A Giant, Royal Disappointment?

If you are a baseball fan like I am then you know for a fact that this has been some of the best playoff baseball in a long time. Like I said true baseball fans understand that there hasn't been as exciting games like this in a very long time. The games so far have been battles, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. However, with all the great baseball so far there is one thing that now stands out to fans watching the World Series, they are both not large market teams. Though these two teams are the best in the league and have played extremely well they don’t garner the attention that many MLB executives would hope for especially in a season where baseball has lost several fans.

After, watching the Giants dominate the Royals in Game 1 of the World Series, it came apparent to me that there was probably less fans viewing that game than in years past.  This year’s Game 1 of the World Series tv rating was an 8, which has been one of the worst ratings for a Game 1 in the last 20 years. Though this has been the best play so far, sports fans have to be disappointed due to the fact that this is a World Series that if you are not a Giants or Royals fan specifically then you really don’t care. Sports fans like to watch playoff matchups that show people they know and teams they like to see, in the case of the World Series fans would like to see the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, and Dodgers etc… Fans like to know what they are watching and who they are watching, to be honest though I love this World Series match up, the average fan does not appreciate the technical baseball play that has occurred so far. This World Series hopefully will provide excitement that the whole playoffs have had so far to garner it more attention.

With this World Series having some of the worst ratings of all time it will come down to how well the games are played to try to save the series as a whole. It is sad to say, but it seems like baseball is dying in the United States, with less attention on the teams playing in the World Series every year. Baseball is going to have to make great strides towards the future if they want to continue and to become a success in this country once more. But, for right now everyone needs to just sit down and appreciate some great baseball between the Royals and Giants. 

-Brett

Cleveland, the Best Sports Fans with the Worst Teams

This past show’s Pants’ Power Rankings were about the best sports cities. A team is nothing without their fans. I, Pants (Glen), ranked the cities that have the best fans or the most diehard. Cleveland was ranked number one. Brett did not agree with me one bit. There was a heated debate; I mean argument, between him and me. I had to go off air and end the segment before something happened that we would regret. Brett was so furious at the ranking that he told me off air that he wanted to punch me.

Cleveland’s sports fans are the best in the nation, but they would also be ranked for the most moronic. The rock n’ roll city capital of the world proves that stupidity breeds superior fans. Cleveland’s teams are far from being the best sports teams. They are the most mediocre in the nation. The city is also the unluckiest. Cleveland has not win a title since 1964. The Browns have yet to even play in a Superbowl. The Indians have not won a World Series since 1948. The only thing that fans expect from their team is a below average season. It takes a special and rare breed of fans to follow teams that are not ever above decent. Cleveland’s mediocre teams and terrible luck proves that their fans are not fair-weather and exceptional.

Any mid-western city is passionate about their sports; however Cleveland’s passion is unlike any other city. This is probably the case because there is nothing else to do. The way I look at it is that if you do not live on the coast, you have given up on your life. These fans dream small so there is less disappointment in their lives. If they did have expectations they would be more disappointed than a middle school girl finding out that her crush is not interested in her or a kid finding out that Santa Claus is not real. Sports are Clevelanders’ livelihood. For them, life after sports is non-existent. They enjoy watching overpaid people under-perform catching a ball more than life itself.

 My heart goes out for Cleveland sports fans. Sports gives them hope and meaning in life when they cannot find it anywhere else. As soon as each Cleveland fan enters the gate, nothing else in life matters to them. More fans should be like Cleveland’s. They represent what sports are about.
Cleveland has the best sports fans.

-Glen

Pants' Power Rankings: Sports Cities With Best Fans

Jeter the Legend

When you think of the name Derek Jeter a couple things come to mind right away; he is always a class act, always respected, and is one of the best shortstops of all-time. There is no question in my mind that Derek is one of the best shortstops that have played the game. However, his play is not the only impact that he has made on society or in the lives of kids. Jeter has changed the game of baseball and how kids and families view the sport. He has impact so many lives and kids growing up. If it was not for Derek Jeter college kids today may not be playing the game of baseball, we might not have gotten some of the best players we see today, like Harper and Trout. The sport of baseball has changed forever because of Derek Jeter. 

For 20 years all we have known is Derek Jeter, 20 seasons have come and gone, and it is finally the end of the “legend.” As a college kid Derek Jeter has been the only constant in our lives for sports, that’s where Jeter’s legacy lies. Players like Derek Jeter come once in a lifetime, and the impact that these types of players leave on people in society is unbelievable. Kids that are now between the ages of 20-25 grew up with Derek Jeter, they grew up playing shortstop wanting to be Jeter. You walk through the park in the city of New York, and will see kids pretending to be Derek Jeter. He is an icon, a legend from the city of New York. People love Derek Jeter and there has been no athlete that has made more of an impact on society from the late 90s to the 2000s. Jeter was never the best player on his team, nor was he ever the best player in the league and some may say he isn’t the best shortstop of all-time. People say that because he wore the Yankees pinstripes he garners the respect, no Derek gets respect because he’s a kind guy, a good person, and a hard worker.

