The Good, The Bad, and The Really Ugly

November 28

Now the story takes a quantum leap. Bernie Fine is fired as Syracuse University associate basketball coach amid child sexual abuse allegations, as evidence mounts against him. There are now three accusers, but it’s important to emphasize that unlike the Penn State case no charges have been filed yet.

Head coach Jim Boeheim denies knowing anything, and he staunchly defended his longtime friend and his associate. There’s nothing wrong with defending a friend, unless you know better. There is something wrong with the way Boeheim went after Fine’s alleged victims at first. Now he has apologized for that, in a statement that sounds like it was crafted by an attorney.

It may be too little, too late.

***

Tim Tebow has become a lightning rod with a helmet. Those uncomfortable with his religious convictions, and his willingness to be a witness for his beliefs, have had a field day. Their vilification of him has been unfair at times.

On the flip side, others have elevated him to a status just below Messiah. It’s tough to be comfortable with that, either.

As a football player, he has already accomplished something: he has forced us to look at the game a bit differently. We have to get around our preconceptions about what a quarterback is supposed to be.

He is unorthodox, to say the least, but he is 5-1 as a starter. Will it last ? Even Tebow acknowledges he has to get better.

He can’t carry the ball 19 times a game for very long, and his much-analyzed throwing motion will be a weakness defenses will learn to exploit. He’s big and strong and pretty fast, but so are NFL linebackers. There will be wear and tear.

How long can this go on ? Despite his shortcomings, longer than his critics think, and it’s not necessarily because of his will to win or his work ethic. Many players possess those qualities.

It’s because Tebow does a pretty good job of taking care of the ball, is pretty smart, can make good things happen on broken plays, and he plays on a team with a pretty good defense. As long as it can keep games close, he can work whatever magic he has. He does have experience in big-time pressure situations, so that helps.

I was one of the many skeptics when he was drafted. Now, I wouldn’t call myself a believer ( in his football skills ) but I understand that he can succeed short term, and why.

***

Chargers kicker Nick Novak relieved himself on the sidelines, and soon Norv Turner will be relieved of his duties. Novak took a leak on the sidelines, and his kicks leaked to the right.

If you take away one of Novak’s misses, Turner’s less-than-aggressive style might have worked against the Broncos. Now the Bolts have lost six in a row and are fading away in the less-than-electrifying AFC West.

***

If Norv Turner is on the hot seat, Rick Neuheisel’s seat has flames leaping 20 feet into the sky. Saturday was a dark day for longtime UCLA fans, a soul-crushing 50-0 loss to USC in the rivalry game.

It’s a nightmare scenario for the Pac-12 that the Bruins are in the championship game at Oregon Saturday. The only reason the Bruins are going is because USC is on probation. It’s an absolute joke that they should be even sniffing a bowl game.

I tweeted that Saturday’s “contest” was like the Packers vs. a Pop Warner team, but that’s an insult to young football players everywhere. I’d like to think Saturday was when the Bruins hit bottom, but I’ve said that a couple of times already this season.

Neuheisel, a former quarterback, couldn’t recruit a good quarterback and can’t beat USC. Case closed. He most go, and so must the man who hired him, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. I don’t trust Guerrero to hire anyone better.

As much as I hate the notion of paying college football coaches more than CEO’s of major corporations, if some of UCLA’s well-heeled boosters can pony up, the school needs to pay for a top-notch coach. Otherwise, stop pretending you have a football program.

I’ve watched the Bruins since I was a kid, going to games with my Dad, who had season tickets at the Coliseum for many years. The Bruins didn’t win a national title during that time but had some pretty damn good teams, and they managed to beat the haughty Trojans once in a while. Those days are a distant, distant memory.

***

Andrew Luck is a victim of his own success. He managed to throw a few interceptions, including a couple of pick-sixes, and “the bloom is off the rose.”

Let me give you some stats: 87-for-131, 952 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. That constitutes a “slump” over his last four games. Meanwhile, some other top players have put up gaudy numbers and he has supposedly “lost” the Heisman Trophy.

Let’s forget for a moment that the Heisman is a joke of a popularity contest that excludes almost anyone who can’t put up tangible “numbers,” something for fantasy and rotisserie players. Luck has lost several of his top weapons, and is one of the few quarterbacks able to select a play call at the line of scrimmage. To me, that gives him a decided edge.

Matt Barkley might end up being an even better NFL quarterback, and he totally eviscerated UCLA Saturday. ( Love how Lane Kiffin kept him in almost the entire game, despite an insurmountable lead, so he could put up more big numbers. ) He’s got all the tools, but he also has incredibly talented receivers.

Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, and others have had unbelievable moments this year. I’ve obviously seen Luck and Barkley play much more than other candidates around the nation, but I don’t see what Luck has done to “lose” the honor.

***

Karma is a bitch. Just ask Bills receiver Stevie Johnson. After scoring a touchdown, he mimicked Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg. Admit it, you laughed, I did — for a second.

