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cicheerleader
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject: New Article |
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what does everyone think about this?
Does Grady benefit from "The Bernie Factor?"
Posted by Jon Sladek April 30, 2009 00:25AM
I make no attempt to hide my hatred of the Boston Red Sox. I probably despise them more than any other sports franchise.
For this reason, it brings me great joy when the Tribe beats that miserable, high-priced team and disappoints their obnoxious, arrogant fans who infiltrate Progressive Field like rodents.
The Indians had a chance to take a series from the boys from Beantown Wednesday night, even after the bullpen crapped away a three-run lead for Fausto Carmona. With the game tied at five, the Tribe had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.
Fan favorite Grady Sizemore steps to the plate with a chance to be the hero. He promptly lines out to right to end the threat.
Fast-forward two innings to the bottom of the 10th. Indians now trailing by a run after Jensen Lewis served up another gopher ball, this one to some gentleman named Jonathan Van Every.
Again two outs and Sizemore strolling to the plate. With Ben Francisco standing on second base representing the tying run, I tell my wife, "is there any way he doesn't strike out here?"
Sure enough on a full count, Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon sends a high fastball towards the plate. Sizemore, apparently attempting to give a souvenier to a fan - in Toledo - waves wildly at the pitch for strike three.
Most Tribe fans and local sports media members will simply call it a bad game for Grady. But the dirty secret is, it happens more often with Sizemore than many Clevelanders care to admit.
We have a dirty habit in Cleveland. Call it the "Bernie Factor," or the tendency to greatly overrate our "beloved" athletes. I name it after Bernie because it was with him I first noticed the trend.
Bernie was a good quarterback, but the only way he gets into the hall-of-fame in Canton is by paying the admission price.
Other recent examples of the "Bernie Factor" include Cavaliers guard Daniel "Boobie" Gibson and former Tribe pitcher CC Sabathia, who couldn't win a critical playoff game if the opposing batters agreed to hit from their knees.
Grady is a fantastic outfielder, as evidenced by the gold glove hardware he received recently. But ask me to recall some of his biggest late-inning hits and I struggle. His career-high average is .290 in 2006, but that has dropped each year since and currently sits at .239.
He finally cut his appalling strikeout total down to 130 in 2008 after back-to-back 150-plus strikeout seasons, but he has already fanned 23 times this year in 22 games.
For comparison sake, Manny Ramirez career-high strikeout total for a season is 147 in his 16-year career. His second highest total is 131.
Am I making the claim Sizemore isn't a good player? Absolutely not.
A little perspective is all I ask. Grady has been wildly popular since he arrived in Cleveland in 2004. You won't see a Tribe player's replica jersey more represented at Progressive Field, or anywhere else in northeast Ohio for that matter. His fan club consisting of all smitten young women dubbed the "Grady's Ladies" has been much publicized.
It concerned me when I heard Indians general manager Mark Shapiro speak at Baldwin Wallace College recently and describe Sizemore as having a greatness that cannot be taught.
It was the first tangible shred of evidence the seemingly unconditional love that clouds the judgement of so many fans regarding the Tribe centerfielder also permeates the Indians front office.
You hear similar stories about LeBron James within the Cavaliers organization. LeBron is without question the greatest player in franchise history. After what we have seen to this point in his career, the same will never be said of Grady Sizemore.
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greenbean
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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someone needs to shove grady's silver slugger trophy up this guys....nevermind
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MZSizemore
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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John Sladek, take a hike on the yellow brick road with Pedroia you piece of crap! It's people like this that make me sick! It's sad when Cleveland fans doubt their own city.
Ughh. Pisses me off, but does it surprise me.. Absolutely not.. We are in Cleveland!
I agree with Green Bean! Let's take good ol' Johnny boy to Grady's mom & dad's house & show him a good time with Grady's awards.. I think he'll get the point then that our boy is no joke, but a STAR!
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cicheerleader
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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i didn't think this article would go over well here lol someone posted this on CF so i thought i'd share it with you girls here in case you hadn't seen it.
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greenbean
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| cicheerleader wrote: |
| i didn't think this article would go over well here lol someone posted this on CF so i thought i'd share it with you girls here in case you hadn't seen it. |
it happens to be a horribly unfair attack on someone who does not deserve it, as he should not be expected to carry the other 24 players on his freaking back. I would like to know what player this guy has been watching, because it certainly has not been grady. Or maybe he just isn't watching the sport at all, because he sounds like someone who doesn't have a clue.
