Professional Tailgating: Men with guns

The OTWT Scouting Department made another trip to the see the Lakewood BlueClaws this week and boy where there a lot of the men with radar guns at the game.

Scouts looking for a trading partner for the upcoming trading deadline. OTWT Scouting Department noticed scouts from Brewers, Royals and Rockies checking out the action. Could a deal for Gil Meche be in the cards.

A moment of silence for former SAL President John Henry Moss, who recently passed.
Despite not having a radar gun, the OTWT Scouting Department still had scout type seats.
The BlueClaws Ground crew does a great job getting the tarp on the field

Rain delay can only mean one thing, watching another game on the big screen.

Over the next couple of days I will break down the prospects from Lakewood that could be moved as the deadline moves closer.

Really

When I first read the headline: Owen to United. I first thought it would be a great signing for Leeds, but the more I read I was surprised it was Manchester United. After thinking about it for a little bit, it might not be that bad an idea.
First of all its not going to cost a transfer fee and Owen's contract is going to based on performances so if he stinks he will not get paid. If it happens he will be an extra part and will not beat out of names such as Berba, Rooney, Walbeck, and Kico for starting spots. He could be a great asset coming off the bench in the 70 minute. While it sounds crazy to bring the former Kop legend to United, it does make sense on a couple of levels.

Professional Tailgating: Pork Roll Egg and Cheese races

Minor league baseball has hit an all new low, pork roll egg and cheese races. During the Lakewood BlueClaws game on Wednesday and during one of the innings the pork roll, egg and cheese all hit the field in a match race. Only in New Jersey can this be considered a classic.

It makes me proud to be from New Jersey.

The home of Bronze Balls

Eutaw Street at Oriole Park at Camden Yard is famous for one things, balls hitting the pavements. Everytime a home run leaves the Park and lands on Eutaw Street, no matter which team, the Orioles mark the spot with a bronze ball detaling the day, team, and the distance of the home run. While street is littered with great home run hitters, there are some names that just make you think about the game of baseball.

A great signing for the New York Yankees

Mr. Congress himself

A former Expo that was traded to the Dodgers for Pedro Martinez

And Mr. Papa

Professional Tailgating: All You Can Eat

So for a quick get away the OTWT Crew head for the sunny shores of Baltimore, yes Baltimore, what did you think that I was going to say Aruba. So the crew headed to see their beloved Nationals take on the Orioles.

Saint Cal is everywhere in Birdland, it almost gets annoying

All you can eat tickets are a good deal, this was just round one of many. Ice Cream Sandwiches included

The wall of fame features such great players of Gregg Olson and of course Brady Anderson.

Should a person who had a 30 game hitting streak have a higher batting average. So the Nats win in the end, but the highlight of the day had to be when the scoreboard showed the highlights of the US vs. Brazil Confed Cup final. The crowd went nuts when they found out that the states had the lead, but in the Brazil ended up being too much.

OTWT NHL Draft Notes

Another day, another draft, and another edition of the OTWT Scouting Department Notebook.

So here we go:

• There are a ton of Islander fans at the draft glad to see they made the trip to Montreal.
• Pronger to the Flyers, now all they need is a goaltender. The Flyers gave up a ton two first rounders and a young defenseman.
• Garth Snow had to pick Tavares. If not the fans would have burnt down the arena.
• Love the GM trying to speak French in honor of the draft being in Montreal. They sound like I did when I took French in middle school.
• Avs pick Matt Duchene gave everyone a lesson on the different sticks players use.
• Just saw a guy at the Ottawa Senators table playing on Twitter.
• Having Toronto GM Brian Burke wired for sound is awesome, so refreshing.
• Ottawa gets a steal in Jared Cowan, was great as a 17 year old in the Memorial Cup in 2007.
• All of the European draft picks have the classic slim ties. They are classic.
• The Preds selected my favorite player Windsors Ryan Ellis. Love him.
• Love the video of the high school players drafted, its like the old videos of european basketball players that are drafted in the NBA draft.

RIP MJ

Over the past couple of years, few players have kept the dance moves of Michael Jackson going like Donovan McNabb. So here is McNabb doing the moonwalk. He has also been know to break out the Thriller dance when he scores touchdowns. Our little tribute the greatness of Mr. Jackson.

NBA Draft Notes

Who doesn't love a good draft, here are some of the notes from the OTWT Scouting Department about the NBA Draft.

