King in the North(west)

Posted on April 19, 2013 by bpbrady

In my quest to bring you more columns on teams you could not care less about, I am starting a semi-regular column on the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners have been my favorite team since I got into baseball, largely due to a fondness for Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball on SNES. I still maintain that it is one of the best games of all time, although it is obviously not on the level of Game of Thrones or my personal favorite game of all time, Mass Effect 2. This column was really also just an excuse to make another Game of Thrones pun, which I’m super good at. Like yesterday I posted this recipe for direwolf shaped scones on Facebook and called it Game of Scones. How great is that?

Anyway, the Mariners just wrapped up a series against AD’s second favorite team, the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers won 2 out of 3, although all three games were fairly competitive with Wednesday’s game going to 14 innings. The one win the Mariners got was against Justin Verlander. Go figure. Although there is a fairly large talent gap between the two teams (a 150+ million dollar payroll can do that), the Mariners have had a lot of success against the Tigers in recent years so this was kind of a disappointing result for Seattle. Still, you can never be too disappointed beating Verlander and I was doubly happy because he is on one of my fantasy teams and he turned in a solid start despite losing the game. Woof, this is reading like a Live Journal post, huh? Or at least what I imagine a Live Journal post would read like.

Coming into the season I thought that the Mariners could be a surprise team a la the 2012 Orioles or Athletics given the acquisition of some offensive firepower in Mike Morse and Kendrys Morales. This of course assumed that their young core of Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak and Jesus Montero would make a leap, which has not happened yet. The Mariners have also been bit by the injury bug, having several regular players go on the disabled list. Things could still turn around, and the fact that Seattle gets a good number of games against the Houston Astros could be the difference if they want to snag a wild card over an AL Central or East team. Still, their league worst offense over the past several seasons must make strides, and that is no given.

A Mariners post wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the King in the North(west), Felix Hernandez. Felix is off to a stellar start to the 2013 season, and continues to prove that he is one of the top pitchers in the major league. Is another Cy Young in his future? If I could see into the future I would tell you, but I can’t, so I won’t.

That’s it for my first Mariners column. I don’t blame you for skipping over it, because I doubt it interests you very much. But if you read through the whole thing, here is a stellar gif of Khal Drogo as a reward. Who do you guys think would win in a fight between Khal Drogo and the Mountain? Let me know in the comments.

ALDLAND Podcast

Posted on April 18, 2013 by bpbrady

Spring means a lot of things, but mainly it means Game of Thrones and baseball. Those are easily the two best games of all time and both promise to be very exciting as spring turns to summer. Who are your guys’ favorite Game of Thrones characters anyway? Why don’t you tweet @ALDLANDia and tell us some characters and things you like about Game of Thrones? Baseball is also happening, and it is also exciting. Jayson Werth even uses the Game of Thrones intro music as his walkup song! How cool is that? Join cohost Marcus “Primetime” Paschall and I as we go division by division and provide you with the most comprehensive preview of the MLB season that is also two and a half weeks late. But don’t blame us, because we had other stuff to do like watch Game of Thrones and come up with theories on Game of Thrones. Seriously I come up with like at least three theories a day, it’s not even funny.

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Upton Abbey: Episode 3 – Hosting Royalty

Posted on April 17, 2013 by AD

I attended my first Atlanta Braves game last night, with the then-AL-Central-leading Kansas City Royals in town for the first of two games in thirty-six hours.

Getting to Turner Field via public transportation is easy, particularly considering Atlanta’s bad reputation for transit. The park itself is nice and clean, with three escalators ferrying us to the top level, where we were sitting. Originally constructed as part of the 1996 Olympic complex (it cannot in any way be overstated how much Atlanta loves the ’96 Games), it does not show its age, even if the third escalator broke down while we were on it, bringing to mind Mitch Hedberg’s bit. But let’s not dwell on the notion of being too lazy to take the stairs on one’s way to sitting and watching three hours of baseball. Instead, let’s note that Turner Field has roving Chick-fil-A vendors and a nice view of the downtown skyline.With a seating capacity of roughly 50,000, it actually is bigger than Comerica Park, but even sitting in the top section, I felt closer to the game than one might at some technically smaller parks, and there didn’t look to be a bad seat in the house.

It was good that we were closer to the game, too, because Continue reading →

Rasheed Wallace, perhaps the NBA’s best character, has again retired

Posted on April 17, 2013 by AD

ESPN New York reports:

Veteran forward Rasheed Wallace has retired from pro basketball for the second time, the New York Knicks announced Wednesday.

Wallace played in 21 games this season with the Knicks but had missed most of the season with a stress fracture in his right foot.
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A first-round draft pick in 1995, Wallace played 15 seasons in the NBA and won a title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. He retired in 2010 after one season with the Celtics in which the team lost to the Lakers in the Finals. Wallace came out of retirement to sign with the Knicks in October.

He finishes his career with averages of 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. The four-time All-Star has been known as a volatile player and finishes as the all-time leader in technical fouls with 304.