Who is Derek Jeter he’s not the best player ever to wear a Yankees uniform, he may not even fall in the top 5, maybe not the top 10.  But, Derek Jeter is one of the most respected players of all-time. Parent’s tell their kids to play sports with the integrity to garner respect, to play the game right. Kids wanted to be Derek Jeter, us college students grew up idolizing him. Though I am not Yankees fan, you have to respect the man because of whom he is, what he stood for. Derek Jeter has impacted all of our lives at some point. He has made us want to play the game hard, to give 100% at all times, to dive into the crowd or to lead by example. Thank you Derek Jeter for helping us grow up fans of baseball, for 20 years you have been a part of our lives, you have been our only constant in sport. We will miss him dearly not seeing him in the Yankee pinstripes, not seeing him playing shortstop. Derek Jeter has made us grow up loving baseball and he will never be forgotten. RE2PECT for Derek, farewell to the Captain to the Legend!

Baseball Hall of Fame Selection

On Wednesday January 8, 2014 the BBWAA will select the Baseball Hall of Famers for 2014. The Baseball Hall of Fame is the most prestigious Hall of Fames in sports today. Baseball has stuck by the idea that this place is for those who were not just great, but the best of the best. Other sports have turned their Hall of Fames as more of a Hall of Great. The Baseball Hall of Fame should not just be based off statistics but off domination as , if a player has 3,000hits but never dominated the league, are they a Hall of Fame player? A Hall of Famer is an individual who in my opinion dominates the league at his position for a period of time that is longer then 7years, this meaning those who are the best two or three at their positions and proved it year after year. Consideration should also take place of an entire career as well.The main idea is players should not be compared to those who played during a completely different era, thereby allowing skewed opinions not occur. Below is what would be my selection of those Hall of Famers that should get in this year and reasons why:

Domination:

 1. Greg Maddux Greg "Mad Dog" Maddux, is first and foremost the most dominating pitcher available on this years ballot. Greg Maddux showed his dominance, not only on the field, but through statistics as well. Greg Maddux's career statistics include: 355 Wins,3371 Strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.16. In Greg Maddux's career he finished in the top 5 in CY Young 9 times, winning 4 straight CY Young Award's through that span. Maddux was clearly the best player at his position during his playing top, and proved himself among Cooperstown's elites, and should be a no doubt 100% of the vote Hall of Fame player. Greg Maddux had the ability to get inside the heads of batters, making the best hitters look foolish at the plate. Maddux an 8-time all-star was the type of pitcher who thought about his next pitch,trying to set up a batter for failure. Greatness did not just show through the pitching of Maddux as well as fielding. Greg Maddux was a 18-time Gold Glove player, this is proof in itself that this guy is not just a Hall of Famer, he is an all-time great player in the top 3. This man is a no doubt Hall of Fame player, and should be looked at as the greatest of all-time.

2. Alan Trammell Alan Trammell was the most dominating offensive threat at the shortstop position during his playing time. In my belief, and if you ask many GM's during that time period they would've had no problem trading Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith for Alan Trammell. Tramell, wasn't the purest fielder nor was he ever the best fielder at his position. However, in saying that he held his own at the position fielding wise, being a four-time Gold Glove shortstop. Trammell made up for any fielding miss ques that he may have had, at the plate. Trammell has 2,365 career hits, 185 career home-runs, and a .285 batting average. Alan Trammell has more career home-runs, a higher batting average, and finished more times in the top ten for MVP then Ozzie Smith. A player like Trammell was truly the most dominate at their position and should be a Hall of Fame player. He showed greatness on and off the field and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

 3. Jeff Kent In my opinion Jeff Kent falls under the same category as Alan Trammell, a guy that was dominate in the hitting portion of his position, however not seen as a great fielder. Jeff Kent compares greatly with Hall of Fame second baseman, Joe Morgan. Jeff Kent dominated his position with the bat, and should be considered the best hitting second baseman of all-time. He could out hit anyone around him during the time period, and won an MVP award. Kent hit over 20hrs 12times, as well as finishing in the top ten for the MVP award 4 times. In comparison of Joe Morgan, Kent has 100 less hits, has 100 more home-runs, and has a batting average that is 20 points more. Jeff Kent was the best hitter at his position and should be a Hall of Fame player, and saying he was not a great fielder is sad due to the fact that Morgan was only a 4 time Gold Glove winner. Jeff Kent should be viewed as a Hall of Fame player.

4. Frank Thomas The final guy I have on the Hall of Fame ballot for pure domination is the Big Hurt. Frank Thomas earned the nickname the Big Hurt for all the right reasons. Thomas "hurt" every pitcher that he faced, making them fearful to face a guy like him. Frank Thomas had a pure swing and a pure heart, he impressed everyone who watched him. There was not a pitcher that could get around Frank Thomas, he dominated the pitchers that he faced and proved himself worthy of the Hall of Fame. Thomas had the ability to launch a baseball over 500feet when he wanted too, he affected the game in a different way. Frank Thomas finished in the top 10 for the MVP award 9times, winning it twice. Thomas was also a 5-time all-star, with 521 career home-runs and a .301 batting average. Frank Thomas is a true no doubt Hall of Fame player, due to the fact he dominated a league when it was full of Steroid players and he was clean.

Guys that will get in eventually, due to steroids won't now: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mike Piazza all great players.

-Brett 
 

Welcome

Welcome to Sports and Rants with Brett and Pants, we are a Sports Radio Talk Show at Saint Joseph's University providing the best sports talk around. Our show takes place every Friday from 12:00-1:00EST. Throughout the year we will talk about all things sports, especially what's occurring in the Philadelphia area, and have on special guests as well. During our shows we take phone calls and live tweets, we will answer these questions live on air even saying your name. Our phone number is 610-660-1098, and our Twitter handle is @SportsAndRants Please tune into the show every Friday, we will provide you with up to date news regarding sports, and discuss interesting topics as well.