It was, however, an obviously stupid stunt. Not as stupid as Plaxico’s stunt in a nightclub, but dumb nonetheless.

Johnson was given an excessive celebration, and the Jets really appreciated the extra 15 yards. On the subsequent drive they tied the score at 14-all at the end of the first half. Later, Johnson dropped a potential game-winning pass later in the fourth quarter, and the Bills went down to their fourth straight defeat.

Johnson’s not a bad guy, just misguided. After the game, he apologized. At least he didn’t blame God in a tweet this time. Or Tim Tebow.

Awards Week (Or, The Raybucks)

November 13

And now, we take a welcome break from talk of grand juries, witnesses, boards of trustees, and worse. That story in Happy Valley will certainly not go away, but to be honest I am simply spent talking about it. We will revisit in the very near future, but right now, a much more enjoyable topic.

Some major hardware will be handed out in Major League Baseball over the next week. That includes the coveted Raybucks, a special honor bestowed on this blog and nowhere else ( for a reason ).

Let’s take them in chronological order:

Monday 11/14 Rookies of the Year

There are enough good young players in both leagues to field competitive teams.

I think when all is said and done, the Royals’ Eric Hosmer might have the best career among the American League candidates. Along with Mike Trumbo of the Angels, Michael Pineda and Dustin Ackley of the Mariners, Ivan Nova of the Yankees, Jeremy Hellickson of the Rays, and the late-charging Brett Lawrie and Jemile Weeks, there are plenty of bright futures.

I think Hellickson will win, and he will also get a Raybuck as top AL rookie, barely edging out Pineda, Hosmer, Nova and Ackley. All of these candidates have strong selling points but to me it comes down to Pineda, Hosmer and Hellickson.

Pineda was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA, but with better strikeout ( more than one per inning ) and walk rates than Hellickson and a much higher WAR ( Wins Above Replacement value ) at 3.4.

However, Hellickson’s opponents batted just .210 ( best among rookies, slightly better than Pineda ), he went deeper into games ( the 22-year-old Pineda was handled a bit more carefully ), and pitched more pressure games against tougher lineups. Pineda, despite better peripherals, had an ERA more than three-quarters of a run higher despite throwing in a pitchers’ ballpark ( SAFECO ).

Hosmer plays in relative obscurity in Kansas City, but that won’t last for long. He’ll be in the middle of a talented young lineup for years to come. He was named rookie of the month twice and despite being called up May 6th, still managed 19 home runs and 78 RBI with a .293 batting average.

In this toss-up I give it to Hellickson.

In the National League, the group is also very talented but I think the decision is much easier. Despite the Braves’ late-season collapse, Craig Kimbrel will get the honors, edging out players such as teammate Freddie Freeman, Vance Worley, Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa of the Nationals. More importantly, he also deserves a Raybuck.

Kimbrel struck out nearly FIFTEEN batters per nine innings, tied for the NL lead in saves and posted an impressive 3.2 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), best among NL rookie pitchers. He wins out over Freeman.

11/15 AL Cy Young Award

Not only will Justin Verlander win this, he might win MVP, the first starting pitcher to win both since Roger Clemens in 1986. Like Roy Halladay last year, he could be a unanimous winner, despite an impressive year by Jered Weaver of the Angels. That’s how dominant and important Verlander was for the Tigers.

Verlander performed well enough to earn two Raybucks as the top AL thrower.

11/16 AL, NL Mangers of the Year

Although “I don’t give two (bleeps) about whether I’m manager of the year,” Kirk Gibson will have a trophy dropped at his doorstep via FedEx if he doesn’t bother to pick it up. He will win NL honors for leading the Diamondbacks to the NL West title, a 29-game improvement from the year before. Certainly a nod should also be given to the front office, who brought in some good young arms and has developed a talented young core of position players.

Gibson will win out over Ron Roenicke of the Brewers, who enjoyed a 19-game improvement and went to the NLCS for the first time since 1982. The Cardinals’ Tony LaRussa will also get strong consideration for the way he led the Cardinals back from the dead into the postseason, and the rest is St. Louis history.

Gibson won’t even give ONE “bleep” about this: he won’t get a Raybuck. That will go to LaRussa, who kept the Cardinals together and focused when they were seemingly dead at the end of August. The Cardinals and Rays mounted two of the most remarkable comebacks in baseball history, climaxing in the “greatest night ever” that final Wednesday. Are we still talking about baseball ?

Honorable mentions: Bruce Bochy was a strong candidate for the way he held together the injury-riddled Giants, but their late-season collapse opened the door for Gibson and the DBacks to win. Charlie Manuel led the Phillies to the best record despite a ton of injuries, but he still had the finest starting rotation. Don Mattingly guided the Dodgers to a strong finish despite working in a nuthouse.

In the American League, Joe Maddon of the Rays will win Manager of the Year AND a Raybuck for the same reason LaRussa gets a Raybuck: leading a team back from the dead in the final month. Not to mention getting off the mat after an 0-6 start. And no, I’m not biased because of the team name.

