Your Friendly Sports Update

There's not one thing going on that I'm really excited or disappointed about, so I'm going to take a page out of Frankie's book and discuss a few things in the wide world of sports that have caught some of my easily distracted attention.

James Harrison

If you want to discuss a guy getting a raw deal, you need look no further that one Mr. James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He put a big hit on Colt McCoy in last Thursday night's game. Commissioner Roger Goodell, in his infinite wisdom, as suspended him for one game, Monday's matchup against the 49ers. This is the first time in 25 years that a player has been suspended for a hit delivered during a live play. Watch it again. It was absolutely a brutal knock, but, it was clean. Football is a physical game. During the play, McCoy tucked the ball and began to run. He threw it just before he crossed the line of scrimmage. Harrison never had a chance to stop. Now watch again. Harrison didn't really lead with the head. He didn't really launch himself into the tackle. He made a tough tackle. I wouldn't want anything less from my All-Pro linebacker.

You pay him money to tackle the opposing ball carrier. McCoy was that ball carrier. If he's a runner, he loses that QB protection. If he didn't want to get hit, he shouldn't have tucked it, or he should have slid, not pulled up to throw right before a large angry gentleman was poised to flatten him. Maybe there was a little helmet to helmet, but the main force was right to the chest. Exactly what he's supposed to do.

Now he's been suspended for a big game against the Niners. I've seen bigger hits this season not even fined. Goodell only suspended him because he's made a big hit or two in the past, and then had the gall to tell Goodell he was just doing his job. I'm very worried about Goodell enforcing this precedent. Because if he doesn't suspend other players for the same type of offense, he's just going to further draw ire from the players and Steelers nation. If he does enforce it, he destroys some of the physicality of the game. Now my pass rusher has to slow down before he makes a hit? Maybe they should just play soccer.

The San Francisco Giants

Yay! The one thing I know will draw Frankie's attention: talking about him on the internet. We've had some discussion of the past couple days over the announcement that the Giants will not spend any more this year and how many fans wish they addressed needs in other ways.

So, Giants fans, here's an A's fan's message to you: Be excited for what your management has put together this year while not seriously jeopardizing the future. The Giants acquisitions of Pagan and Cabrera fit in nicely with the system. They are definitely upgrades over Ross and Torres. Allowing Beltran to go gives Belt a chance to develop and see playing time. Not committing a long contract and a lot of money to any free agent means the Giants will try to resign Lincecum, Cain, Wilson, and Sandoval when their contracts come up soon. Look, it's not a perfect team. They're relying on Pablo to lay off the double cheeseburgers. They're hoping Posey's ankle is fully healed. They're hoping Brandon Crawford hits better than .180. But, all that said, this will be a team playing meaningful September baseball, and they will continue do to so for at least the next five years. At least one bay area baseball team will be.

Trevor Cahill

The winter meetings always end up resulting in some fun and exciting moves. After watching Pujols, Reyes, Wilson, and Buerhle switch teams, the A's couldn't help but make a splash of their own. And they did. In a big way, with none other than COLIN COWGILL. No offense to Mr. Cowgill, but this was not the move I hoped the A's would make. Really, the A's parted with Trevor for Jarrod Parker. Parker is a 23 year old who went 10-8 with a 3.79 ERA last year at AA on the mend from Tommy John surgery. He's a top 50 overall prospect. But that's all he is, yet another pitching prospect. Cahill was signed for the next four years and was scheduled to make 7.25 million on average each year. Oh, also, he has three years of major league experience under his belt. His age? The Pterodactyl is 23. I know his year was a bit lackluster next year, but you're telling me the A's needed to cut salary? For what? Not like they're signing any other big name free agents. Not like there aren't young studs on their team that they need to save the revenue for. No, this was the ownership further giving up on the team. If the A's needed to trade for anything, it was an outfield bat. They didn't get it. Instead, they traded a successful major league pitcher for a guy who might never make the majors. Enough said.

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