Bob, it's become hard to love the Jerry Cowboys. As a native South Texas Texan I grew up a diehard Cowboys fan starting with the Dandy Don era and lived through all the heartbreaks and triumphs through the years. Ironically I was also quite a bit of a Packers fan from reading about Bart Starr and Lombardi and the gang. In fact, because of Sports Illustrated and books I read I idolized almost as much about the Packers as I did the Cowboys and was quite conflicted as a kid watching the Ice Bowl. I still get some of the same feelings about the Cowboys you described as a lifetime Packers fan but in all honesty the general bullshit that goes with the Cowboys these last 25+ years has diluted the passion. That said I continue to read and look forward to your writing and analysis of my team. I'm very glad you started SturmStack and in fact you are literally the only Cowboys writer and publication I now follow. Carry on!
The soul of baseball is defense and base running. Since the emergence of the specialty pitcher the game has shifted to seeing more strikeouts than hits (which, I believe in 2019 happened for the first time in the history of the national pastime and is still that way), so there’s been less emphasis on great defense.
What has me wringing my hands as this series starts is the base running of Dbacks. When they play tepidly like in games one and two of the series in Philly, they were mauled. When they are aggressive, they manufacture runs.
When reading the excellent Jeff Passan’s scouting report on the Rangers on ESPN’s site, I see this note:
“As exceptional as he is at framing pitches, Rangers catcher Heim could be tested by Diamondbacks baserunners. Heim has a strong arm, but the transfer time between his glove and hand is well below average and leads to pop times -- the length of time from when a ball hits a catcher's glove to when it hits the fielder's at second base -- that are around the 50th percentile across baseball. To make up for that, it's incumbent on Texas pitchers to be quick to the plate, a mandate that often throws them off their rhythm.”
Make no mistake. The Rangers (IMHO) are the better team. Power, good defense, great managing. But the DBacks have the elements of play that are core to the game that lets them not rely on big time HRs and several shutdown innings.
I grew up in the era of lots of .300 hitters and even the occasional run at .400, situational hitting and great baserunning, and pitchers going 9 innings. Now it's just all home runs and pitchers "going max out" for 6 innings followed by shut down relievers. The game has changed dramatically but perhaps the recent changes (no more shift, no more jacking around on the mound and in the batters box) will return it at least somewhat to what you have described. Baseball for 100 years was predicated on strategy and a slow build to multiple crescendos of excitement. Unfortunately now the majority require constant immediate gratification. I'm hoping the changes will give us some balance between tradition and the modern game. Go Rangers!
Kidd’s spot on the 2011 championship team buys him a certain bit of slack from many fans. His run to the conference championship added a credit to his ledger, but last year’s disaster left many of his supporters with serious doubts.
Whether the poor defensive performance was entirely on him or a miscalculation on roster construction by the front office remains to be seen. Whether Luka and Irving will be able to mesh their games with a remade squad , and will that be enough to lift the Mavs back into the elite sphere of the Western Conference remains the biggest question mark for the season.
With what on paper looks like a vastly improved defense, Kidd will get a more honest appraisal of his coaching acumen. What is this team’s ceiling? Making the playoffs? Making an extended postseason run? Competing for a championship? That should become more obvious as the season plays out.
If the Cowboys don't get to the NFCCG and Jerry does fire him and keep DQ as the next head, who or what would you like to see as OC? Be as specific or general as you like.
Maybe a Mike McDaniel acolyte or one who runs something similar? Someone from inside without MM's leash?
I am with you on baseball. watched the rangers in the 70's and 80's and 90's - but when juan pudge, rusty and all the others started moving on and retiring I just fell out of love with baseball. all those decades and only one playoff game win to show for it I just could not sign on with another generation of players. did not even watch their world series games.
I am going to be in town Saturday because my son and I are going to the Cowboys game. I cannot afford World Series tickets- so DFW natives or current residents, where would be some of the best spots to watch the game with the excitement of fans and bonus points if it's a place I can bring my 14 yr old son with me.
I think it is about the package deal with Nico at this point.
