lackluster. He has the chance to fight his way into the Braves rotation, and could return to form. This is a great example of a player with nothing to lose, fighting for a spot that actually does exist.
   
3. Franklin Gutierrez, OF - Mariners
   After a pair of years in 2009-2010 that left Mariners fan with cautious optimism about the young Gutierrez, he caught the injury bug and has struggled to be a major contributor. He sat out the 2014 season, and the Mariners have the chance to buy low on a player who, if healthy, could put back together the pieces of his career.
   
4. Jeff Francoeur, OF - Phillies
   Frenchy is a long-time fan favorite, and a journeyman, having spent time on six different teams. He now has the chance to maybe add some excitement to a Phillies team that otherwise looks like it will experience a long summer. Famous for treating the fans in the bleachers to pizza and beer, Francoeur better provide some off-field fun to combat the on-field disaster.
   
5. Ryan Madson, RP - Royals
   Madson is another former star who was hampered by injury. He spent time with the Reds and Angels, never having thrown a pitch for either Major League squad. The Royals don’t need a closer, so Madson doesn’t have the same degree of pressure. He can, however, fill the role of swing man, getting the ball from the starting pitchers to the stout Three-Headed Monster. This could be a great chance for him.
   
6. Andrew Bailey, RP - Yankees
   Every year, a former Rookie of the Year makes himself known on this list. This time around, it’s Andrew Bailey, who couldn’t keep up his Oakland magic after he was shipped off by Billy Beane. Bailey can play a supporting role as Dellin Betances inserts himself into the closer role. You can never have too many good late-inning arms.
   
7. Reed Johnson, OF - Marlins
   The Marlins are trying to add to the success of last year, and need some veteran guidance to get them there. Enter Reed Johnson, who has been a supporting cast member of many young teams, and continues to get quality at-bats year after year. I’m a biased HUGE Reed Johnson fan, but he could be a vital supporting cast member in getting the Marlins to the next level.
   
8. Chris Parmalee, OF - Orioles
   The Orioles spent most of this off-season watching helplessly as free agents fled to greener pastures, including Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz. Chris Parmalee has an opportunity to bring the big bat and provide some of that pop that the Orioles will surely miss.
   
9. Bryan LaHair, 1B, OF - Red Sox
   As if the Red Sox needed another outfielder, LaHair came back from a year in Japan to take a crack at the Boston roster. LaHair is a former all-star who lost his job to Anthony Rizzo, leading to a sharp decline in production. He was one of the worst all-stars in recent memory, but when he gets hot, he’s a force. If the Red Sox can find a spot for him, he will be in the Majors this year.
   
10. Geovany Soto, C - White Sox
    The White Sox makeover did not extend to the catcher position, where they are trusting a newly beefed up staff to Tyler Flowers. Soto, meanwhile, caught a playoff game last year, and is another former Rookie of the Year. Could he be a major piece of the Chicago puzzle? I think so.

February 8th: Technically Foul

I watch a fair amount of basketball. Between college and the NBA, I would say I take in parts of about five or six games a week. In all of my basketball watching, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team receive 5 technical fouls in a single night. It happened to the Los Angeles Clippers, though.

On Thursday night, the Clippers were T-ed up five times in a blowout loss to the now-surging Cleveland Cavaliers. After the game, Chris Paul, the recipient of one of those foul calls, was pretty irritated. He called out the ref for the abundance of calls, and demonstrated his frustration.

This wouldn’t have been the first time a player called out a referee for questionable calls. Usually, such comments would receive about 30 seconds of Sportscenter time before everyone moved on. This is, though, the first time an NBA player has publicly called out a female ref.

Lauren Holtkamp is one of two full time
female referees in the NBA

You see, the referee for this particular game was Lauren Holtkamp, one of two full-time women serving in the NBA as officiators. In Paul’s comments, he calls out his disagreement with the call, and follows it up with “That’s ridiculous [in reference to the technical]. If that’s the case, this might not be for her.”

The NBA Referee’s union made a public statement on Friday, stating “the NBRA deplores the personal and unprofessional comments made by Chris Paul. She belongs.”

As the president of the NBA Players Association, Chris Paul is no stranger to the union in-fighting that goes on in and around the game. This is groundbreaking, though, in that it features a uniquely gender-related disagreement, and is challenging one of the game’s pioneers in gender-equality. Except that it shouldn’t.