11/17 NL Cy Young Award

Clayton Kershaw won the pitching triple crown (Wins, K’s, ERA — tied for lead in wins at 21 with Ian Kennedy ). Not only did Kershaw lead in the glamour categories, but he had the best WHIP among starters at .977. He also won a Gold Glove. History is on his side: in the seven previous times a pitcher has won the “Triple Crown” since the CY Young has been given out, that pitcher won the Cy.

I think Kershaw will win the Cy, edging out Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Ian Kennedy. He won’t get a Raybuck as the top NL pitcher, though: that will go to Halladay, by the slimmest of margins.

Halladay was 19-6 with a 2.35 ERA and an unbelievable 6-1 walk-to-strikeout ratio and had the highest WAR among all starting pitchers in the major leagues (8.2, a full win better than Verlander). Although Citizens Bank Park slightly favored pitchers ( thanks to the great starting rotation the Phillies employed ), it favored hitters more than Dodger Stadium.

Teammates Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels were just a tick below Halladay’s performance, along with the Diamondbacks’ Kennedy. Unlike Kershaw, all of the other pitchers named were pitching in pressure games in August and September. Also unlike Kershaw, Halladay didn’t get to pitch against the Giants six times in 2011.

If Kershaw wins the Cy, he should give part of his trophy to the punchless Giants: he went 5-0 vs. with a 1.07 ERA, 49 strikeouts and eight walks in 42 innings, with just 29 hits allowed against San Francisco.

By the way, would it surprise anyone to know that Matt Cain ( 12-11 ) pitched almost as well as Kennedy ( 21-4 ) ?

11/21 AL MVP

Justin Verlander did everything a pitcher could do to win the award, and I’m not prejudiced against pitchers winning. He led the Tigers to the ALCS and led the AL in these categories: winning percentage, ERA, innings, strikeouts and WHIP. but I think the Red Sox’ Jacoby Ellsbury is most deserving of the Raybuck as top AL player.

Despite the Red Sox’ late-season collapse, Ellsbury was at his best in September, capping off one of the best years a leadoff hitter has ever had. Ellsbury led the ENTIRE major leagues in WAR at 9.4. Get a load of these numbers:

He batted .321 with 119 runs, 212 hits, 46 doubles, 32 home runs, 105 RBI and 39 stolen bases. He was the first 30-30 player in Red Sox history. Basically, he brought more to the table than any player in the league.

Ellsbury also won a Gold Glove with a 1.000 fielding percentage in center field, and while the Red Sox were disintegrating in September, he batted .358 with eight home runs and 21 RBI in the final month. Ellsbury gets the Raybuck over major league OPS leader Jose Bautista, and the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, second in the majors in OPS.

I think Verlander has a chance to win the MVP. No one led the league in as many categories as he did, so it would not be shocking if he gets the hardware. However, he is facing a very strong field that includes Ellsbury, Cabrera, Bautista, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, and Adrian Gonzalez.

This one will be very interesting: some writers are simply averse to voting for pitchers as MVP, as great as Verlander was. I’m hoping they come to their senses and vote Ellsbury.

11/22 NL MVP

A very, very tight race between the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp and the Brewers’ Ryan Braun. Before I give you my choice, I’m going to smash something into a fine pulp right away: do NOT give me the argument that Braun had more “protection” in his lineup.

Kemp was definitely like Mt. Everest in the Dodgers’ lineup, but consider this: there were MORE baserunners on when Kemp strode to the plate this year, compared to Braun. To his credit, he did a lot with them, threatening to become the first Triple Crown hitter since 1967.

He managed 39 home runs and 126 RBI while being intentionally-walked 24 times. He did so while hitting in a ballpark that favors pitchers more than Miller Park, and actually hit slightly better at home. Braun got a nice bump hitting at Miller, with a 1.069 OPS compared to an also-impressive .926 on the road.

Kemp was simply awful in 2010, in addition to being the butt of Rihanna jokes. He was determined not to repeat that experience in 2011 ( baseball, not Rihanna ), and despite the dysfunction in the Dodgers’ ownership, he came out focused and on fire ( can you say, “contract year?” ) and stayed hot almost nearly all season. He also won a Gold Glove playing a more demanding position than Braun, although I think he’s somewhat overrated as a center fielder.

Braun led the NL in OPS while playing pressure-packed games down the stretch, as the Brewers reached the NLCS. His final day 0-4, and Jose Reyes’ bunt, cost him the batting title. He had 33 home runs and 33 stolen bases, and he also does a solid job in left field.

His teammate, Prince Fielder, was right behind Kemp in several major categories and had a .415 on-base percentage, knocking in 120 runs. The Brewers managed to make the postseason although he made the mistake of saying he might not return next year.

This was probably the toughest decision of all, and one could use the argument that Kemp didn’t play in meaningful games, as did Braun and Fielder. However, Kemp was so outstanding he merits equal attention.

