Superstitions

Are you superstitious? Are superstitions possible? I don't know the answer, but I'll tell you what, strange things happen sometimes and if you believe that the spot you are sitting in can change the outcome of a sporting event, maybe you're right. I coach high school baseball and had a game this past Saturday. We were down 5-0 going into our last at bat and another one of the assistants looked at me and said, "Are you superstitious? I'm not, but maybe I'll stand out there for a while (referring to the 1B coaches box) and see what happens." I responded "I'm not either, but what the heck, shake it up, go ahead." We still lost, but the final score was 5-4 and the game ended with the bases loaded.

I remember in the 2003 ALCS I had watched the whole game and when Derek Jeter came up to bat in the 8th inning, for some reason I changed channels. I don't remember why or what I changed it to, but when I clicked back over a few seconds later, Jeter had doubled. Bernie Williams came up, change channels! Changed back, single! I've found the keys to the universe! If I don't watch, the Yankees are going to win! I watched the Little-Martinez exchange and Matsui dig in. Changed the channel. Clicked back, double. You know the rest of the story and I never watched any of it. I never watched a pitch after Jeter's double and when Aaron Boone homered in the 11th, I was watching a Seinfeld episode. Was it possible that me not watching changed the outcome of the 2003 ALCS? Not possible right? I don't think so, but that night I did, and I bet everyone at some point has switched seats, watched on a different tv, wore leopard print underwear (Jason Giambi), or something else ridiculous and thought it might have an effect on the outcome or their teams games.

I bring this up because if you read my blog last week I mentioned that I have a curse when dropping players. If anyone out there read it, believed it, and picked up Wandy Rodriguez, you are smiling today. For the record, he threw 7 innings, 2 hits, 10 Ks, 0 Rs, W. That's a great start. What is truly funny is that part of me actually believes I have an effect on this. It will be fun to keep track from now on and see if anyone else starts to believe. Unfortunately for you, no add/drops from me this week.

The NFL schedule was released last week. I don't think it's fair to really say a lot on it until after free agency and the draft are complete because so much can change. Two things I saw this week that made me think a little bit about the upcoming football season. Lance Moore had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. I'm not willing to dump him, but this is the same, or at least similar to the injury Chad Johnson had last year. Also have to account for CJ having ankle and QB issues, but it's something to think about when ranking Moore. The other thing was that Torry Holt is on the verge of signing with Jacksonville. Holt was the first player I 'fell in love with' because of fantasy football. He's probably been one of the most underrated players in football over the last ten years and should be, without a doubt, a first ballot hall of famer. He has a knee injury that is not going to get better, but I think if he's in the right place, could be a very solid fantasy player again. I'll wait until he officially signs and the Jags (or whoever he plays for) free agency and draft moves are done.

One more thing, how many home runs would Josh Hamilton have hit in last summers home run derby if it were played in this Yankee stadium? I would guess at least 50.