Groundhog predicts eight days to spring training
Rose blooms near desert. Belichick bash planned
Good morning, all and happy Groundhog Day!
I can report with the utmost confidence the groundhog has predicted that it is only eight days until spring training. The Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants will be emerging from the shadows with early reporting dates of Feb. 10 for pitchers and catchers.
In general, clubs are reporting to spring training earlier this season, because of the World Baseball Classic. You wonder how much longer the WBC will last with these insurance companies refusing to insure some of the superstar players who participate. For years, clubs have taken out insurance policies on players who sign huge contracts, so that if a player gets injured, the insurance policy kicks in. Now, however, these insurance companies are backing out of insuring players who participate in these high profile exhibition events, of which the WBC is one.
By the way, two months from today the Hartford Yard Goats begin their tenth season with their home opener at Dunkin’ Park. The Baltimore Orioles affiliate, the Chesapeake Baysox, provide the opposition.
Vin Scully and Roberto Clemente
Let’s stick with baseball to keep us warm, as the eastern half and midwest of the U.S. freeze to death. The late Vin Scully had many famous lines, as a baseball broadcaster, but among my favorites involved Roberto Clemente, one of the best players to don a uniform. Clemente was an excellent outfielder with a strong arm, but leave it to Scully to put it in perspective:
Roberto Clemente could field the ball in New York and throw out the guy in Pennsylvania.
-Vin Scully
Rose blooms near the desert
Kudos to Justin Rose for notching his 13th PGA Tour victory on Sunday. Rose captured the Farmers Insurance Open in impressive fashion, leading from wire-to-wire. That’s not an easy feat. At 45, when many tour players are beginning to set their sights on the Champions Tour, Rose seems to be primed for a strong season. Here’s hoping he gets it. Rose is one of the easy players for whom to root.
A Belichick bash
When you think about it, Bill Belichick getting snubbed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, might be one of the best things to happen to him. As I wrote previously, the slight has turned him into a sympathetic figure and now his main squeeze, Jordon Hudson, plans on throwing him a big bash on the day of the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, according to People magazine. Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Patrick Mahomes, LeBron James, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells are among those on the invite list.
Let’s just say the egg on the hall’s face continues to spread.
NFL slots filled
It appears the two remaining head coaching vacancies in the NFL have been filled, according to several reports. Klint Kubiak, OC of the Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks, is in line to become the next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, while Rams OC Mike LaFleur lands the Arizona Cardinals head coaching gig. Yes, LaFleur is the brother of new Dolphins HC Jeff LaFleur, making two brother-coaching combos in the league. Jim (Chargers) and John (Giants) Harbaugh are the others.
Incidentally, former Falcons HC Raheem Morris will be the new DC of the San Francisco 49ers. The position was vacated, when Robert Saleh left to take over as Titans head coach.
Suarez to the Reds
The Cincinnati Reds have landed free agent Eugenio Suarez for one-year $15M with an option for a second season at $16M. I thought Suarez would end up with the Red Sox. In this day and age, $15M seems affordable for the Red Sox. Suarez, who can play third, first and DH, could have filled a couple of needs in Boston. But as someone wrote in one of the Boston papers on Sunday, if Seattle didn’t fight to keep Suarez, what does that tell you? It tells me Suarez is now a Red and will be playing for one of the best managers in baseball, who busted the “curse” and managed the Red Sox to two World Series championships back in the day.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you so much for subscribing and enjoy your eight-days-to-spring-training Groundhog Day!
DAN