He was the best player in the league, its most dangerous hitter, while playing in a division with tougher pitching rotations and while playing his home games in Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers were out of contention early but he didn’t stop playing hard, and is one big reason they amazingly finished above .500. Again, you couldn’t go wrong giving the award to Kemp, Braun, or Fielder, however …

I think Kemp will edge out Braun for MVP, and he will also earn a Raybuck. Giants fans would actually love it if Kemp wolfed down a thousand Raybucks before spring training.

So, recapping:

PREDICTED WINNERS:

KEMP, NL MVP … VERLANDER, AL MVP … KERSHAW, NL CY YOUNG … ELLSBURY, AL CY YOUNG …KIMBREL, NL ROY … HELLICKSON, AL ROY …GIBSON, NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR … MADDON, AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

RAYBUCK WINNERS:

KEMP … ELLSBURY … HALLADAY … VERLANDER … KIMBREL … HELLICKSON … LARUSSA … MADDON.

I know you all will have your scorecards ready.

Sadness, Then Madness

November 9

When the news came down that Penn State President Graham Spanier and football coach Joe Paterno were fired in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky case, I tweeted “Someone finally came to their senses in Happy Valley.” Little did I know …

Students took to the streets in protest. Police in riot gear had to be called out. Someone overturned a news van. Rocks were thrown. Police used mace.

All because a FOOTBALL COACH was fired. Student protests have definitely changed since my days at school.

The Board of Trustees did what they had to do, although they bungled one thing: by firing Paterno by phone, they continued the pattern of lilly-livered behavior that dates back to 1998, and is the reason for the current crisis. They also gave protesters another thing to be angry about.

Maybe some students were legitimately outraged, while others were just trying to be part of the scene. Whatever, they made themselves look like damned fools. Utter and complete myopia. Just plain ugly.

Penn State has a lot of cleaning up to do, literally and figuratively, that much is clear. It starts with students opening their eyes to the world outside Happy Valley.

Across town, however, a vigil was being held for the child victims. Sanity survives, somewhere. The victims. And there may be more than just eight.

This story will not go away and in fact, in the coming days, it might get uglier and sadder. Madness has no place in this conversation. Let sanity in.

Sadness, Multiplied

November 8

“If we can’t protect our kids, we as a society are pathetic” — Matt Millen on ESPN Sportscenter Tuesday.

If you believe that, Penn State has become Pathetic State. As the story continues to unfold, the repeated lack of courage among those involved is stunning.

That lack of courage began the first time Jerry Sandusky was allegedly caught in the shower of the school’s football facility with young victims in 1998. Then, with the school allowing the retired defensive coordinator continued access. Then, the well-publicized events of 2002. And now, nine years later.

As the story unfolds I am having a change of heart in one regard. Mike McQueary, the graduate assistant who witnessed the 2002 sexual abuse, must shoulder some responsibility. He was not an authority, but he was an adult.

Under the letter of the law, he did the proper thing in reporting the incident to another authority in Joe Paterno. Paterno then went to Tim Curley, and Curley to Gary Schultz. All along, nothing was reported to police, and no one — including the man who witnessed the attack — followed up or inquired about the young victim. All bound by protocol or institution, incapable of critical or moral thinking.

The rest is sordid, disgusting history.

I’ll give Curley and Schultz this much credit: they quit when it was obvious they couldn’t continue their jobs. If Paterno and school president Graham Spanier really care about Penn State they will do the same, as will others. Somehow, I don’t count on that happening, based on the way they’ve acted up to this point.

When I was a child, my Dad used to talk about “short-term thinking.” He said it would often get you into trouble. Failure to see the big picture or the long-term consequences of our actions is a universal human failing.

Penn State’s now out-of-control scandal is a classic case of short-term thinking: everyone worried about their job, worried about trouble or publicity, worried about little past their own noses, just wanting the whole thing to go away. Ostriches with their heads in the sand, unable to see the dune buggy bearing down on them.

In a world that barely knows what a moral compass is anymore, we are seeing more and more examples of how people do wrong, try to cover up or ignore the problem instead of nipping it in the bud. It almost always ends disastrously.

As a result of short-term thinking by so-called authorities, a couple of Jerry Sandusky’s alleged victims became three, then four, then eight, then possibly more if you believe the latest reports. Young lives ruined because too many people lacked courage and couldn’t be bothered with Sandusky or his alleged proclivities. They wanted to keep their jobs, but nine years later, everyone must go.

It’s so sad for so many people, especially the alleged victims, who when they were young couldn’t be expected to fight back. Now adults, one after another has summoned up the courage to finally say something. God bless them.

It’s sad for anyone connected with the university — student or alumni, football player or professor — who had nothing to do with this depressing chain of events. A university with a previously good reputation that is forever stained. ( By the way, the students rallying in support outside Paterno’s home aren’t helping that reputation. )

It’s sad for Paterno, a relatively good guy in the world of college football who at the very least suffered a cataclysmic lapse in judgement. At worst, enveloped in his college football cocoon, he is partly responsible for allowing Sandusky to continue ( allegedly) molesting kids.

