The NOR CAL Report

March, 2010: Week 2 (with Evgeni Nabakov, San Jose Sharks)

Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:26:00 GMT

The Kings win some, lose some, and generally seek out the left-handed compliment of passing the Clips in the standings.

There's no compliment too small, and flattery will get you everywhere -- on The NOR CAL Report!

UP NEXT:
More Sharks weigh in on the Report, as they swim toward Lord Stanley. Plus, a special look at baseball season, 2010 version -- and the MLS, barring the dreaded work stoppage. By this time next year, will there be any leagues left?

The NOR CAL Blog:

All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.

Sadly, there's no photo available online; no way for me to embed the video. All I can say is, click here to see double-Cy Tim Lincecum gaily model a wizard-print Snuggie...

Speaking of the G-Men, if your complaint is that their lineup is constantly in flux -- keep complaining...

That explains it: JaMarcus Russell is seeking treatment for a lethargy addiction. Okay, so the original story's a joke -- but hit close enough to the mark that some news outlets ran with it, straight-faced. Admit it, you read my first sentence and weren't sure...

It looks like Bobby Crosby's back in Oakland. He's not... but it looks like he is. (To quote dear, departed NOR CAL friend Jules Tygiel, scouting Ozzie Canseco, identical twin to Jose: "Looks like a ballplayer...")

Looks like a ballplayer.

Where are the A's on new ballpark details, you ask? A piece by the reliable John Shea says this: (1) the league is laying the groundwork for cramming San Jose down the Giants' throats (not to mention A's fans;) and (2) they're nowhere near ready to do that. In other words, with viable sites rotting by the Oakland waterfront: same old, same old...

And what's this about the Niners and Raiders NFL teams sharing a Santa Clara stadium? It's no sure thing S.C. citizens want even one of them. But Oakland says it can house both -- assuming, of course, the Raiders can still prove they're in the league...

You've always got a home, so thanks for hangin' your hat -- on The NOR CAL Report!

February 2010: Week 3 (Winter Olympics Wrap-Up)

Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:35:00 GMT

It all starts at the top -- and trickles down to The NOR CAL Report!

February 2010: Week 2 (Winter Olympics Roundup)

Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:17:00 GMT

From Steph Curry, after his third straight double-double since Monta's injury: "We play different [without Monta], I don't know if it's better. We pass the ball, everybody is spreading the floor and the ball movement is always there." Sounds like better to me. Speaking of Curry, here's that list again:

35-10-10 games as an NBA rookie:
Michael Jordan
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Elgin Baylor
Jason Kidd
Stephen Curry

Looks like the Niners plan on using their franchise tag, and the Raiders too -- and both on the D-line. Let that be a lesson come draft time, when you're begging for another wideout...

Don't think of wiry Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell as a gridiron buff? Maybe not. But one article he wrote suggests the Niners should be giving some serious eyeball to Nate Davis...

Finally: why should recent signee (and MLB's most hittable pitcher in 2009,) Todd Wellemeyer, be the Giants' fifth starter? Because Wellemeyer (a solid 13-9, 3.71 in 2008) has been there before; because the fifth starter is never anything more than damage control; and because young phenom Madison Bumgarner still has a lot of questions surrounding him. Bum's only 20; his velocity dipped suspiciously last year; and I'm an advocate of the Francisco Liriano - Phil Hughes method: let 'em learn in the bullpen.

We're willing to learn on the job -- and we'd happily do it for free! On The NOR CAL Report!

February 2010: Week 1 (Super Bowl Preview)

Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:32:00 GMT

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It's the biggest day of the year -- on The NOR CAL Report! This week, the boys analyze Indy v. Big Easy -- with a special twist for NorCal fans. Meanwhile, the local squads try to scramble up Mount Trophy:

The Sharks hit a bump, dropping a seesaw contest to the 'Hawks and a downer to the Wings. Luckily, Lex has a cure for what ails them;

The Warriors' losing streak lingers, even as Monta has his best outing ever;

And the Kings continue to surprise, impressing even in losing battles, as Martin's return to prominence means all things to all people.

We always know who we are -- on The NOR CAL Report!

UP NEXT:
Anall-new brings a special dispatch from the NBA's vaunted All-Starweekend. And even with no locals on that scene, there's plenty to talkabout by the Bay as well!

The NOR CAL Blog:

All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.

Some major media outlets have picked up on Andrew Baggarly's story on the cloak-and-dagger implications of Tim Lincecum's impending arbitration hearing. Conventional wisdom is saying, correctly, that the Giants'submitted figure of $8 million (compared to Timmy's $13M) seems low.Bags suggests the Giants may be working extra hard to keep the figureunder Ryan Howard's record-setting $10M arbitration award, inorder to please league owners, who would then back the Giants in theSan Jose territory squabble against Lew Wolff's A's. (Owners, painted not for the first time as Bud Selig's waterboys, would have to approve rescinding the Giants' current territorial rights to Santa Clara County by a three-fourths vote.)