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GradysAngel24
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, it definitely doesn't go over well here especially with THIS FAN. This is LUDICROUS! I can't believe this! You blame Grady for why the whole team is losing for ONE game. Who is with me in challenging this idiot Jon Sladek to pick up a bat to Papelbon, let alone any other major league pitcher?? I doubt he would do any better. And seriously, we know he has been slumping but at least he SWUNG! This loss was not entirely Grady's fault. Mark and Jhonny or any of the other batters in our lineup could have won this game, but they were not even named. AT LEAST GRADY SWUNG HIS BAT!!!
I'm following the sports guys I trust, TOM "HAMMY" HAMILTON and Mike Hegan, when they say of anyone on the team, GRADY is the one you want in these clutch situations. They repeated that quite a bit last night. They know what we have in Grady. They are the smart ones. Sure he doesn't pull through every time but I still trust him to make the best of it and if he doesn't HE WILL TRY EVEN HARDER THE NEXT TIME!!!
Ok, I will stop now but I'm sure I will comment more...
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greenbean
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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What burns me the most is that people are agreeing with this guy!!!!! I have a hard time understanding fickle people. You know damn well that next week these SAME PEOPLE will be saying how amazing he is and how he is by far the greatest player to ever play in cleveland.
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GradysAngel24
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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| greenbean wrote: |
it happens to be a horribly unfair attack on someone who does not deserve it, as he should not be expected to carry the other 24 players on his freaking back. I would like to know what player this guy has been watching, because it certainly has not been grady. Or maybe he just isn't watching the sport at all, because he sounds like someone who doesn't have a clue. |
Exactly! He does more than his share and doesn't even get credit for that! And I tell you there were plenty times last year that HE DID CARRY THE WHOLE TEAM! I have no clue who he's watching but it's not GRADY. He will jump right on the bandwagon when Grady gets out of his slump...
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greenbean
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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| GradysAngel24 wrote: |
Sure he doesn't pull through every time
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EXACTLY!!!!!! IF HE PULLED THROUGH EVERY TIME HIS BATTING AVERAGE WOULD BE 1000!!!!!!! IS THAT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THIS GUY? THATS LIKE ASKING HIM TO PLAY EVERY SINGLE DEFENSIVE POSITION...WHILE HE PITCHES A NO HITTER!!!!
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greenbean
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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and how many RBI's does grady have so far???? 18?????? he is on pace for well over 100 this season!!!! my gosh! is that all?!?!????
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GradysAngel24
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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| greenbean wrote: |
| EXACTLY!!!!!! IF HE PULLED THROUGH EVERY TIME HIS BATTING AVERAGE WOULD BE 1000!!!!!!! IS THAT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THIS GUY? THATS LIKE ASKING HIM TO PLAY EVERY SINGLE DEFENSIVE POSITION...WHILE HE PITCHES A NO HITTER!!!! |
I still don't think that would make this dude happy. Because you know he's named Grady and that name just sounds wrong... I'm surprised he didn't bring up the being caught off base. Wonder what he said about that.
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Quote: Grady Sizemore Jr. (Grady's Dad)
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greenbean
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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i'm getting more and more pissed off every time i read this article, or even just think about it! i wish people that don't know what they are talking about would just avoid blogging all together. it would make my life much easier. he is trying to soften his blow by saying he thinks grady is a great player, sorry buddy you are still an ass! ok i cuss too much when i'm pis...ticked. sorry deb
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GradysAngel24
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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| greenbean wrote: |
| he is trying to soften his blow by saying he thinks grady is a great player, sorry buddy you are still an ass! ok i cuss too much when i'm pis...ticked. sorry deb |
Oh so he is softening the blow by saying "After what we have seen to this point in his career, the same will never be said of Grady Sizemore." This guy is RIDICULOUS! I admit I was fuming just hearing a bit about this before I even read it. No apologies necessary, Michelle. He deserves that and more! Too bad I don't swear!!!
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Quote: Grady Sizemore Jr. (Grady's Dad)
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greenbean
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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no with comments like this
Am I making the claim Sizemore isn't a good player? Absolutely not
why does he even bother? and i like how he brings up the gold glove yet completely disregards the silver slugger, because of course it just doesn't jive well with the rest of his blog
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GradysAngel24
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| Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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| greenbean wrote: |
no with comments like this
Am I making the claim Sizemore isn't a good player? Absolutely not
why does he even bother? and i like how he brings up the gold glove yet completely disregards the silver slugger, because of course it just doesn't jive well with the rest of his blog |
It's like he is trying to cover for his sorry butt, but not even close. Sorry, dude you can't have your cake and eat it too. He can't play centerfield and not hit...
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