If the victim was a child or grand-child of Paterno, would he have followed a “chain of command ?” Would he have conferred with an attorney, or with his superior a day later ? Would he have followed protocol ? HELL NO.

If McQueary witnessed Sandusky abusing a family member, would he have gone to Paterno ? HELL NO. He would have beaten the crap out of Sandusky. Part of me wonders why he didn’t anyway, or at least intervene.

Perhaps because he knew Sandusky, he was reluctant to take such action. The same could be said of other Penn State officials, although a previous incident had been reported on campus. Maybe they didn’t really believe Sandusky would commit such a heinous act. Whatever.

This is not a rush to judgement. It’s a rush to necessary quick action. Not by appointing a committee, as Trustees plan to do, but by at long last demonstrating courage and cleaning house, before the stench overtakes everyone in Happy Valley.

For those whose professional lives at the school may end, I can’t summon any sympathy. Not even for Paterno. Their woes are nothing compared to those of the kids, and they are likely to leave financially secure.

As for Sandusky, the legal system will run its course and we’ll be forced to listen to some very gruesome details unless he decides to plead guilty and spare the victims the agony of testifying. If found guilty, he will hopefully be spirited away to a societal cave, never to see the light of day again.

This case is a reminder of something else, too: we have to stop deifying college coaches. They can be role models at best, but they are human beings like everyone else, and in major college sports they are paid way too much money.

It’s the saddest chapter in what has been a very bad year for college football, a sport that has almost become too big for its own good. Soaked in money, it is co-opting coaches, athletes, and certain media outlets.

Dad was right. Short-term thinking gets you into trouble. As sports fans and human beings, we need to open our eyes to the bigger picture, and act accordingly more often in the future.

Experiment Over

November 7

If Asteroid 2005 YU55 hasn’t hit Earth on Tuesday, Melky Cabrera will open up the 2012 season somewhere in the Giants’ outfield, and Jonathan Sanchez will be in the starting rotation of the Kansas City Royals. Will everyone be happy ? That’s the aim of a classic major league baseball trade.

Would that be such a bad thing ? If the Giants get the 2011 version of Melky in 2012, and Sanchez pitches well for the Royals ( who will likely be also-rans again ), would that ruin your day, Giants fans ?

I guarantee you this: the minute Sanchez gets a W, or the first time he strikes out ten in a game, some fans will howl at the idiocy of Brian Sabean. Meantime, Melky will need to make the All-Star team and become an MVP candidate.

Nothing less than a fleecing will please some fans. Many are upset enough as it is. Shoot, in their minds, “Sanchy” should have been traded for Ryan Braun, or at the very least Cory Hart.

Hey, I was one of the people who wanted the Sanchez Experiment to end a year ago, and bemoaned the fact that he was damn-near un-tradeable at the end of the 2011 season. I’m actually amazed they got MELKY CABRERA for this guy, given his present state, instead of a bag of Funyuns.

I’m not the biggest fan of Sabean: his track record of free agent signings and trades for hitters is well below the Mendoza Line, so it will be easy to summarily dismiss this trade. Sure enough, some Giants fans have already done so. They dismiss Sanchez’s bad 2011 as an anomaly, and do the same with Cabrera’s terrific 2011.

However, I prefer to look at each trade on its merits, so here we go:

The Royals needed starting pitching depth and wanted to make room in the outfield for prospect Lorenzo Cain, so it made sense for them to deal Cabrera, who will be a free agent after 2012. In their minds, they’re getting a pitcher who has struck out more than a batter an inning who could return to his 2010 form.

His average fastball dropped below 90 last year, due in part to biceps tendinitis. He also had an ankle injury and never seemed to get untracked physically, or mentally, last year. His sometimes-flaky mental approach was driving the Giants crazy, and they’re usually pretty good in working with pitchers.

Sanchez would routinely lose his arm-angle and his fastball would sail on him. Opponents had a low batting average against him, but when you account for the all the walks, it didn’t take more than one or two swings before crooked numbers appeared on the scoreboard.

Sanchez has always had “swing-through” stuff but has struggled with control for much of his career. In 2011 he walked everyone but Lou Seal, who had an enlarged strike zone.
Even in a strong 2010 campaign he led the league in walks and was not much more than a six-inning pitcher, so the Royals should not expect him to be more.

There’s a chance he could regain his form in KC, but I think there’s a slightly better chance the lineups of the Tigers, White Sox, Rangers, Yankees, and Red Sox will feast. Like Cabrera, Sanchez might want to rent in his new city. If the Royals think he’ll be a top-of-the-rotation horse, they’re sniffing around in the wrong stable.

Royals’ General Manager Dayton Moore chooses to see him as “young” at age 29. That’s an age where it’s time for pitcher to fish or cut bait. Some blossom after age 30, but Sanchez is beyond the stage where it’s realistic to discuss his potential. For both clubs, it’s a matter of what you choose to see — for Sanchez and Cabrera.

Cabrera had a career year in 2011, his numbers well above anything he’d ever done in several categories. Many fans worry that will be his best year, and he will regress to his previous level. If Cabrera was in his 30′s, that would be a legitimate worry, but Cabrera is 27 and has clearly benefitted from a fitness and weightlifting program.