There'sno doubt $8M is low for a man of Lincecum's achievements. And whileHoward's a fine player, the G-Men had to know Lincecum stands apart --and would be smart enough to ask for, and get, more thanHoward. You want a real conspiracy theory? Okay: S.F. submitted anumber they knew would lose. (Lincecum could have filed for $15M, maybe$18M, and still won.) Why? Total barstool speculation: the Giants nolonger have to shoot to kill in the hearing, and set aside any mentionof Tim's pot citation. And when the owners try to point out the Giants'advanced (and the A's anemic) revenue streams, the orange and black cancounter that they've recently been forced to double the A's payroll...

Back on Earth, Ray Ratto writes that the Giants-Lincecum fiesta, while pricey, is just another dollar-sign showdown -- and no story for you back page types...

Speaking of Lincecum, there's a head-thumper of a debate on ESPN right now, asking which pitcher you'd build your franchise around: Felix Hernandez, Zack Grienke, or Justin Verlander. Question: who is the best pitcher in baseball right now?Forget up years, down years, or projectability (and with apologies tothe amazing Roy Halladay.) Hint: whose nickname is actually TheFranchise?

Write in now: does red-hot Warrior Monta Ellis deserve that final All-Star berth? George Karl knows Ellis beats Chauncey Billupsup and down the stat sheet, yet calls Billups' election "something of ano-brainer." Why? Team record, of course. I guess if you're theWarriors, you can't so much argue, as beg...

With the Hall of Fame knocking on his door, ESPN's asking whether 49ers great Jerry Rice was the best ever. No, not the best receiver -- other than maybe Terrell Owens, who would argue that? The best football player...

Speaking of the gridiron, did you peep JaMarcus Russell'sappearance on TNT during a recent basketball game? I won't post thelinks -- due to copyright issues -- but you can find it for yourself.As commentator Kevin Harlan put it -- on the air! -- "Ifhe spent as much time in the film room as he did in the jewelry store,he'd be a much better quarterback." My favorite piece? Thequarterback-shaped Diamond pendant, emblazoned with a "2," aroundRussell's neck. (Yes, Russell wears "2" and plays quarterback. And yes,we would all find this merely amusing if Russell didn't stink so badlyon the field. As Crash Davis put it: You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes... If you win 20 in the show, you canlet the fungus grow back and thepress will think you're colorful. Untilyou win 20 in the show, however,it means you are a slob...)

We're always laced up and ready to go -- so thanks for peepin' our sneaks... on The NOR CAL Report!

January, 2010: Week 4

Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:49:00 GMT

January, 2010: Week 2 (with Mike Ricci, San Jose Sharks)

Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:23:00 GMT

January, 2010: Week 1

Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:23:00 GMT

What to make of the Randy Johnson retirement? (Yes, the Giants could now use an arm.) We ran out of time on the show, but I wanted to point out the brilliant memories -- John Kruk in the All-Star Game; the spring training bird explosion; the 1995 and 2001 postseasons, plus the thrill of interviewing the legend with Lex for the show -- he ushered permanently into our collective mind. I don't want to say that "anyone" could win five Cy Youngs, overthrow the Yanks' dynasty, hurl two no-nos, and strike out nearly 5,000 -- no one has ever put together that resume. But Randy managed to do it all, in style. As unfathomably great as Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, and Roger Clemens were, Randy is THE iconic, dominant pitcher in a hitter's era...

Incidentally, the Unit raves -- for him -- about his time with the Giants. He even says Jonathan Sanchez "is a lot like I was at his age. He really has everything. He just needs to put it together." Makes you think Jon-Jon never pitches the no-no without Randy around. Ironic that he threw it as Johnson's replacement...

There's already bad news in the wake of the DeRosa signing: he may play left, with Juan Uribe starting at 3B. Sabean gives Uribe a bloated contract for a sub, after a career year, then convinces himself Uribe's a starter -- vintage Sabes. Penny-pinching may have cost the G-Men both DeRosa (the 3B) and Uribe (the fill-in) as useful moves, nullifying their entire winter. Plus, after he helped carry the stretch drive, "Count Chocula" Velez is left to rot. Not enough...

Question for A's fans: if OBP was the Moneyball category for the 2000's, what's the cutting edge metric for the 2010's? Billy Beane is showing us the answer: defense (led by statistics like Range Factor). Lex is right to ask of Rajai Davis: wasn't he adequate in center? Sure. But an adequate CF becomes a plus LF. And Coco Crisp -- one of those players, ála Mark Kotsay, you truly appreciate the more you watch him -- is an upgrade in the middle. So now, with Jake Fox capable of replacing Jack Cust's bat at DH, Billy not only adds Crisp's offense, but subtracts Cust's iron glove. Such defensive security is a must if you're relying on a young, talented pitching staff -- just ask the Giants...

Serious about this week's question: who's your bet for most improved team of 2010? I know you won't be afraid to tell us why. (What's that? Money where my mouth is? Process of elimination says it's gotta be the A's or Niners. The A's are hurt by lack of a salary cap, so I'll put on a smile and take Singletary for Coach of the Year. Right or wrong, some talking heads will follow me...)

Got to keep it brief -- I have to look up the weather in Costa Rica! (Follow my travels here.) Hey, it's a tough life -- and we always give as good as we get, on The NOR CAL Report!

December 2009: Week 3

Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:46:00 GMT