The comments made by Paul could have been made against a man. In fact, there is nothing specifically gender related about them. He cited an example of an interaction that he found to be bothersome, and called into question whether or not a rookie was ready for the next level. The fact that she is a woman has been made to be a big deal by the rest of the world. The nature of “this might not be for her” can be called into question, but all evidence points to the fact that, in Paul’s opinion, a rookie referee who can’t get a call right doesn’t belong, regardless of his or her gender.

The sexism of sports is an oft-debated one, and one that frequently returns to the concept of a meritocracy. You find me a woman, the argument goes, who can compete in the NFL, and she can grab a jersey. Until then, it will remain a man’s game. This has gone relatively unchallenged, as it appears as though those who do demonstrate abilities have found their way into the game, most often in non-player roles. There have been increases in the number of women in front-office roles, the Spurs now have a female coach on the staff, and female referees are, as we see, hitting the hardwood. The progress has been slow, but it does appear to be moving.

All that being said, for there to be such intense backlash against Paul for his comments against a referee who happens to be a woman, there would have to be some kind of proof that his comments were based on her gender, rather than her ability to arbitrate a game. In this case, there appears no evidence that his argument would have been different if a man had gave his team an insane number of technical fouls. Paul has defended himself fiercely, repeating that his issue was with the call, not the woman behind it.

Sports have always served as a cutting-edge for the pursuit of social reform. We saw Jackie Robinson break the color barrier. Just recently, we saw Michael Sam and Jason Collins come out as openly gay athletes. Now, women are attempting to find their place in sports. And there most certainly is a place for women in sports.

But we have the challenge of creating an environment where women are welcome and also subjected to the same challenges as men. We can’t be gentle to women referees because we are afraid of hurting their feelings or looking sexist. To even the playing field, it must be completely even, in both directions. In this case, the NBA has the chance to do far more damage to the fight for women’s rights than Chris Paul.

January 22nd: Deflated Egos

Sunday featured one of the most exciting, engaging NFL games in recent memory. Waking up Monday morning, most expected to hear discussion on the Packers’ epic overtime loss to the Seahawks, expected to hear hours and hours of commentary about the defending champs doing everything it took to win, expected to hear a shower of praise for a defense that kept their team in the game, even when all looked lost.

Instead, news quickly shifted to Sunday’s OTHER game, one that everyone expected to get ugly and did, quickly. After a 45-7 drubbing of the Colts, the Patriots came under fire for an NFL investigation, questioning whether or not the footballs used by the Patriots offense met regulatory standards. After a few days of investigation, it was discovered that 11 of the 12 game balls were deflated to up to 2 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) under regulation.

Now, it was easy for “haters” to immediately begin calling out the cheating Patriots, crying for anything and everything: a fine, a rematch, a forfeit. Most, though, had never heard enough about the PSI of a football to make an educated argument as to the context of it.

Here are some of the details that are important to keep in mind:

• The standard PSI of a game-used NFL football are between 12.5 and 13.5 PSI. These balls are evaluated 2 hours before the start of the game, approved by the referees, and then given to the quarterbacks for use during warm-ups.
• PSI can fluctuate during a game. Air pressure generally goes down in cold weather environments, which a game in New England one would expect to be very cold.
• An under-inflated football is generally easier to throw, especially in cold or wet conditions, because it is easier to grip.
• The PSI is not re-evaluated during the game. This means that, when they were under investigation by the league, the balls had not only been out in the cold, but the passage of time could have an impact on the PSI.
• The Colts had 12 offensive balls of their own, and none of them violated the league’s regulations.

Overall, there are plenty of questions, many either too complicated or too long since passed to get a real understanding. The Patriots could have had balls at the low end of regulation, and thus dropped below protocol only after weather and time impact. The Colts could have preferred more inflated game balls, and thus remained above standards longer. The balls, through the investigative process, could have lost pressure from repeated evaluation, causing an inaccurate reading. From any angle, there are simply too many questions to lead to any real punishment.