The Giants will be his fourth team in four years after the Yankees decided he wouldn’t fulfill his promise, he had an awful year in Atlanta, and then came into his own in Kansas City. It could be a case of a young veteran ballplayer reaching his prime.

For those worried about Cabrera playing in A-T & T, it’s worth noting that Kauffman Stadium was the second-toughest home run park in the majors last year, next to the one at Willie Mays Plaza. Cabrera still hit 18 homers, but also managed 44 doubles and banged out 200 hits.

He’s not a great outfielder in terms of range or throwing arm, but is capable enough to play three outfield positions. He doesn’t walk a lot, so he’s not an ideal leadoff hitter, and my hope is the Giants will do a better job of addressing that need. His steal rate wasn’t great last year ( 20/30 ) but was much better in previous years.

Cabrera has one year left of arbitration eligibility and will probably cost the Giants a couple of million dollars less than Sanchez will. The Royals paying up to 6 mill for Sanchez ? Have at it.

And for Cabrera, no two words spell motivation better than “contract year.” He’s looking for his first big deal. If he plays well for the Giants and gets a gold mine elsehwere, fine. Hopefully Gary Brown will be ready to patrol center field in China Basin by that time, plus Aaron Rowand’s money is off the books.

It’s uncertain where Cabrera will be in the lineup, but with him and Sandoval the Giants get two switch-hitters. If they happen to sign Carlos Beltran, that’s three, and that causes havoc for opposing managers and pitching staffs.

I tend to think Melky’s arrival is just a first step. There may be another trade, because that’s the most likely way for the Giants to bring bats into A T & T Park. I doubt there will be more than one signing of a free-agent hitter.

If Cabrera plays center field, Andres Torres’ days as an everyday player are over. In fact, they might be even if Cabrera plays right or left.

Also consider that Buster Posey appears to be on the fast track to recovery from his injuries, and Freddy Sanchez returns ( for however many games ) in 2012. The Giants offense set the bar limbo-low in 2011, so there’s certainly hope for improvement.

Sanchez’s departure means that Barry Zito will get yet another chance to claim the fifth spot in the rotation. He is still owed 46 million dollars, so as much as we’d like to see this steaming pile of cash thrown in the dumpster, it ain’t happening.

The Giants will also need to bring in a couple of veteran starting pitchers as a backup plan. I don’t think Eric Surkamp is ready to pitch a full season in the majors, so Sabean and company will need to go trawling for a veteran arm or two.

I think at worst, this trade is going to be a wash. Cabrera is not going to be a perennial All-Star but still has a chance to be a solid ballplayer, and frankly, his 2011 numbers would have made him the next best hitter outside of Pablo Sandoval.

If he comes close to his “career year” it’s a big plus for the Giants. Whatever Sanchez does, it will be done in Kansas City. He could be pitching meaningless games in September.

That’s the damn thing about trades, though: you have to wait to see if they actually work out. Right now, everyone is right. If nothing else, the Giants have a better Cabrera on their roster now.

As for Asteroid 2005 YU55 ? JUUUUST a bit outside … hopefully. Or do we need Chuck Norris ?

Karma Train Is Rolling

November 6

Joe Paterno has lived a long time but probably has never ridden a bigger roller-coaster than the past week. First he sets the major college football coaching victories record, then a sex scandal involving his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky goes nuclear.

I’m not going to go into the sordid details of the charges here. You’re an adult, you can look them up.

I know this much: Joe Paterno needs to resign. If the indictment against Sandusky is true, Paterno and other Penn State officials knew about his proclivities before the incident reported by a graduate student assistant in 2002, and allowed him access to football facilities afterward.

Paterno, and those above him, failed to report the incident to police. They also failed to look after, or even inquire about, the young alleged victim. Sandusky, if the indictment is true, continued his pattern of abuse afterwards.

It’s terribly sad that Paterno’s legacy is stained, but it’s absolutely nothing compared to the real-life allegations involving not one, but eight boys. Also, as any investigator could tell you, there may be more victims who did not come forward or whose cases can’t be prosecuted.

Although Paterno is not the most culpable, as football coach he bears some repsonsibility for what happens at football facilities. He took one step, but not enough steps.

In fact, Paterno testified against Sandusky before a grand jury. If he didn’t think there was something fishy about the guy, why would he do so ?

Maybe self-preservation is one answer. However, I don’t see anything to gain by prosecuting him, and there’s no way that’ll happen in Pennsylvania, anyway. Tim Curley and Gary Schultz will face the wrath of the law, but Paterno is not blameless.

The buck should have stopped at the coach’s office. This story will not go away, and Paterno must resign.

This is quite possibly the ugliest story I’ve ever seen from the often-sordid world of college football. Eight boys, some now adults, allegedly had their young lives ruined. And there is a mushroom cloud over the heretofore sedate Happy Valley.

***

Steve Williams just needs to shut up. Now. ( Where have you heard that before ?)

