The "Experts"

Wow, it has been a long time since I have posted over here...excuse me as I clean out some cobwebs for a second.

Okay, I am back. I am a Denver Bronco fan, always have been, always will be! I don't just bleed orange and blue, I sweat it too! I even have a personalized jersey...I will never retire or get traded. I am not a John Elway fan (don't get me wrong, I am, but he is retired now), I am not a Mike Shannahan fan, I am not a Jay Cutler fan, I am not a fan of any individual player per say. I have some favorite players, but that changes from year to year, just as the roster changes. My point is that I am a fan of the Team, the Organization, the concept that is the Broncos!

Having said that, this year the team has under gone some major changes, new coach, new QB, new defense...new. The "experts" in the media (both local and national) said that we will be horrible...2 or 3 wins at best. "This is a rebuilding year," they told us, "it will be a long season in Denver".

Then the Broncos came out and SHOCKED the NFL by starting 6-0. All the "experts" did an about face, "See, we told you that they wouldn't be that bad", "these guys look like a Super Bowl contender", "Blah, blah blah"!

Now, the Broncos have lost 4 in a row, and again, it is all doom and gloom from the experts. They can't manufacture anything nice to say about the Broncos. I am sick and tired of all the crap from the "experts", especially from the ones that have never played the game. Most of theses "experts" were geeky fan boys that were good at memorizing stats and thus became "sport writers". They have never endured "2-a-days", or been in the trenches, or tried to stretch a run out for that extra yard, no,they have just sat in their little couches eating nachos and then tell us that something is wrong...terribly wrong when Team X loses. The one that cracked me up and infuriated me at the same time is the comment "I don't know what is wrong with the Broncos right now"...yeah moron, you wouldn't!

I have not only been a Bronco fan for the vast majority of my life, I have played and I have coached. I am not a expert, I don't have all the stats memorized from the last 30 years, I don't know where all the players went to college, I just love and know the sport!

The Broncos are going through a really tough time right now. We don't have the depth that is needed to sustain a "Super Bowl" run. Earlier in the season, we were lucky and didn't have the injuries that would sap the team of some starters. We got some really nice bounces of fate that we capitalized on. Right now, we are suffering a few injuries, we are not getting the bounces that we were 5 weeks ago. What is the problem...nothing! It is the nature of the game, some weeks go your way, some weeks don't.

This last week against the Chargers, in the 4th quarter, the Bronco D gave up. They stopped trying and were just happy to cut their losses and be done with it! This is a problem and something that McD needs to address (although I feel that some of the players will also take care of it...B-Dawk!), but that was isolated to the 4th quarter and to just this game...not a "problem" of the season.

I am also sick of the "experts" making problems out of nothing. I really blame the "experts" on Whiner Boy wanting to be traded. McD didn't shop him out, he just listened to a "what if" scenario. The "experts" blew it all out of proportion to the point that the issue couldn't be reconciled. They did it again early in the pre-season with B-Marsh...making something out of really nothing. Now they are at it again. Late in the game there was a brief shoving match between B-Marsh and KnoMo. They are telling us that tensions are high, the players can't get along...Blah blah blah! No, emotions are high, not tensions. "They" tell us that B-Marsh (being B-Marsh) probably said something to KnoMo about the fumble and shoving ensued. Having been on the sidelines in a butt-whopping' like it was on Sunday, I think it was more of KnoMo saying something negative about the D and B-Marsh reminding him that it is a team effort. (Okay, I will have to go into my change of attitude toward B-Marsh sometime later...) I think it was innocent and settled between the two pretty quickly...end of story!

I don't know why, but for as long as I can remember, the "national experts" have never liked any team from Denver...period. They belittle us simply because we are not on a coast and a "cow-town". If we do well, it is a fluke and a "miracle" (ala Rockies 2007), and when we are sub-par, it is just like "they" thought. The local "experts" are no better. They all want to be national, so..."hey let's talk bad about the local teams too and we will be liked by the national guys and yeah!" The local "experts" are even worse than that...they are so up and down. One day it is glowing and sunshine and the next day it is doom and gloom from which there is no return. I am sick of it!

I'll tell you what is wrong with the Broncos...the "experts"!!

Until next time...

the Lockedawg!

Smitty...

Well, it is Sept 10 and the Rox won again last night! For those of you keeping score at home, that is now 6 in a row!! The Rox are now 4 games up on the "enlisted insects" (the Giants...get it...the Gi-ant..s...oh never mind) and only 2.5 games behind the "mighty Dodgers".

Like I said earlier, I am just loving it this time. In 2007, it was a shocker, at the end of the season, we were in the playoffs. This time we (the fans) can sit back and enjoy the ride! I love this game!

Last night the hero was on of my current favs...Seth Smith. I have liked Smith for a couple of years now (he first came up in...you guessed it 2007). He was a fantastic pinch hitter for us in the playoffs, and has developed into a great outfielder. If it hadn't been for Holiday being a big baby (I deserve more money...I want to be treated like the star I am...blah blah blah...) Smith would have never been given the chance to start. I personally think that he is a better outfielder than Holiday was. Sure, Holiday has more power, but Smith is better defensively and he hits for average, and hits for the situation. Case in point last night.

Bottom of the ninth, 2 outs, bases loaded, Rox behind by 1. Seriously, it was that stereotypical. Holiday is up...and swinging for the fence, ends up pounding the ball into the ground and is an easy play at first...Red win!

Last night, same situation, but Smith is up. He seriously fouls 5 or 6 times and instead of swinging for the fence, he hits a nice simple single up the middle and the Rox win!

Oh and you gotta love a guy who has DCTalk's "Jesus Freak" as his intro music!

GO ROX!!!

