Today made me realize why I loved Dick Enberg
I had to go to the Clipper game today at 12:30, the plan was to watch the game at Staples and catch the Giant/Packer game at an LA Live eatery before heading home to see what the beautiful people were up to at the Golden Globes.
The Clippers played their part in the plan by running away from the depleted Heat so I left with five minutes to go and a twenty point lead. This took me to Lawry’s Carvery to watch the game. It isn’t a sports bar but they have the game on in strategic places and weren’t crowded so it was perfect for me. When I sat down my Packers were down 6 – 0 and things didn’t look good for them. That all changed in the next five minutes as the Packers scored to take the lead, and then Aaron Rodgers did his Hail Mary penance and put the Packers up 14 -6 headed into halftime.
I had finished my lunch and beer, so I could either sit through halftime or drive home and hope to catch the 4th quarter at home. I went for the latter and I’m glad I did. I found the game on 107 KNX and listened to the game on the car radio. I hadn’t heard a football game on the radio in years, but as I listened it brought back beautiful memories of Dick Enberg and Willie Ellison. Nothing quite beats
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tackled at the 28. With each five yard marker, the announcer’s voice gets just a bit more animated. As the voice rises, your heart beats faster either hoping for more yardage if your man is running with the ball or a tackle to stop the yardage counter if you are on defense. The announcer is your only link, and a good announcer makes all the difference. The Packers seemed to score at will on the drive home and that kind of call happened several times. Until I had heard it, I hadn’t realized how much I had missed it.
Dick Enberg was the best at it for me because he was what I grew up listening too. I think Dick was gone by the time Eric Dickerson came to town, but I do think he was there for Willie Ellison and Wendell Tyler which gave us plenty of calls like I described above.
Wendell Tyler was my favorite Ram running back but that is a story for tomorrow when you find out that as great as Wendell was for the Bruins and Rams, his greatest contribution has been as a father.
You can’t take it with you
It was a race: Mr. Feeney was then 81, and Atlantic Philanthropies, a collection of private foundations he had started and funded, still had about $1.5 billion left. Flinging money out the window or writing checks willy-nilly was not Mr. Feeney’s way.
When you give away eight billion and end up with only two million you must have made quite a few charitable organizations very happy. The Cornell grad looks to have led a fairly asture life for a billionaire. The best part for me is that he did all this under the radar. It used to make me gag when Don Sterling would announce his charitable contributions with full page ad’s in the Lost Angeles times.
None of the major American philanthropists have given away a greater proportion of their wealth, and starting in 1982, Mr. Feeney did most of this in complete secrecy, leading Forbes magazine to call him the “James Bond of philanthropy.”
Finally, a role model I can get behind.
Pedophile?
A Los Angeles councilperson is proposing that single adults be banned from playgrounds.
Now, the city’s extensive collection of swing sets, monkey bars and slides is at the center of a debate over a City Hall proposal to bar adults unaccompanied by children from entering playgrounds in parks.
Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell’s proposal — aimed at protecting children but criticized as a case of government going too far — would essentially ban lone adults from hanging out in spaces meant for kids.
When I first heard about the proposal it sounded like it was going to ban single adults from any area where children play and I wondered how my park would be affected if this law passed.
I use Shadow Park Ranch in West Hills all the time. The open air adult workout section is just ten feet from the Children’s playground. It is a simple setup, pull up bar, dip bar, horizontal bar, and rings. I go at different times throughout the day and while it is never busy it always has at least one or two single adults using the equipment.
But not everyone is rallying behind the Hollywood councilman’s plan, with some accusing O’Farrell of stigmatizing single people or labeling them as pedophiles.
Inflaming the situation, others have misinterpreted the law as banning adults in parks. “Nanny state gone wild: Los Angeles attempts to ban single adults from parks,” a national libertarian group tweeted this week.
It seemed bizarre to me to somewhat label all these folk as possible pedophile’s and it got my dander up. But as I read what the law would actually do, I’m more open to it.
The motion would bolster an existing and similar state law, spokesman Tony Arranaga said. Adults without children could continue to use all the areas of the parks, he added, except the playgrounds, which are clearly marked by boundaries such as a gate, sand or other barriers.
I guess this would mean that as long as the lone adults stay off the sand of the children’s playground they would be allowed to stay. The lone adult who simply wants to use a swing or enjoys watching children play will simply have to check that impulse at the gate, sand, or other barriers.
So much for the old days when senior citizens would visit parks simply for the joy of watching the children play.
Can Trevena revolutionize pain medicine?