Bob, it's become hard to love the Jerry Cowboys. As a native South Texas Texan I grew up a diehard Cowboys fan starting with the Dandy Don era and lived through all the heartbreaks and triumphs through the years. Ironically I was also quite a bit of a Packers fan from reading about Bart Starr and Lombardi and the gang. In fact, because of Sports Illustrated and books I read I idolized almost as much about the Packers as I did the Cowboys and was quite conflicted as a kid watching the Ice Bowl. I still get some of the same feelings about the Cowboys you described as a lifetime Packers fan but in all honesty the general bullshit that goes with the Cowboys these last 25+ years has diluted the passion. That said I continue to read and look forward to your writing and analysis of my team. I'm very glad you started SturmStack and in fact you are literally the only Cowboys writer and publication I now follow. Carry on!
The soul of baseball is defense and base running. Since the emergence of the specialty pitcher the game has shifted to seeing more strikeouts than hits (which, I believe in 2019 happened for the first time in the history of the national pastime and is still that way), so there’s been less emphasis on great defense.
What has me wringing my hands as this series starts is the base running of Dbacks. When they play tepidly like in games one and two of the series in Philly, they were mauled. When they are aggressive, they manufacture runs.
When reading the excellent Jeff Passan’s scouting report on the Rangers on ESPN’s site, I see this note:
“As exceptional as he is at framing pitches, Rangers catcher Heim could be tested by Diamondbacks baserunners. Heim has a strong arm, but the transfer time between his glove and hand is well below average and leads to pop times -- the length of time from when a ball hits a catcher's glove to when it hits the fielder's at second base -- that are around the 50th percentile across baseball. To make up for that, it's incumbent on Texas pitchers to be quick to the plate, a mandate that often throws them off their rhythm.”
Make no mistake. The Rangers (IMHO) are the better team. Power, good defense, great managing. But the DBacks have the elements of play that are core to the game that lets them not rely on big time HRs and several shutdown innings.
I grew up in the era of lots of .300 hitters and even the occasional run at .400, situational hitting and great baserunning, and pitchers going 9 innings. Now it's just all home runs and pitchers "going max out" for 6 innings followed by shut down relievers. The game has changed dramatically but perhaps the recent changes (no more shift, no more jacking around on the mound and in the batters box) will return it at least somewhat to what you have described. Baseball for 100 years was predicated on strategy and a slow build to multiple crescendos of excitement. Unfortunately now the majority require constant immediate gratification. I'm hoping the changes will give us some balance between tradition and the modern game. Go Rangers!
I don't get the Jason Kidd love. He's not very good and his teams get worse the longer he's there.
Kidd’s spot on the 2011 championship team buys him a certain bit of slack from many fans. His run to the conference championship added a credit to his ledger, but last year’s disaster left many of his supporters with serious doubts.
Whether the poor defensive performance was entirely on him or a miscalculation on roster construction by the front office remains to be seen. Whether Luka and Irving will be able to mesh their games with a remade squad , and will that be enough to lift the Mavs back into the elite sphere of the Western Conference remains the biggest question mark for the season.
With what on paper looks like a vastly improved defense, Kidd will get a more honest appraisal of his coaching acumen. What is this team’s ceiling? Making the playoffs? Making an extended postseason run? Competing for a championship? That should become more obvious as the season plays out.
Bob, I’m so glad your prediction of Rangers in six was wrong... in a very good way!
Hey Bob, how awesome is it that all 4 pro sports teams from Dallas are playing at the same time?
If the Cowboys don't get to the NFCCG and Jerry does fire him and keep DQ as the next head, who or what would you like to see as OC? Be as specific or general as you like.
Maybe a Mike McDaniel acolyte or one who runs something similar? Someone from inside without MM's leash?
I am with you on baseball. watched the rangers in the 70's and 80's and 90's - but when juan pudge, rusty and all the others started moving on and retiring I just fell out of love with baseball. all those decades and only one playoff game win to show for it I just could not sign on with another generation of players. did not even watch their world series games.
Bob and others,
I am going to be in town Saturday because my son and I are going to the Cowboys game. I cannot afford World Series tickets- so DFW natives or current residents, where would be some of the best spots to watch the game with the excitement of fans and bonus points if it's a place I can bring my 14 yr old son with me.
Texas Live is a very cool place to watch it. Great environment and big crowds slowly leave as game time approaches.
This Dbacks teams seems to have some of those same scrappy characteristic as that 2011 Cardinals team….Rangers were favored in that WS as well.
I myself see them as being more like the 2010 Giants. Under the radar but will lap you three times if you’re not careful.