Sorry I've Been Away

Busy weekend: Luca is back on the ice playing hockey (which eats into my Saturday and Sunday mornings) and Dom started ski club last night (it goes for 6 or 7 consecutive Friday nights through the winter - skiing at Labrador). Also, I set up a new wireless network today (always a treat; although I had feared it and put it off, it actually wasn't bad at all, and now Dom can play Nintendo games over the Internet, either with unknown opponents, or with a friend in another town). Ping pong with Luca, some reading, some work - and not so much blogging.

It's not fair to post picks after the games have started, and the Seahawks and Skins are underway, but what the hell: I will take the Seahawks and however many points they are giving. I don't see the Skins staying too close (although, as I write, they just scored on a deflection and then recovered the fumble on the ensuing kickoff, so this might be a losing pick).

I will take the Broncos and the Colts at home, and the Panthers on the road. A friend who lives in Chicago tells me that he thinks this Bears unit is better than the one that McNabb and the Eagles went in and beat a few years ago, which gives me some pause. I would take the under, but I will stick with the Panthers to win outright.

As for the HOF, I am with Bruce in not understanding the lack of love for the Murph. He was the dominant player in the mid-'80's, with speed, power, defensive skills - a true leader. I would vote for Jim Rice, but it wouldn't be a travesty were he not to get in. Bruce and I have had the Blyleven discussion before, too, and I am with Bruce: he deserves enshrinement. I do think that Bruce Sutter deserves a spot, both for his performance as well as the reintroduction of a pitch that has changed the game. I am not sure that it is much different from a forkball, but no one was throwing the splitter until Sutter started throwing it in the '70's, and he played in an era when a relief pitcher's job was to provide his team relief, not his agent stats to bring to the negotiating table. When Sutter would appear, it was panic time for the other team.

I think an intriguing issue is going to be how to deal with the cheaters and suspected cheaters. In the recent era of inflated offensive stats, old landmarks (400 HR, .300 BA, etc) don't necessarily carry the weight they once did. But what about McGwire? Does he have enough HRs to merit the HOF? Even if he is only a suspected cheater? (Of course, if Canseco is lying, McGwire could sue him for libel - the lack of such a lawsuit makes me wonder what Jose's critics are afraid of. But don't misread that as any sort of endorsement of Canseco - he's a jerk.) And don't you wonder about some guys who are in already and whether they just escaped detection?

Ah well... in the time it has taken to draft this post, the Skins have shanked a FG and the Seahawks are marching down the field. I still say the Seahawks cover.