Trevena is one of my favorite stock to follow in 2017 for two reasons. As a speculative stock, this investment is Mark Trumbo in that it can either hit a mega bagger home run or strike out four times leaving you with nothing.
This pharma has the ability to change how acute pain medicine is delivered in a way that would have multiple benefits for the human race. Right now opiates dominate the acute pain management world, and opiates have a high addiction rate that creates a whole set of new problems for the patient.
The Trevena product is being touted as not being addictive while at the same time bringing the same level of pain relief, which would differentiate itself from the other acute pain medications currently in use.
Here is the current pipeline of products in various testing stages:
Oliceridine was specifically designed to improve on conventional IV opioid pharmacology, by binding to the same receptor as conventional opioids and selectively activating pain-relieving pathways, while avoiding the pathway associated with opioid-related adverse effects. Based on clinical trial results so far, oliceridine’s profile suggests that it will provide rapid and effective pain relief while potentially setting a new standard for opioid tolerability.
I’m no doctor nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn but I did enjoy, not understanding how Oliceridine works.
Oliceridine (TRV130) was designed to optimize opioid receptor pharmacology to deliver an improved analgesic profile, and has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA. Oliceridine is the first μ‑receptor G protein pathway selective modulator (μGPS), a biased ligand targeting the μ‑opioid receptor. In preclinical studies, TRV130 activated the mu opioid G protein receptor pathway, in a manner similar to strong opioids such as morphine and fentanyl, and like these drugs oliceridine was a powerful analgesic. Unlike those drugs, in cell‑based studies oliceridine did not engage the β‑arrestin pathway, which has been shown in other preclinical studies to inhibit morphine analgesia and promote mediate morphine‑induced constipation, respiratory depression, and analgesic tolerance(
As an investment, Trevena needs to have several things go right. The clinical trials need to prove successful and that is certainly headed in the right direction. Once that happens the pain drug has to be able to market itself against the opiate based industry. Indications are that the Trevena solution will be more expensive than the currently based morphine applications. Can it do this?
With a current market cap of $350MM, it could have plenty of room to run if things break right. This is a highly speculative investment but one I’m bullish on. In 2016 I sold puts which have a nice premium. Those puts were exercised so now I own the stock at an average price of $5.74 in my 401 and $6.46 in my trading account. It is currently at $6.60. Hopefully, when we check back in one year, it will have crested double digits during the year. Seven analysts follow this stock with six buys and one hold. The highest 12-month trading target is $16.
Sleeping with Under Armour and Tom Brady
Under Armour has announced their pajamas created in conjunction with Tom Brady to get you a better night sleep, so when you slip back to hit your favorite target in the end zone you won’t have those sleep devils troubling your vision.
The six-part Tom Brady system for a better sleep to help you become a better athlete must be the reason why I’ve failed in my quest.
No pets – oops, my two cats and two dogs would feel left out if they weren’t sprawled on the bed. Our dander is in the danger zone.
No noise – not happening, I’m told my dog and I snore in unison
Be consistent with bedtime – the only thing consistent about my bedtime is the inconsistency of my bedtime
Stay Cool – 65 is optimal he says, hey I can do that but my wife can’t.
Wear United Armour Athletic Recovery Sleepwear – I’m on it, $200 for the 15% chance to sleep like Tom Brady has to be worth it.
I love 21st-century technology gobbly gook. This stuff ain’t your grandfathers’ medicine wagon.
Far Infrared is a type of energy on the infrared spectrum that has several benefits for the human body. TB12 technology was developed to harness it even when you’re resting. The soft bioceramic print on the inside of the garment absorbs the body’s
natural heat and reflects Far Infrared back to the skin. This helps your body recover faster, promotes better sleep, reduces inflammation, and regulates cell metabolism.
No reunion with Rubby
Old friend Rubby De La Rosa re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a minor league deal this past week. His late season arm issues put a damper on his services but in a winter where pitching is at a premium, I’m still surprised that all he was able to muster was a minor league deal.
De La Rosa will earn $750K upon making the big league roster and also can earn an additional $3.5MM via incentives,
Since he’s going to move to the bullpen I guess the incentives will be games pitched or active days on the roster. The Diamondbacks saved the $3MM he might have made in arbitration, and with this contract only have to pay Rubby the $3.5MM if he earns it compared to getting $3MM in arbitration and possibly suffering from an injury-plagued 2017 season.