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

Wow...

Wow, it has been a while since I have written anything here!

Looking back at my previous posts (especially the last two) there is more to say "Wow" about! The Rox are now 3 games out of first place in the West and 4 games up for the Wild Card! It feels like the magical run back in 2007, but this time it has been for a good chunk of the season.

Last night's game is a snapshot of this season so far. We fall behind early, have several chances to do some good, falter and look like we will implode, things start to look really bad, then quietly we start to play some baseball, and then POW loudly get the attention of the baseball world!

That game last night reminded me of the game that started "the streak" in 2007. That is a game that can be a major shot in the arm for the rest of the season. I don't know if we will overtake the Dodgers (we do have 3 games with them starting tonight) or if we will even make the playoffs...right now, it is just so much fun to be in the middle of a major pennant race again (just 2 years since our last)...this is what August and September should be all about!

I am going to sit back and soak up the race this time!!!




Until next time...(Thanks Spilly!!!)

the Lockedawg

What is a fan to do?!

Well, it didn't take long for the Rox to get back to their losing ways. I haven't watched in a few games, so I can't really comment, but...
Wow, we suck with or without Hurdle
I kinda miss him to kick around.

Somethings got to change!

This is Thursday May 28, and the Rox just dropped 3 in a row to the Dodgers! What makes matters worse is that Tulo is now 3 for 38 with runners in scoring position. The entire team is self destructing with runners in scoring position.

I, personally, attribute this to what Hurdle has done. I think that Hurdle has become the cancer in the clubhouse. "Oh, the players aren't playing for me"..."the team has turned on me"..."why can't we commit to excellence"..."I don't get what is happening"...woe is me"...
Here is what my take on what is happening. Hurdle has shown the propensity (wow, a big word!) to daily shuffle the lineup around. He sits players as punishment. He changes set up and closers more than I change socks! The team needs consistency!

When I'm coaching my 7-year olds tee-ball team, I need to make sure that each player has a chance to play each position and gets at bats. When I coached Freshmen ball, I tried to give playtime to each player. This is not tee-ball or even High School ball, it is the Major Leagues! Stick with a line up for more than 2 games. Quit shuffling around the batting order! Let the players find a groove in a spot.

Let's take Tulo for example (yes, he is one of my current favorites). Some games he is hitting in the 2 spot, some games he is in the 6 spot, and God forbid he swings at the first pitch, he will be benched. Tulo is struggling, but putting more pressure on him is not going to help! Sending the message hit or be benched is not going to help...especially when Atkins (who I think is Hurdle's little pet) is doing even worse and yet has not been "punished" like Tulo has.

I don't think that the team (as a whole) trusts Hurdle! They don't know what to expect from him. He is not he leader that is needed right now...he is very ineffective as a leader.
"What about the 2007 run that he lead?" He had NOTHING to do with that! He sat back and rode the Helton, Holliday, Tulo train for the majority of the playoffs. When he did take back the reigns, we fell apart! He has even admitted to "letting the players play" for the majority of "the streak".

I'm not necessarily calling for the firing of Hurdle...okay I am...since I don't really see anybody who is available to step in. Baylor...been there, did that, no thanks! Vinny...maybe, but I feel he would just be an interim. Walt Weiss...he turned down the Bench Coach job, I don't think he'd want this mess. So, I don't know, keep the Turdle for the rest of the year, but definitely DO NOT renew his contract! Hurdle is done, that is for sure!

Don't get me started on the bullpen...

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

Bandwagon

Okay, I am officially on the Nuggets bandwagon. It's not that I've never been a Nuggets fan, I just don't enjoy basketball all that much (unless it is my munchkins games...okay even then, i just tolertate the game). If I was forced to pick a team to root for, it would have always been the Nuggets...anyway, on to the rant.

What is the difference between teams in the past and this year, Chauncey, plain and simple. Carmelo is a great player, but he is not a leader. He isn't very inspiring, he's not one to guide, he is not one to "rally the troops". He can single handedly win a game, he can take the team on his back and carry them, just not lead them. Chauncey on the other hand is a GREAT leader. He can do all thoes things and more. The addition of Chauncey has freed up Carmelo to do what he does best...win basketball games (I said that I didn't enjoy the game, I never said that I didn't follow it...)!

I found this picture and thought it was the funniest. I looks like Karl is saying "Okay, Jack is pissed, now I know your doing a good job!"

Until next time...

the Lockedawg

The Todd-father

Congrats to my personal favorite Rockie, Todd Helton! Yesterday, he hit a major milestone, getting 2000 hits. What makes it even more impressive is that he got all his hits with his original team (my other favorite player did it too...Derek Jeter).

I still remember being thrilled when the Rockies brought Todd up. He had the sweetest swing. Every time he came to bat, there was an excitement...he was a game changer. Todd didn't come up to get a home run each time (like the original BlakeStreetBombers did), he just wanted a hit. He craves hits! I'll never forget being at a game in Aug. 2007 (the Rocktober run) we (the Rox) were losing to the Dodgers by one run, down to our last out, a man on second, and Todd comes up. The optimism was tangible, "Helton is up...we have a chance!" At this point in the season, the Rox were very much out of the playoff picture. Then with one swing...CRACK...we win the next 20 games and go to the World Series!

As great of a hitter that the Todd-father is, he is a better fielder! Watching him play firstbase is like butter! He is poetry in motion. One of (if not the) best firstbase men that I have seen since Mr. Baseball (Don Mattingly...who was also a fantastic hitter...hhhmmmm....).

Todd, Mr. Baseball Jr., my hat is off to you (and with the sun and my bald head, that is a lot!) here's to 2000 more!

Until next time...

the Lockedawg