In his statement to the media, Patriots Head Coach BIll Belichick gave a fairly detailed description of his involvement (which is next to none), and the information he has on the matter (also nearly none). He repeatedly answered questions by simply announcing that he had explained everything he knew. For all we can determine, he truly wasn’t involved in any form of tampering.

This is, of course, not the first time the Patriots have come under fire under cheating allegations. The 2007 accusations and ultimate fines for video recording Jets game and practice signal calling left an enormous shadow over the team that has had the most substantial claim at dynasty status over the past 15 years in football. Similar accusations arose on two other occasions, including for videotaping Rams practices in lead-up to Super Bowl XXXVI.

In any case, the Patriots would be well-suited to let their play on the field do their talking for them. Some argue that, with a score of 45-7, things were clearly way too far out of hand for the ball factors to have impacted the bottom line. That doesn’t really matter, though, as an unfair advantage would drastically change even the smallest details of a game. Even for a team that may not have broken the rules, too many allegations generally means that something fishy is happening.

As the Patriots prepare for their showdown with the Seahawks on February 1st in Arizona, there will be swirling accusations, questions, and doubts as to just what this team is made of. While these questions are valid, there is required a certain dose of curiosity, so that fans will ultimately come to an accurate understanding of not only WHAT happened, but how and why it impacted the game.

January 10th: Deck the Hall

On Tuesday, four baseball players were inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Pitchers Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, and Pedro Martinez, along with second baseman Craig Biggio, joined the ranks of the games best, cementing their legacies in Cooperstown forever.

It took a little while, but Biggio eventually
punched his ticket for the Hall of Fame

Once again, the likes of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire all missed the Hall, receiving less than 35% of the ballot each, far south of the 75% necessary for induction. This means that the home run king, the most decorated Cy Young Award winner, and the two most exciting players of the turn of the century are all on the outside looking in.

This has sparked serious unrest among voters, many of whom argue that there needs to be a change in perspective as we evaluate the worth of these players.

The old-fashioned idea is that cheaters have no place in baseball’s hallowed halls. This is, of course, an understandable approach, considering these individuals violated the very rules of the game they claimed to cherish, and shouldn’t reap rewards for being better than their clean peers if it was done through an unfair advantage.

The new argument is that the statistics and records they own belong in the hall, if nothing else, and that each of these players should be placed in the Hall of Fame, while their connection to steroids should be displayed prominently on their plaques.

Things get even murkier for players who have been discussed in the steroid conversation, but who haven’t ever been found to be nearly as guilty as the likes of Bonds or Clemens. Jeff Bagwell is an excellent example. Bagwell has the stats to get in. Tim Kurkjian referred to him Tuesday as quite possibly one of the top 5 first basemen of all time.  Yet his connection to steroids has kept him out of the hall, with very little evidence to his guilt.

The reality is that there are cheaters already in the Hall of Fame. We don’t know who they are, or else they probably wouldn’t have gotten in. But they are there, and it is incredibly ignorant to assume that the Baseball Writers of America have properly kept out all of the steroid users. They are, then, faced with the challenge of figuring out where to go from there.

One of the other issues with the Hall of Fame voting was brought up by Curt Schilling the day of the announcement. Schilling was on the ballot for the third time. This year, he received 39.2% of the vote, which was up from his first year. His comment was that he hasn’t thrown a pitch in the past year. What makes him one, two, five percent more qualified for the Hall of Fame this year than last? Why make people wait to be in the Hall if they are eventually deserving?

As a whole, the Hall of Fame process is quickly becoming a problem that could drastically belittle the greatness of baseball. As an avid fan, it would be a travesty to see the beautiful game tarnished even further by those who chose to forsake the rules, instead choosing personal advancement over the integrity of the game. That being said, we have reached the Catch-22 where baseball is only doing itself a disservice by continuing to prevent entry for those who hold the greatest achievements in the baseball world. To continue to bar them from the Hall does no further damage to their image, and only works to dilute the value of those already in the Hall.

The door needs to be widened to give entry to all who statistically are among the best in the game. As much as it saddens true baseball lovers, it is important that even the cheaters be granted entry, so that their statistics can give the proper context for all that makes baseball so great. If possible, we need to identify the cheaters and make sure that they’re legacies are known to be tainted, but we cannot take away the fact that the Hall of Fame is meant for the players who performed at the highest level, regardless of the means used to accomplish their feats.