As disturbing as his comments about Tiger Woods were, so are the number of people trying to apologize for Williams and cloud the issue by telling people like me that we are “too PC” or are experiencing “white liberal guilt.” Still others are using the lame excuse that Williams’ comments were at a private dinner and not meant to be reported.

Williams himself says his comment was not racial in nature. OK, I’ll let you, the reader decide:

When asked at the caddy’s dinner about his jubilation over Adam Scott’s win in Akron, he said “It was my aim to shove it straight up that black arse —-,” referring to Tiger, who let him go this summer.

First of all, Williams needs to turn the page. Whatever he felt Tiger did to him, however wronged he feels, he’s still on the bag with a pretty damn good golfer and he has a lot of cash in the bank thanks to Tiger.

The continued venom toward Tiger is pointless, and Williams is managing to do the impossible: turn Tiger into the good guy. At least for a moment.

If his remark wasn’t racial in nature, why use the word “black”? Maybe if he directed the barbs at Tiger when he was in the same room, and Tiger laughed ( although I don’t know why he would ), that would have been a different story.

Is it unfair to report such remarks from a dinner that was supposed to be private ? I suppose that would be true if the remarks were at someone’s home, but this was at a caddy’s dinner in connection with a PGA and European Tour-sponsored event, the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Golfers, caddies, and sponsors were present. It was pretty close to an official golf gathering, even if it’s supposedly a no-holds-barred event.

Sadly, Williams made the kind of remarks many people associate with the world of golf. Tiger should know: Fuzzy Zoeller made some remarks back in 1997 that had a racial tinge, though not nearly as blatant as Williams’ words.

While the event in Shanghai is somewhat multi-cultural, golf remains in large part a white person’s sport. Williams said the kind of things many people of color suspect white people say behind closed doors.

Williams has again brought unwanted attention to the sport. There is hardly any time that a caddy should be a story, at least not like this. There’s no way to misinterpret the caddy’s motto: “Turn Up, Keep Up, Shut Up.”

Williams has made himself a story far too often because of his big mouth and, apparently, sizeable ego. Tiger might have dumped Williams after Steve stuck with him during the abyss, but Williams also created problems with his bully-like behavior on the golf course and remarks about Phil Mickelson, for which he had to apologize.

Now, as Adam Scott’s caddy, he has thrust Scott into the middle of a controversy. Scott is standing by Williams, which might mean short-term gain but could hurt him in the long run.

How can Scott trust a guy who bared his fangs at Tiger after they parted ? Sure, Tiger might have deserved some of the venom, but now Scott has to deal with a media s— storm because of his caddy.

Now, they’re both going to Scott’s homeland of Australia for the Masters and President’s Cup, and you know the Australian media will have their teeth bared, as well. It’s Scott’s business what he does with his caddy, but he’s walking right into a maelstrom.

Scott didn’t ask me, but I don’t think he should keep Williams, nor should he downplay the remarks. It makes him sound a bit insensitive about the imapct of such words, but I guess I can’t expect much more from someone who hits a golf ball for a living, and is rewarded rather handsomely thanks in part to the expert advice of Williams.

There’s a reason Williams keeps getting jobs, despite his buffoonery: he can help guys win, and make a lot of money. He’s good at what he does. However, there are times his star outshines that of his employer, and that’s never good for a caddy.

In this case, it’s not a star shining, but a very harsh light. It’s glaring down on Williams, and his sport.

I don’t buy into political correctness, but in my view his words go far, far beyond that. At best, they were idiotic, at worst, racist.

***

I’ve got no real beef against Tim Brando. He’s a solid broadcaster and a good play-by-play broadcaster. I could have gone the rest of my life without thinking a single bad thought about him, but he had to go and blow it Saturday night.

It happened after the 17th Game of the Century this century, the over-hyped matchup of #1 LSU and #2 Alabama, a 9-6 overtime win for the Tigers. A game bereft of a touchdown, very physical but deep-REM inducing.

Brando, perhaps aware of the social media criticism of this march through molasses, informed me and fellow viewers that the game ( on his network ) was a classic. Furthermore, if we were not entertained, we knew nothing about man-on-man, hard-hitting football.

I didn’t really need a pudgy, middle-aged white guy who colors his hair to lecture me about hard-hitting football. As a pudgy middle-aged white guy whose hair is greying, I would not presume to lecture anyone else.

So, I’ll say this much: if you liked physical football, you loved this game. Me, I like to hear the pads pop as well, but would it be too much to ask to have ONE touchdown ? Even in overtime ?

Clearly, there will be more defensive players than offensive players from both teams who will go in the NFL draft. It’s also clear that for all the hype, this is not the end-all or be-all for college football this season.

I’d love to see Andrew Luck and Stanford take on either of these teams in a BCS championship game. They just might get their chance.

***

Stanford outlasted Oregon State, 38-13 as Luck overcame a slow start, but it’s a battle of attrition for the Cardinal now. Among the injuries was the concussion suffered by receiver Chris Owusu on a scary hit by OSU’s Jordan Poyer.

