Seth's 50 Centers

Check out my question and answer session with Louisville Bats play-by-play man Matt Andrews here.

The NFL Draft seemed a bit down this year to me. I’m sure it had something to do with the fact Ohio State only had three players drafted, and only one in the first round, but the fact James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, Alex Boone and Marcus Freeman all opted to stay in school another year. Laurinaitis would’ve easily been a top 10 pick and Jenkins and possibly Boone would’ve been in the first round. Freeman was rated around the third round just after bowl season. I’m ecstatic that those guys stayed in school, but it did make for a less attractive draft. I don’t think that was the only reason it was a bit of a down year, though. So many small schools had guys drafted I hadn’t really heard of, even in the early rounds, and there weren’t all that many can’t miss guys atop the board. Next year will prove to be an exciting time for OSU fans who like to see their players in the league. Players other than the aforementioned ones who likely will go pro include, Chris Wells, Brian Robiskie, Todd Boeckman and Steve Rehring,

The Cincinnati Bengals’ situation didn’t help my view of the draft. First, the cutting of oft-troubled wide receiver Chris Henry, and the negative actions of Chad Johnson, caused the team to have to go after multiple receivers in the draft. That should’ve been a position of strength, but it has turned into a position of need because of those two, hurting the team. Then Marvin Lewis and Co. takes a guy named Jason Shirley in the fifth round. Shirley had a DUI last year and was suspended multiple times by Fresno State, but the Bengals’ issues with character in the past didn’t scare Marvin from taking this guy anyway! Allan Cutler finishes every postgame following a Bengals win by saying “It’s a great day to be a Bengal,” well I’m not buying that today!

I’ve never seen a guy use the LEFT side of the infield in a hit and run situation like the Reds’ Jeff Keppinger. On two different occasions in the past few weeks there has been a situation where a runner on second bolts to third, or a runner on first runs to second, and Keppinger has slapped the ball through the left side. The first time he hit it where the third basemen had been before covering the bag, and the second time, Sunday at San Francisco, he hit it right where the shortstop had been before covering second. He’s a smart hitter and he’s earned a spot on my favorite team.

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James has been criticized in the past for giving up the ball in key situations. I’ve been one of those who felt he should’ve taken the shot rather than give it off to Donyell Marshall or some other stiff on his team, but not Sunday. The difference? It was a tie game. James came up the floor in a 97-97 and when he saw the defense leave Delonte West to come double him he gave West the ball on the left wing. Of course it helps that West drained the three-pointer for the game winner, but I don’t think I would’ve been as critical anyway. If the Cavs were down in that situation then I’d want James to take the shot no matter what.

I went to Detroit’s Comerica Park with my friend Steve Friday night. The place is beautiful and I recommend it to anyone who likes touring ballparks like I do. I saw a few things that impressed me. First, I had been in the stadium in 2000, when it opened, but the fences in left field have been moved in since. I saw Dante Bichette struggle to get the ball to the wall in batting practice back then, but when Vladimir Guerrero hit one into the seats out there, over the new fence and the original one, in the game, I was impressed. I was also impressed with the crowd. It just goes to show that a team that wins – the Tigers went to the World Series in 2006 and competed well last season before picking up some solid hitters prior to this season – will draw well.

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