January 6th: In Like a Playoff Team, Out Like the Lions

If controversy is the way we gauge how much fun we had during NFL Wild Card Weekend, then the Lions, Cowboys game was clearly the highlight!

After having led for most of the game, the Lions squandered a 20-17 lead, giving up a bullet passed by Tony Romo to the back of the end zone with 2:30 left to go. With the Cowboys now up 24-20, Matthew Stafford attempted to run a last-chance offensive stand, Alas, a forced fumble ended it, sending the Lions home, and the Cowboys to Green Bay to take on the Packers in the divisional round.

Sounds simple enough. Except, there was a play with over 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter that has NFL fans in Detroit and beyond up in arms.

With the lead, the Lions were stringing a drive together. On 3rd and 1 in plus-territory, Stafford dropped back to pass, finding Brandon Pettigrew a good 20 yards downfield. Except, Pettigrew, tangled up in Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens, doesn’t catch the ball. The flag is thrown. Defensive pass interference is called. The first down is given. Again, fairly simple. Except that the officials later took the penalty back.

Out of nowhere, after the penalty had already been announced, the officiating crew decided that no pass interference had happened after all, and that it was 4th down.

Cue the panic. When Detroit eventually lost the game (c’mon, it was Detroit, we saw that coming), players and fans alike pointed at that play as the reason the Lions were headed home. ESPN commentators tore the play to shreds. Fans shamed the NFL for allowing such a thing to happen. Even Dean Blandino, the NFL Head of Officiating, came forward and acknowledged the blown call. Or, rather, the correct call that was taken back.

At the end of the day, though, the Lions lost. Fans want to believe that it was the fault of that one play. All of a sudden, everyone is looking back at the game for every possible penalty. Dez Bryant coming out onto the field without a helmet. Ndamukong Suh being held on a critical 4th down opportunity. Anything that could be found WAS found.

The only thing that couldn’t be found, though, was the Lions clutch factor. It is absolutely understandable, as a fan, to be furious that the officiating played a role in such a pivotal moment. But that was one minute of play. What is the excuse for the other 59 minutes? What’s the excuse for the fact that the Lions had over two minutes left on the clock at the end of the game with the chance to win, and didn’t? Where is the argument that the Lions could have had their foot more firmly on the gas and been winning by 14, rather than three, in the fourth quarter? Where is the second-ranked Lions defense, who gave the Cowboys the ball in a home-field advantage situation late in the game, allowing them to march down the field in 11 plays for the game-winning score?

The bottom line is this: the officiating team screwed up. The call should have favored the Lions. They should have had excellent field position, and held onto the ball a little longer, burning more time off the clock. The Cowboys should have had a harder time stealing the victory late in the game like that. But, when all was said and done, the Lions let one minute be the excuse for 59 other minutes of football.

A team that allows a play midway through the fourth quarter to be their excuse for relinquishing the lead and eventually losing the game lacks the winning pedigree necessary to make a championship run. THAT is why Detroit will be watching next week’s games from the couch.

January 3rd: NFL Playoff Preview

After 256 games, the NFL Playoffs are set to kick off this Saturday. Something things went exactly as planned. The Seahawks and Broncos both won their divisions and won first round byes. Some things went as expected, but in a very different way.  The Patriots won their division, but in much grander fasion than I predicted. Some things were downright unexpected. The ZP: Left Fielder predicted a Bears division win. Need we say more?

But, now that the chips have fallen where they will, it is time for the real hard work. The Left Fielder tackles the playoffs, from Wild Card Weekend to Super Bowl Sunday.

Wild Card:

Cardinals at Panthers

The Panthers are trending up at exactly the right time, while the Cardinals are limping at best. Arizona has been the season’s feel-good story, but that can only go so far, as a fourth string quarterback won’t be enough to cut it. I’m a big Cam Newton fan, and he will put this team on his back.

Ravens at Steelers

If Le’Veon Bell is out, it may change the result of the game. But a Ravens team that loses in Houston and is tied with the Browns at half-time isn’t one destined for a long playoff run, and I think the days of the Steel Curtain are beginning to look more familiar in Pittsburgh. A rivarly match-up in the playoffs is always a treat, though.