If Rubby proves healthy the Diamondbacks will move him to the bullpen, which is probably where he belongs and where I thought he’d bring the most benefit to any team taking a chance on him. When healthy he has the stuff to become a solid bullpen option like many of the ex-starters that have found new life in a bullpen after floundering with success as a starter.
Don’t be surprised if Rubby becomes a solid back-end bullpen option for the Diamondbacks as the season moves along.
We have some answers
Back in November, I asked these questions and while we don’t have all the answers we have a few:
- Will the Dodgers go hard after their free agents since they don’t have any current replacements for either player and both players were at least in the top five at their position? – Yes, they signed all of the main free agents, bringing back Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner, and Rich Hill. This shocked me. I didn’t think they would spend the time and money on Jansen but they did. Turner’s price came down to such a level you had to sign him. Rich Hill was not cheap and once again the Dodgers are counting on a pitcher with a ragged healthy history to be a large part of the rotation.
- If they don’t re-sign Kenley Jansen will his replacement come from within the organization, free agency, or trade? Question became moot
- If they don’t re-sign Justin Turer will his replacement come from within the organization, free agency, or trade? Question became moot
- Will they roll the dice once again with Chase Utley and a platoon partner or look for a full-time second baseman via free agency or trade? Ah, this question is still up in the air. Dozier wasn’t being discussed back in November but he’s been discussed just about every day since the month turned to December.
- Will they show confidence in Puig and once again make him the full-time right fielder, or continue to peddle him as they did this past summer? The buzz on Puig has been quiet so if the Dodgers are trying to move him, they are doing it quietly. We still don’t know if they consider him a full-time right fielder or the platoon player they used in Sept/Oct.
- If they sign Rich Hill, will that be the extent of their moves related to the rotation? They did sign Rich Hill, and that does appear to be the end of their moves for the rotation but that could still change.
- If they don’t sign Rich Hill, will they be searching for another pitcher via free agency or trade? There are no “quality” starters in the free agent market so they can go back end or trade for a high-end starter.They did sign Rich Hill, and that does appear to be the end of their moves for the rotation but that could still change.
- If they go the trade route to fulfill their needs, which prospects will they be willing to let go? One has to assume the Julio Urias is just about untouchable but you never know. Jose De Leon seems to be the one top prospect the Dodgers are willing to trade for an upgrade. Alvarez seems to be off limits for now.
- Do they consider Cody Bellinger the heir apparent to Adrian Gonzalez? I think the answer is Yes. Cody had an outstanding AFL and has even jumped to number six in the MLB top prospect list.
- Do they think Willie Calhoun can be an NL second baseman? I think the answer is still unknown. Willie had a great AFL but the question about his glove remains.
Players Who Died, died
The madcap poetic romp through Jim Carrol’s People who Died, died always struck me long before I knew anything about the Basketball Diaries. Jim wrote this iconic song in 1980, and Jim himself died in 2009 of a simple heart attack.
People live, people die, these are the baseball players who died in 2016, and here is a brief look at each of those who had either Dodger ties or impacted me as a baseball fan.
Chris Cannizzaro – Chris was a journeyman catcher who found his way to the Dodgers in 1972 near the near the end of his career. Chris had two moments of fame, he was the first San Diego Padre to be an All-Star and the first Padre to catch a pitch. The Dodgers had picked him up on waivers and he managed 233 PA, making him the de facto starting catcher in 1972. That position was a weak spot for the Dodgers as they had Chris, Duke Sims, and Dick Dietz at the end of his career. Steve Yeager was just starting his career but wouldn’t get enough at-bats to make an impact until 1974. In 1973 Chris only got a few at-bats as Joe Ferguson showed up to take most of the available at-bats. Cannizzaro was released after 1973.
Joe Garagiola – I never saw Joe play, but he was the first voice I heard broadcast baseball games. Long before Vin Scully came into my life it was Joe Garagiola who taught me about baseball on the Saturday Baseball Game of the Week. It was only later I learned of the bizarre connection between Joe and Yogi Berra. How two best friends growing up on the same block could both become World Series Champion catchers and Hall of Famers has always blown my mind. Besides his playing career, and broadcasting career, it was his hard work in his charity B.A.T that stuck in my mind. A little more research shows that Joe was also beloved by the Nuns with good reason.