• Beard and bow tie. Tell me James Harden is not old school and cool.
• Draft fashion has always been a big deal and Hasheem Thabeet’s watch is bigger then his arm. Never draft a guys whose watch is bigger then their arm.
• I think that Ricky Rubio could use a hair cut. From Spain to Minnesota talk about a climate change.
• Wow Knick fans are nuts. Don Nelson screws the Knicks again by taking Curry have to love that, years after being run out of town he still can stick it to them.
• Really missing Stephen A. Smith but it was good to see that he was active on twitter during the draft.
• There was a players from Guadalupe and the Congo just picked in the first round, who said the NBA was not international.
• I hope the Timberwolves are working a trade cause Rubio, Flynn and Lawson. That is three point guards for one ball. Reports suggest that Lawson is on his way to Denver for a future one.
• Who said Hansbrough made the wrong choice in going back to North Carolina, he was still a lottery pick. For all of the people that were hating on him, look he is a lottery pick.
• Ellington, Hansbrough, Lawson have it all. Nationals Championship rings and all three first round picks.
• The ACC rules. ACC has at least 6 picks in the first round for the 3rd time in five years (6 in 2007, 7 in 2005). This year the conference has seven, three from the Heels.

Welcome Back David

Since the 2001 British Open something has been missing from the PGA. The 2001 British Open was the last time before this weekends US Open that David Duval, in the responsibility of full disclosure he is my favorite player, was lurking around the leader board.

While Lucas Glover may have run off with the trophy this afternoon, Duval may have been the biggest story at Bethpage Black. For the last eight years the former Number 1 player in the world could not find his golf swing, but that appears to be changing. During the US Open, Duval swing looked back to the classic Duval swing when he was Number 1 in the world. The fans at the Black Course tried to will Duval and his trademark wrap around Oakley's to victory, but a second p lace is a great place to start. People forget that he was he was the person that took the Number 1 ranking away from Mr.. Woods.

Based on one good performance its hard to go nuts, but lets hope that is just the start of Duval getting really back on the track. With his tie for second Duval his now in the field for the next four majors, so maybe this is the start of the second coming of Duval.

This is why its a bad idea

Just think what would happen if the rain that has wrecks havoc on the 2014 US Open, like it has this year so far. Instead of screwing up one tournament it would wreck havoc on two of them. In 2014 for the first time in Open history one course will host both the Men's and Women's opens. Pinehurst #2 will do the honors.

While having both of the tournaments at the same site sounds like a great idea for a variety reasons, it does come with its drawbacks. If there would be a delay at the Men's Open it could destroy the Women's Open. Say by some act of god rain washes out a round of the Men's Open and plays gets pushed back to Monday. Then the course crew would have to change the set from the Men's Open to the Women's Open. So the earliest that a women would get a practice round would be Wednesday and it would simply be unfair to just give them one day of practice before they play in the biggest tournament in their sport. By having them both at the same site you are also asking people to spend a ton of money to go see both events.

While the thought was good any delay could cause an issue, it will be interesting to see what happens at Brandon Dunes in 2011 when both the Mens and Womens Amateur is held at the same venue.

It's Schedule Day in the EPL

The schedules have been released in England now its time to plan and look to the future. Thanks to Setanta for this pix

Who needs a TV for the US Open

The toughest test in golf is here. The USGA will be putting on the US Open at Bethpage Black in New York, but this years tournament has something new, twitter. All types of different players and media outlets are tweeting about the destruction that is about to happen this weekend at the black course. Everyone from the USGA to Ian Poulter to Stewart Cink.

Here are a couple of the better ones from this week so far:

• Ianjamespoulter http://twitpic.com/7kdag - Just got my gear for the week, balls gloves, waterproofs, I'm ready to rock. The course is awesome, long thou ...
• usopengolfOn the 2nd tee at the U.S. Open. Wandering back through the crowds after setup meeting. Send photo requests to @usopengolf. We'll shoot it!
• stewartcinkWho could've lost this ball in the weeds at Bethpage last week? Found this Nike in weeds near 18 green. http://yfrog.com/4rcv4j

With information like this who the hell needs to put on the TV this weekend.

The Best News for a Nationals Fan

You know your season is bad when excitement comes when a high school sophomore decides to go to junior college in order to be eligible for the 2010, well that is how bad it is. The Nats currently have a nine game lead in the race for the 2010 #1 pick, according to ESPN Keith Law. Around the country Nats fans rejoiced when word came from Nevada that SI Cover boy Bryce Harper decide to leave Las Vegas High School and enroll at College at Southern Nevada. So you are asking why Nats fan care, well because junior college players are eligible for the draft after one season. Harper has been hailed as a once in a lifetime type of prospects. He hits 500 feet home runs, throws left hand and hits 95 on the gun he is a organizations dream.

If Harper was not available, the #1 overall pick becomes a little less valuable with North Carolina pitcher Matt Harvey being the top choice. Harvey is an ok starting pitchers but he is no where in the class of this years #1 San Diego State pitcher Steven Strasburg.

Scott Van Pelt in Cardboard Form

Tiger Woods will not SVP be in the game but his voice is.

The Might Pens

The longest playoffs in all of sports are all over, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the Stanley Cup champions. The Pens wrapped up the Cup with a dramatic 2-1 win over the Red Wings in game 7 last night. Here is how newspapers in Detroit and Pittsburgh covered he event.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

The Detroit News

Detroit Free Press

Saying Good Bye in video form

Saying good bye to Ronnie, with great video from Country Football.

