Under the Arch: A Sign of What’s to Come

Greg Maddox, Alestle Reporter

by Greg Maddox, Alestle Reporter

Baseball season is officially underway and the St Louis Cardinals kicked off the 2010 season with a bang, beating division rival Cincinnati 11-6.

In Albert Pujols’s first at-bat of the season he sent one careening over the wall. He would add another later to go along with home runs by Yadier Molina and Colby Rasmus. The Cardinals put up 12 hits against the Reds.

The Cardinals looked sharp and came out like they had something to prove. The players must still have a bitter taste in their mouths from the playoffs last year, but they have put it all behind them to focus on this season. They seem to be the unanimous favorites to win the NL Central, and they look more than capable, though it is extremely early.

The Cardinals pitching was solid for their first outing. Carpenter went six innings, giving up five hits and two earned runs, both on home runs. The bullpen came out flat, but I think that Franklin will pull them all together when he gets warmed up. I just hope that he shakes off the later part of the season and post season he had last year.

In the end I do not think anyone is going to remember what happened opening week (except a few years down the line when Jason Hayward is a star), but wins matter, and come August, the Cards are going to want as many as possible.

In Rams news, rumors were flying around earlier in the week about a trade for Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Apparently the Redskins tried to move Albert with the Donovan McNabb trade, but the Eagles didn’t want him. Haynesworth is a big footprint on the Redskins’ payroll this year, and apparently his lack of effort isn’t impressing new head coach Mike Shanahan.

The rumor stated that the Redskins are interested in Rams defensive tackle and former first round pick Adam Carriker. The Redskins are switching to a 3-4 defense and Carriker fits that system much better. Haynesworth has said he wants no part of the 3-4 and is very displeased with the decision.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter denied the rumors today, and since he is very close to Mike Shanahan, you have to believe the rumor is dead. Haynesworth would be an instant upgrade to the Rams’ defensive line and would remove all interest of Ndamukong Suh with their first round pick in the draft. The Redskins just paid Haynesworth’s big roster bonus, so they have almost $21 million tied up in the defensive tackle, so you can not see them letting him get away cheap.

All signs still point to the Rams going Sam Bradford with the number one overall pick April 22. I’ll try to keep up with all draft rumors I hear about leading up to draft night.

Cardinals record as of April 7:  2-0.

Time Out Awards: the Blues, the Eagles and Florida coach Meyer

Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

by Jason Frazier, Alestle Reporter

Back again with this week’s edition of the Time Out Awards, where I recognize those who provided a shining example of what it takes to be a loser on or off the field.

This week has produced a long list of nominees ranging from teams choking in the NCAA tournament (*cough* Kansas *cough* Syracuse) to pitchers in spring training blowing their chances to be the fifth starter. (Yeah, I’m talking to you Rich Hill.)  Only three are worthy enough to receive a Time-Out.

The first Time-Out is a little difficult for me to give out, but I have to give it to the St. Louis Blues. After the playoff surge they made at the end of last season and starting the season with two wins against Detroit, many Blues fans thought this was going to be a special season. Well, it has been especially disappointing, due to inconsistent play and struggling at home.

The Blues are still mathematically in the playoff hunt, but it appears bleak that’s two consecutive losses to Nashville and Detroit, the team they are chasing for the eighth and final playoff spot. It will take a miraculous effort to close the eight point gap with only seven games left to play. Hopefully, I’m wrong, but for now I have to give a Time-Out to the Blues and their playoff hopes.

As an aspiring journalist, this following situation really irritated me. The second Time-Out is going to University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer must have not gotten the memo that not all journalism has a biased undertone.

Meyer uttered this tirade at Florida Sentinel reporter Jeremy Fowler: “You’ll be out of practice — you understand that? — if you do that again… I told you five years ago: Don’t mess with our players. Don’t do it. You did it. You do it one more time and the Orlando Sentinel’s not welcome here ever again. Is that clear? You’re a bad guy, man. You’re a bad guy, If that was my son, we’d be going at it right now.”

Apparently, Fowler is the worst guy in the world for accurately telling a story and properly quoting Florida wide receiver Deonte Thompson in his comments contrasting current Florida Quarterback Jeff Brantley to former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

“You never know with Tim, he can bolt. You’ll think he’s running, but then he’ll just come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready at all times. With Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, time. Like, you know what I mean, a real quarterback,” Thompson said in the story.

Meyer needs to stop trying to coach reporters and coach his players on their media interaction. Sorry if this makes me a “bad man,” but Urban Meyer deserves this Time-Out.

I know many NFL organizations would praise a quarterback who has led them to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl, but not the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles coach Andy Reid gave indications that the team is open to trade talks involving quarterback Donovan McNabb. This is nothing new for McNabb. He is in the center of trade talks every year, despite putting up Pro Bowl caliber numbers and leading to this franchise to post-season success never achieved before McNabb dawned a Eagles uniform. A Time-Out goes to the Philadelphia Eagles front office for the lack of respect and gratitude the Eagles have showed McNabb.

That wraps up this weeks edition of the Time-Out awards, until next time players, coaches and front office don’t blast reporters or lose crucial games. If you do, you just might earn a Time-Out.