Poyer was flagged on the play as Owusu fell limp to the ground, and a scene that has become all too familiar in football was repeated. Paramedics surrounded Owusu while players looked on somberly and waited, a few kneeling in prayer.

Owusu gave a thumbs-up as his stretcher was loaded into the back of an ambulance, and he will be re-evaluated later this week. Replays showed that Poyer’s hit might not have deserved a flag, but it was vicious enough in real time for referees to penalize him.

This is the third scary hit Owusu has sustained this season. He will be re-evaluated later in the week, but it might be time to shut him down for the season.

Football is a game of hard hits, and I know there are some who bemoan the stricter rules, saying there are gray areas. Often, players who deliver hard hits are trying to dislodge a football, and if their opponent is hurt in the process, that’s part of the game.

However, too many players go for the hit and the ESPN highlights, and not enough attempt the fundamental wrapup tackle. Players are too big and fast now, and football must legislate against vicious hits, especially given our improved knowledge of concussions.

Not real football ? Sorry. Times change. The players don’t wear leather helmets anymore, either. Some argue that bringing back leather helmets would make players less-emboldened to try the slobber-knocker tackle. OK, run that by some player in the heat of battle.

***

Monday marks 20 years since Magic Johnson revealed he had the virus that causes AIDS. I doubt there was one person alive at the time, outside of Magic, who thought he would still be among us today.

He has survived, and he has thrived. He has overcome the backwards attitudes of many former teammates and competitors, and in the process has enlightened them.

In many ways, November 7, 1991 was not only a watershed moment in sports, but a watershed moment in the battle against the disease — and the battle against prejudice toward those who have suffered.

Here’s to 20 more, Magic.

We’ll Call It A Comeback

November 3

How do you win Comeback Player of the Year ? First, you need to suck, thereby setting the bar low. Then, have a good year after that and bingo, you’re in.

Lance Berkman, who was pretty rank as a Yankee in 2010 and very good as a Cardinal this year, beat out Jose Reyes and Ryan Vogelsong for the Players’ Choice honor. The players agreed with baseball writers on that count.

Sometimes the award goes to a player who suffers an injury and returns healthy the next season. Berkman was bothered by a bad knee in 2010 ( and by American League pitching ), but bounced back to his previous form in St. Louis.

Some would argue that Vogelsong was never very good as a major leaguer, so how could he “come back” ? In fact, there were a couple of years when he was God-awful, even for a Pirates pitcher.

As a result he was eventually jettisoned from The Show, ending up in Japan. So, both he and Berkman were bad, but one could argue that Vogelsong traveled farther to get to where he is now.

Where is he now ? Perhaps owing to the fact that the game favors pitchers more than it did seven or eight years ago, and perhaps because he learned how to pitch, Vogelsong emerged as the most pleasant surprise for the Giants last year.

Is there a Pleasant Surprise Award ? Vogelsong would have to win that. At the very least, his good-guy-makes-good story was certainly one of the best parts of “The Franchise.”

Yet, as heartwarming as his 2011 story was, I can’t help but issue a Red Flag Warning. Given his past track record, the whole thing could go up in flames in 2012. I think there’s a good chance it won’t, but I wouldn’t be so certain that I would set his name in stone.

Fans and pundits routinely mention his name as part of a solid rotation for 2012, as if he is now locked in as a #3 or #4 guy. He would have to suffer an awful spring or an injury to be knocked out, or an awful April to lose his starter status.

Likely ? No. Possible ? Yes.

Vogelsong is 34, and not many major leaguers suddenly become good at that age. I seem to remember we had a similar conversation about Andres Torres last year. The Giants are praying he’s not the pitching version of Torres.

To be sure, baseball history tells us more pitchers than position players can become established in their 30′s. Al Leiter piled up 129 of his 162 wins from the age of 30. Bob Tewksbury had 89 of is 110 career wins starting at age 30. Jamie Moyer racked up 233 of his 267 wins from age 30, owing largely to the fact that he pitched WAY after the age of 30.

Those are just a few examples, but they are instructive. Still other pitchers who are already major-leaguers don’t really learn their craft and blossom until they’re in their 30′s. For some, it’s a career-long learning process.

The Giants are hoping Vogelsong is one of those guys. His low-cost experiment paid off handsomely in 2011, and he will still be low-risk next year. However, if he reverts to the back of a very spotty baseball card, the Giants will be left with a gaping maw in their rotation.

Not trying to be Chicken Little here. There are plenty of people in the blogosphere and media who embrace that role. I’m just saying it’s something to watch.

The good news is that Vogelsong is not only a good guy, but a very determined guy who has turned into a pretty smart pitcher. Also, he doesn’t need to be as good as last year for the Giants to succeed. He may only need to be “pretty good,” with an ERA under 4.00, if the Giants do enough to upgrade their offense.

Independent of Vogelsong, the Giants need to do that anyway. That is, if they want to keep Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum around in the coming years. Those are much bigger fish to fry.