The King of All Newspapers

Only one soccer player can turn the front pages of papers around Europe into his own personal playground, Ronnie. His move from United to Real Madrid dominates the front pages of newspapers in England, Portugal and Spain.

The Guardian (England)

El Mundo (Spain)

Journal de Noticias (Portugal)

AS (Spanish Sports Daily)

Marca (Spanish Sports Daily)

Bye Bye Ronnie and Thank You

The hair gel, the step overs, the temper tantrums, and the goals it has been a remarkable run at Manchester United for Ronaldo and that run now appears to be over. Real Madrid have made an offer of 80 million pounds for the Portuguese winger and United have accepted so all that has to be done is personal terms between Ronnie and Real, which will happen really soon. So this is the end.

Some people will say good riddance, but I can not. All I can say is thank you Ronnie. You always said Real Madrid was your dream move now you will be able to live out that dream, and good luck.

During the last six years there have been so many moments of magic from the goal in the championship league final against Chelski, to the goal at Porto in this years Champions League, to the come back against Spurs and Aston Villa, and the thropies. Oh yes the thropies. Premier League Trophies, an FA Cup, League Cups, World Club Cup, Community Shields and Mr. Big Ears it has been a great six years and now we go our separate ways.

But in two decades when people list the best players to ever wear the number 7 at United you are at the top of the list. I have faith that United are not done, but rather this is just the next great team that Sir Alex is building. It was fun while it lasted and again good luck at Madrid.

OTWT Scouting Department Draft Views

For the last year, Nationals fans have been billed yesterday as the day that turned around the franchise. On Tuesday all Nats fans rejoiced as they selected San Diego State righthander Steven Strasburgh, hopefully this will be the moment the franchise turns around.

Here are some other views on the draft:

• MLB Network coverage is not bad, it was pretty good for their first, but there is so much room for improvement. The room makes it looks really cheap, but you have to remember the first time that ESPN did the NFL Draft it was in hotel ball room and look what that has turned into.
• Enjoyed the fact that MLB Network brought in Jim Callis from Baseball America he has always been a favorite, he could become their Mel Kiper Jr.
• I don't understand why the Pirates did what the did. Ok so Sanchez could be a good player but not the outstanding player that could have gotten. Rule one of drafting that high is never draft a guy with a questionable bat.
• I know that there are issues with North Carolina pitcher Alex White, but how can the Braves take Vandy's Mike Minor. Watch the two of them and tell me who is the better pitcher.
• When people thing about baseball in the SEC they think of Florida, Ole Miss, Georgia; but few programs have produced the number of the first round picks over the last couple of years that Vanderbilt has. Price, Alvarez, Weathers, and now Minor.
• Over the last couple of years the Rockies have played it conservatively when it came to the draft but this year they did not by drafting left handed pitchers Tyler Matzek and Rex Brothers. Sure Matzek will take a ton of money to show, but in the end it could be the best pick of the draft.
• The Detroit Tigers never shys away from players with signability issues. In 2006 it was Andrew Miller, in 2007 it was Rick Porecello and this year it was Missouri High School righthander Jacob Turner. Turner has the best arm of any of the high school righthanders.
• According to Baseball American, the Texas Rangers have the number one farm system in baseball and during the draft might have added two of the best arms in Matthew Purke and Tanner Scheppers to an already stocked system. Its only a matter of the time before the Rangers return to the playoffs.
• Keep an eye on South Carolina pitcher Sam Dyson, who was drafted by Oakland, and Clemson pitcher Christopher Dwyer, who was drafted by Kansas City. Have seen both on TV and both have a ton of talent and power arms. They could be two steals in this draft.
• The best name drafted was when Atlanta drafted Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg, a first baseman from Nova Southeastern, 478 overall and the Braves thought that Saltalamaccchia was tough to put on the back of a jersey.
• Love the fact that Mike Trout was at the show, it would be great if MLB Network could get more of the players to the draft it would make it more fun and would add a nice touch.
• Now that the 2009 draft is over its time to look ahead to the 2010 draft with a name: North Carolina pitcher Matt Harvey.

Professional Tailgating: A Waste of Money, So Far

After the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, I sang the praises of the Washington Nationals for shelling out $1.8 million signing bonus for Massachusetts high school lefthander Jack McGeary (above). Last night I got a first hand view of the kid, that I thought would be one of the foundations of the franchise for years to come and boy do we need a new foundation.

McGeary pitched against the Lakewood BlueClaws last night and struggles, just like he has been doing all season. Last night McGeary went four and a third innings giving up six hits, three earned runs and walking two batters, while only striking out one.

The numbers seemed ok for a young pitcher who is just getting back to being a full time player, but the one thing that really bothered me is that he did not seem to have that electric stuff that everyone raved about when he was coming out of high school.

His curve ball was when he could locate it, which was an issue all night. His fastball did not go above 90 mph, which is also concerning. His command was not great at all. Watching him last night you never felt like he was in control of any of his pitches. It's still early in his career and there is still time to improve, so as a Nationals fan all I can do is stay patient.