Jim Hickman was one of those annoying Dodgers like Bob Bailey who passed through in the late 1960’s and did nothing while with the Dodgers but had success after they left the organization. Hickman was acquired in the 1966 Tommy Davis trade along with Ron Hunt. Hickman would have a dismal 1967 season for the Dodgers but it was not out of character. The 30 year-0ld outfielder basically did what he had always done. Nothing. The Dodgers traded him one season too soon when they showed him the door to the Cubs on April 23rd,1968. In 1969 at the age of 32, Hickman inexplicably figured things out. From 1962 – 1968 Jim Hickman garnered 2348 PA, hit 65 home runs, and had an OPS+ of just 94. From 1969 – 1972 he had 1871 PA, hit 89 home runs and had an OPS+ of 129. In 1970 Jim had an OPS+ of 155 while finishing 8th in the MPV voting. Ha, did a little more research and found out that Jim was only an Original 1962 Met but was the last Met from the original starting lineup.
Jim Hickman took the field for the 1962 New York Mets on April 14, 1962, the first Met to ever wear uniform #9.- Jim Hickman hit the first cycle in New York Mets history on August 7, 1963, only the second natural cycle in National League history.
- Jim Hickman hit the last home run ever in the Polo Grounds, a solo shot against Chris Short of the Philadelphia Phillies in a 5-1 Mets‘ loss played on September 18, 1963, the final game ever played at the Polo Grounds.
- Jim Hickman was the first New York Mets player walked and the first Mets player hit by a pitch in the newly opened Shea Stadium during their inaugural game on April 17, 1964.
- Jim Hickman was the first New York Mets player to hit three home runs in a game when Ray Sadecki served up three taters to Gentleman Jim on September 3, 1965.
Dick McAuliffe was part of the 1968 World Champion Tigers. That was the team I was rooting for in the World Series and I still know that starting lineup by heart. It wasn’t until years later while reading my first Bill James abstracts that I realized just how good a player Dick McAuliffe was. For that matter the whole 1968 Tiger team. From 1967 – 1969 Dick had three straight years of a 126 OPS+.
Milt Pappas will forever be linked to Frank Robinson but I always like his 1965 Oriole baseball Card.
Tony Phillips was the swiss army knife of major league baseball. He ended up with over 100 games at five different positions. His game was on base, and he did it well ending his career with a .374 OBP. 30 players since 1947 have had a career OBP > .370 with < 200 home runs while accumulating at least 5000 plate appearances. Tony is one of them.
Lance Rautzhan came up with Dodgers in 1977 and pitched for them in two World Series. I remember the name, and the success he had in 1978, but I don’t recall him doing anything memorable for me. He was gone by 1979.
Mike Strahler came up with the Dodgers in 1970 and pitched sporadically for them through 1972. He was part of the massive LAD/Angel trade of 1973 that sent Frank Robinson to the Angels, and Andy Messersmith to the Dodgers. Mike didn’t have much of a career for either the Dodgers or Angels.
Juan Bell never played for the Dodgers but he was a highly acclaimed prospect in the organization when he was traded on Dec 4th, 1988 for HOF Eddie Murray. Bell was only 20 when he was traded and appeared to have a bright future ahead of him but he never panned out for the Orioles. He passed away this year at the age of 48.
Alex Wood’s time may be now
When you play the what if game for 2016, Alex Wood plays a prominent part in my mind. If not for the injury would Wood have kept pitching at a high level as he had from April 29th – May 30th before going down with the elbow debridement? Could a healthy Wood have helped the Dodgers monitor the Urias innings so that they wouldn’t have had to shut him down in Sept and have him ready to take on a full role in October?
These mind games are rabbit holes, you can say the same thing in different ways for multiple Dodgers. How about 2017, what can Wood do for you?
Eric Stephen did his player profile on Wood today and within the comments a commentator named Puddle created a fan post about Wood. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you do, as it brings some nice insight into why Wood was successful during that stretch before hurting his elbow.
From what I can tell, Wood stopped throwing the curveball out of the zone and started trusting it, dropping it in for strikes by having the pitch start higher and finish closer to the center of the plate. Meanwhile, he started using his changeup as his chase pitch.
I don’t usually like looking at data by using selective end points, but for this discussion it makes sense because there is a clear change in the way he pitched on a specific date. From the time Wood made that change in the way he pitches until he got injured, he posted the 3rd best xFIP in the league.
A healthy and productive Alex Wood would be a boon to the Dodgers, whether he ends up being a mainstay in the rotation or the bullpen. Either way, I’m excited to see how Wood uses his curve in 2017, and if someone like Rich Hill can have a positive impact on him. Rich Hill has shown the world that you can be an elite pitcher using the curveball as your leading pitch.
I’m hoping for a 2016 Danny Duffy type of season from him.
Dodgers, Yesterday and Today 