About a million things could be written about Sheed, but none of them would be as interesting, engaging, or fun as Sheed himself. (E.g., this Grantland profile.) Instead, let’s just say that Sheed played hard, most of the time, and Sheed don’t lie, all of the time.

Bay of Cigs: Run distribution, science(!), and the liklihood of a Detroit comeback

Posted on April 15, 2013 by AD

We’re a dozen games into the season and the Tigers, with a few hiccups, are off to a respectable 7-5 start. Despite the day/Pacific time starts and my living outside the Tigers Radio Network, I’ve been able to keep decent track of these first few series and, while mindful of small sample size they represent, I was beginning to notice something concerning.

Continue reading →

A Song of Bryce and Fire

Posted on April 15, 2013 by bpbrady

AD has been writing about his new favorite team lately in the popular column Upton Abbey. Since I can’t allow him to praise the Barves unchecked, I will now write a semi-regular-ish column on their division rivals, the Washington Nationals. So now you get three columns on teams you (probably) don’t care about. But you should read all of them so you can get some culture and have something to talk about with your co-workers at the ol’ water cooler.

This past weekend saw a series between the scorching hot Bravos and the hot-but-not-scorching-hot Washington Nationals. The series did not go so well for Washington, as they got swept and only looked competitive in the first game. I attended the Saturday game with noted blog subject Bad Jeremy, who is almost as big of a Braves fan as AD. The game was a 3-1 Braves victory that saw the Nats do very little in the way of making offense and the Braves do slightly more. Evan Gattis carried the Braves, hitting a two run homer that caused Bad Jeremy to get out of his seat and flex at all the Nats fans in the surrounding area.

The highlight of the game was, as always, the Presidents’ Race. George Washington jumped out to a big lead early on with Teddy Roosevelt, Abe Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson trailing behind. Newcomer William Howard Taft was nowhere to be found, and everyone in attendance wondered where he was. The answer to that question was soon revealed, as Taft emerged from the right field bullpen to join with Teddy in beating up George Washington. Apparently there was some beef between Presidents 26 and 27 and President 1. Who knew? Jefferson and Lincoln continued past, neck and neck, until Jefferson went into his kick and won what was one of the more exciting Presidents’ Races in recent memory.

Despite being swept by the Barves, the Nats have looked good early on and seem like they are more than capable of making it to their second postseason in franchise history this year. They have some great young arms in Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzales, not to mention the bats of Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth. This weekend’s series could very well be a preview of the 2013 NLCS (where the winner will go on to get swept by the Seattle Mariners in the World Series). Stay tuned for more of A Song of Bryce and Fire, and also for a Mariners column with the working title of King in the North(west). Baseball, huh? How about it?

The 2013 Masters: Pimento Cheese is the New Hummus

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Luke Watson, special to ALDLAND

Guest blogger Luke Watson is here this week to cover the Masters. Read his first post here. -Ed.
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The Masters is known for many things but probably the most delectable item is the pimento cheese sandwich. Now, I’m typically just about hot dogs and golf, but once a year I think it’s important to take a closer look at the snack that’s quickly making its way to parties all across this glorious land.

As a young boy growing up in Texas, I was accustomed to a nearly weekly pimento cheese sandwich. My mother would sometimes make her own version, using velveeta and shredded cheddar. On trips to the coast, we would stop off at the HEB and grab a tub of the good stuff, slather it on some wheat bread and get on down the road. Nothing says vacation in Texas like warm sandwiches, soggy tortilla chips, and a can of Dr. Pepper. But, this blog ain’t about Texas vacations, it’s about golf…

The Masters, apparently, has some mighty fine pimento cheese sandwiches. And, for a dollar fifty, it’s a heckuva deal. Those I’ve talked to tell me that they have a little more oniony kick than your typical southern style PCS, but they’re a great break from the sometimes awful heat and humidity. Coronas are a good option, too. Now, they come pre-made but I don’t think that’s all that awful — you’re there for the golf, not the freshness of the sandwich.

I’ve always said that if Old Crow whiskey is good enough for Ulysses S. Grant, it’s good enough for you. Same goes for pimento cheese. As a matter of fact, my favorite PCS recipe comes from Martha Stewart. It’s the Tabasco that does it. And, if Mrs. Stewart and the members of Augusta National Golf Club are fans, it’s fine for you to be one as well.

I brought some pimento cheese spread to a party a few weeks back. People were skeptical at first, until they tried it. And then they were all over the stuff. Made me proud. It’s definitely going to be a go-to for parties I attend in the future.

On the course, aside from a hotdog, it’s a fantastic choice for a mid-round snack. It’s benefits are many: it’s filling; it’s tasty; it stays together really nicely; and it can be scarfed down quickly.

A little update for those interested in golf and not pimento cheese:

It’s a pretty packed leaderboard. So far, my picks are doing ok.
- Johnson: -5
- Westwood: -2
- Rose: -2
- Dufner: E
- Poulter: +4

The leaders are at -6. Who are they? It’s Sergio Garcia and Marc Leishman. It should be known that I have Sergio Garcia as a pick in my office pool because someone else picked Rose.

