Metcalfe’s Musings

By Jim Metcalfe, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Thursday, May 3, 2007 (1 year, 2 months ago)
Print

What can you say about the death of Josh Hancock?
Do you think he wondered about what his legacy would be?
I don’t know if what Billy Joel crooned in “Only the Good Die Young” is true but I am sure his family thinks so.
Rest in Peace.
Another NFL Draft has come and gone.
How do you think your team did?
I didn’t get to watch the whole thing on ESPN over the weekend but from what I saw, there were no outbursts from guys like Mel “The Hair” Kiper, Jr., about teams not understanding what the draft is all about, like he did in the past to the Colts and Jets.
Of course, at that time, he was right. They didn’t have a clue.
I am sure there are some fans of their teams that thought their War Room had gone batty.
Miami’s fans weren’t exactly enamored of Ted Ginn’s pick in the ninth spot when they wanted Brady Quinn.
The Browns would trade with Dallas to get a second first-round pick and take the Notre Dame golden boy.
Here is my query: what are the Browns going to do with Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson? I don’t think you would trade back into the first round and give up a first-rounder next season to pick someone you’ve targeted in order to sit them. I could be wrong, though.
If any team was pilloried, it was probably the Eagles. They traded with division rival Dallas — a definite faux pas in the NFL — to let them pick up pass-rushing end Anthony Spencer and then they picked system QB Kevin Kolb of Houston.
I think a lot of teams helped themselves in this draft but some more than others. Only time will really tell, though.
So, the Cincinnati Reds have decided to retire the No. 13 of Dave Concepcion.
It wasn’t unlucky for him.
One might say it’s about time.
You know, he wasn’t the noise behind the Big Red Machine in its hey day. That would have been guys like Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, George Foster and Tony Perez.
However, without his steady hand at shortstop, the Reds would not have been the team they were.
That team, which will always be known for its offense first, was underrated defensively and Concepcion was the glue that held it together.
Everyone remembers what kind of rock Bench was at catcher and deservedly so. Still, if you look at the great teams in baseball history, they were generally strong up the middle, especially defensively: catcher, short, second base and center. The Reds definitely had that.
One has to wonder if Davey will ever be elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. It seems that shortstops get the short end of the stick because it is a defensive position, with certain exceptions.
Let’s face it, defense is not glamorous to those voting for the Hall of Fame. A pity.

0 Reader Responses to “Metcalfe’s Musings”

Complete the form below to leave a response of your own.