Lions at Cowboys

The Lions were a lot of fun to watch this year, and often won in resilient fashion. That being said, nobody can match the flash of the Cowboys this year, who have found a three-headed dragon on offense in the form of Romo, Murray, and Bryant. Even the Lions’ dominant defense won’t be able to slow ‘dem Boys.

Bengals at Colts

I’ve gone back and forth a lot on this one. I love both teams, as I now have educational roots in each place. I think Andrew Luck is the best quarterback in the NFL’s future. I think Andy Dalton is one of the least appreciated players in the game. That being said, I was all ready to give a slight edge to the Bengals, but without AJ Green, I don't think that's possible. Colts win by default.

Divisional Round:

Panthers at Seahawks

Does anybody remember the matchup for the Seahawks and Panthers in the middle of the year? Well, it was the beginning of a bad slide for Carolina and the last straw for a Seahawks team that was about to turn on the jets. This is going to be another turning point, except the Panthers will be going home embarressed, and the Seahawks will be tuning up for a long run. Will Marshawn Lynch lead this team back to the promised land? “Thanks for asking.”

Colts at Patriots

The Patriots were not kind to the Colts in Week 11. This won't be any different. The Patriots are showing just how dominant they are as a franchise, and the Colts look like they don't want to succeed. This won't be close, and it probably won't even be fun to watch.

Cowboys at Packers

The Packers appear unbeatable at home. The Cowboys are absolutely dominant on the road. Who wins out? I’m probably making a heart pick, rather than a head pick here, but Big D can ball, and I want to see the Packers go down at Lambeau. Aaron Rogers will have an unstopable day, but so will Romo, as the Cowboys win a high-scoring shootout.

Steelers at Broncos

Everyone has jumped off the Broncos bandwagon in the last few weeks. Yet, the team’s defense is playing better than ever before, and the running game is clicking in a way that should scare, well, everybody. Peyton will be Peyton, and will force Big Ben to play at a high level, which he has proven incabable of doing four quarters in a row this year, let alone four weeks.

AFC Championship Game:

Broncos at Patriots

We’ve been biding our time for this game. This is, really, what everyone wants, and will be the talk of Sportscenter all week. It will be unbearable.

The Patriots were embarressed on the road last year. The Broncos were embarressed at home this year. The slate should be clean for the Manning-Brady Bowl.

I think these teams are as evenly matched as theyve ever been before, and it will make for a thriller. Two Hall of Fame Quarterbacks. Two much-improved secondaries. Two running games with no name recognition but gritt.

That being said, we will return to what I’ve said every week for much of the year: Never, EVER bet against Peyton. I don’t care how many picks he threw against the Bengals in Week 16. Don’t. Bet. Against. Peyton.

NFC Championship Game:

Cowboys at Seahawks

This year’s most intriguing team against the defending Super Bowl champs. That’s what football is all about.

The Seahawks defense will slow Romo and Co. down a little, and the Cowboys defense will be able to manage against a Seahawks offense that is efficient at best. This will be a chess match, and is, for all intents and purposes, a hard one to call.

The cards will fall in favor of the Seahawks, though, based on playoff experience, toughness, and overall a will to win.

Super Bowl:

Broncos vs. Seahawks

A Super Bowl rematch is what many expected heading into this year, although it is impossible to anticipate how we got here. The Broncos have planned all offseason and all regular season for this matchup, and you can bet they will come out angry, looking for a revenge. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have proven that, despite some early season hiccups, they are not going to succomb to the post-championship hangover.

This will be a much better game to watch, and will come down to the wire. The Broncos proved in the regular season that they can play with this team.

I’m going with the Broncos for two reasons. Reason #1: If they got here, they will have had to beat the Patriots, who I think are their biggest test. Once they’ve done that, they will be raring to go. Reason #2: I don’t see this squad allowing themselves to watch Seattle hoist the trophy against the again. This will a revenge grudge-match, and Peyton will get his second ring.

Now comes the fun part. Grab some friends and the remote. It’s almost Game Day.

The Dodger Blues?

While his career saw something of a resurgence in the final months of 2014, Matt Kemp has been shopped by the Dodgers in hopes of clearing up the outfield logjam in LA. With swings like this one featured in Sports Illustrated, there should be plenty of interest.