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Luke is the author of Hotdogs and Golf, and he tweets @LukeGolf2012.

Is Rick Pitino trying to sink his player’s draft stock?

Posted on April 11, 2013 by AD

After Louisville guard Russ Smith’s team won the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, it was a little bit surprising when Smith’s father announced right after the game that his son was entering the NBA draft. It felt for whatever reason like a kneejerk sports parent move– just let the kid enjoy the moment for a while– and besides, Smith hadn’t had a great game and is a bit on the small side to boot. He was one of the best players on the best team this year, though, so it wasn’t surprising when Smith confirmed his dad’s statement the next day.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino confirmed it too, until he didn’t. ESPN reports:

“Russ, I think, is 50-50,” [Pitino] told Sports Radio 790 in Louisville [today]. “He’s a very confused young man in terms of his decision right now. He didn’t want his dad to say that about him coming out. He wanted time to think of it.”

Yeesh. Does Pitino, who has coached at major college programs and in the NBA, think he’s helping his player with those statements? (He’s not.) Is he trying to force Smith to return to Louisville? (Maybe.) Is he showing early signs of tattoo ink poisoning? (Possibly.)

Why can’t college basketball coaches in the state of Kentucky leave well enough alone when it comes to their players declaring for the NBA draft?

The Memphis Grizzlies have the best promotions

Posted on April 11, 2013 by AD

Last fall, the Memphis Grizzlies were offering free game tickets (and gas cards!) in exchange for guns. Now they’re straight up giving away beer. From the Memphis Business Journal:

The Memphis Grizzlies and A.S. Barboro, the Memphis distributor for MillerCoors, are doing their part to take the edge off of tax season while celebrating the Grizzlies’ upcoming 2013 playoff run.

Beginning at 11 a.m., April 15, the Grizzlies and A.S. Barboro will be giving 300 fans a free 24-ounce Coors Light in the plaza of FedExForum.
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“We looked at a couple of different days, but we decided we could ease the pain from tax day with some free beer,” [Steve Hegdale, general manager of A.S. Barboro,] said. “We’ll say a few words, check some IDs and give away some free beer.”

Fans can begin arriving around 10 a.m. for an identification check to ensure they’re old enough to drink beer. Once that’s taken care of, fans will receive one of 300 limited edition Memphis Grizzlies 24-ounce cans of Coors Light. The giveaway is limited to one can per person.

“If there are two things in life worth celebrating, it is finishing your taxes and Grizzlies playoff basketball,” Chad Bolen, vice president of corporate partnerships with the Grizzlies, said. “Our friends at A.S. Barboro and Coors Light can help you quench your Grizz-sized thirst with a Memphis Grizzlies commemorative 24 oz. can of Coors Light. We encourage all basketball loving, tax-paying, Grizzlies fans to join us for a cold one.”

What could go wrong?

(Read the full story here.)

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The 2013 Masters: My Picks…or Players to Watch

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Luke Watson, special to ALDLAND

Guest blogger Luke Watson is here this week to cover the Masters. -Ed.
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It’s Masters week – the one week a year when I stop bashing Hootie Johnson and the Augusta National Golf Club and just enjoy some smooth guitar and piano while sitting in a comfortable chair in front of a TV. It’s a great week.

Selecting a winner, for me anyways, always seems like a ridiculous thing to do. I used to pick a winner and then, through the whole tournament, be disappointed in my player’s apparent disregard for my feelings. So, a few years ago, I determined to pick a “team” — five guys that I would watch and root for. Life has been better since.

Here is my team:

Lee Westwood. I can’t help it; I love cheering for the guy that’s come close a lot. He deserves to win. He had a good showing in Houston and, while his short game (pitching in particular) is not the strongest part of his game, he’s a well-rounded player that has been in contention before. Add to the mix that he is proudly sponsored by UPS and you’ve got a possible champion.
Jason Dufner. Every time I hear his name, I think of Duff Beer and that makes me think of the Simpsons and that makes me happy. Plus, he’s got some serious game: straight hitter, reasonable putter, great attitude.
Justin Rose. This is the second (and not the last) of my mostly English team. Look, since 1998, he’s been a mainstay in the majors…not intended to be a factual statement. If he wins this weekend, he’ll likely just continue racking up majors and big tournament wins.
Dustin Johnson.
Ian Poulter. I liked him before last year’s Ryder Cup, and I’ve loved him since. Anyone who’s ever spoken to me knows that I have a real thing for the European Team. I like their style, I like their attitude, I like their drive. Ian basically is the European Team – like Seve and Jose before him. I don’t know if he’s got the game that suits Augusta, but I know that he’s gotta be in the top 10 at the end of the week.

There you have it. My top five. Who’s missing?

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Luke is the author of Hotdogs and Golf, and he tweets @LukeGolf2012.