The 2015 MLB Midseason Slant - Speed Demons

Change is good. That is all--I have to say--about that.

For the better part of three months, we have seen a bunch of twists and turns occur in Major League Baseball. We've seen a number of suspensions, another unnecessary chapter in the story of Milton Bradley, the return of A-Rod, a new commissioner, a possible reinstatement of Pete Rose until he ultimately screwed it up for himself again, alleged "hacking" between St. Louis and Houston, more "this will be my final MLB season" announcements, and new implemented rules regarding the pace of the game.

We also got to see a new style of the Home Run Derby on Monday night. Each player was under a four-minute time limit instead of being given 10 "Outs" to work with, and my goodness, that was one of the most exciting things I had ever watched. If you didn't watch it, go find a replay. You won't be sorry.

It seems like just yesterday that the Super Bowl ended and baseball fans everywhere were counting down the days to the report of pitchers and catchers to Spring Training. And now, the day I am posting this, it's the day of the All-Star Game in Cincy. Time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?

Let's take a look at some of the hits (and misses) that have been going on in Major League Baseball. You can take as long as you want--there's no time limit here.

2015 MIDSEASON SLANT

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Eastern Division

Overview: Don't ask me why, but I feel like over the past couple of seasons, the NL East has looked like a super weak link for the past couple of seasons. The race may usually be tight, but its against two teams that have "okay at best" records, and the rest sort of drop off.

Washington Nationals (48-39) – Patience is a virtue, as these guys are far gone from their rotten seasons and now in the cruising lanes of great talent, first place finishes, and pennants. Bryce Harper is a viable candidate for NL MVP this year, and you have Max Scherzer making a decent run for the CY. With good influences, all things will fall into place. It especially helps when you’re the only team in your division without a sub-.500 record away (albeit being AT .500).

New York Mets (47-42) – For a team that has dealt with injury (Hi, David Wright) and who has the lowest team batting average in the National League (third to last in team OBP), you can obviously tell that the pitching staff has been eating their Wheaties with these guys. Their rotation of Bartolo Colon, sophomore Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Jonathon Niese, and Noah Syndergaard (in Dillon Gee’s absence) have been absolutely tight and kept the team in contention. More plate discipline could give them a run at a Wild Card spot in late September.

Atlanta Braves (42-47) – Injuries have not been very kind to this team at all. A lot of games have slipped away from them on the road, and even some of their seasoned vets are looking a bit shaky from the turn of events. The one big guy to look at is Nick Markakis, who has been the most consistent, hard-hitting force on the team. Pitching has been steady, but the bullpen is kind of scary in the bad way. This second half could be rough.

Miami Marlins (38-51) – Everybody hop on the Stanton Express! WOO-WOO. No, but really, if you care to know, the guy to really watch on this team is Dee Gordon (he’s Flash Jr for a reason, gosh dang it) because this bro is absolutely DANGEROUS at the plate and on the bases. I mean, c’mon, Ichiro dropped off—someone has to pick up the pace. Wait, I’m supposed to talk about the team? Oh. The team is middle of the pack in all stats, but they’re so disgustingly inconsistent on all fronts that it becomes hard to watch them at times.

Philadelphia Phillies (29-62) – Imagine that. My hometown team is this year’s basement squad. They kind of deserve it too. Poor management all across the board, and the inability to get disciplined players that aren’t their veterans (even Chase Utley is having a horrible year) has been a real thorn in the team’s side. On pace to lose 115 games this year? Yep. (Phillies fans are already waiting for the Eagles season to start.)

Central Division

Overview: This division never fails to impress. While there might be newer teams making a strong showing, the bottom teams are still making a run to make this a scramble for the entire division. A knock-down, drag-out brawl is always welcome, and this could be a division for the ages.

St. Louis Cardinals (56-33) – Injuries haven’t slowed this team down one bit. With the lowest team ERA in the National League, they’re backed by a starting rotation consisting of Jon Lackey, Michael Wacha [WAKKA WAKKA], Lance Lynn, and Carlos Martinez. The offensive threesome of Jhonny Peralta, Kolten Wong, and Jason Heyward (with a consolation prize always going to Yadi and Holliday) have been providing fireworks that are clearly seen from the archways. As usual, they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with from here on out this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates (53-35) – This team is definitely one for contention. In fact, they have been for a while, but they have more chutzpah than in years’ past. Andrew McCutchen is having yet another amazing year,  and it should also come as no shock that the pitching staff is looking as terrifying as ever, led by the immortal AJ Burnett in his final Major League season. Filled with a slough of veterans and young dudes alike, this is a great formula to take a playoff spot and hold it ransom for some Pirate booty. See what I did there? The injury bug is always one to worry about, but as usual, health is key to keep going into the summer.

[NOTE: They’re currently atop the Wild Card Standings.]

Chicago Cubs (47-40) – While they’re not as green as they once were, there are still a couple of things they need to work on if they want to make a strong run for October. Health and consistency is a huge thing here. Some guys aren’t playing enough, and even though they make good showings, sometimes “hot and cold ball” isn’t the best thing to immerse oneself in. That aside, the starting rotation gets a gold star, with strong pitching from Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, and a gold star for Anthony Rizzo. That kid’s gonna go places. I’d like to see the Cubbies make the playoffs, that’s for sure. They’re due. Actually, they’ve been due since 1908, but that’s beside the point.

[NOTE: They’re currently Team #2 in the Wild Card Standings.]

Cincinnati Reds (39-47) – Outside of the big names on the team (Toddfather, Votto, Bruce, Phillips), there haven’t been very many big showings from the rest of the offense. The backups need a lot of work.  And outside of the starting rotation plus Aroldis Chapman, there’s much left to be desired. It’s rather obvious that the crowd is one of their biggest strengths, as they haven’t been faring well outside of The Great American. At this rate, there might not be a lot of cheering when it comes to playoff baseball. Then again, at least they cheered for something… After all, Todd Frazier won the Home Run Derby Monday night.

Milwaukee Brewers (38-52) – This team can be very sloppy at times. Defensively, there are a lot of holes (almost literally), and the pitching staff isn’t necessarily helping matters very much on that front. The one thing keeping the team afloat is some timely (and often powerful) hitting from guys like—yeah, you guessed it—Ryan Braun. The Brew Crew certainly isn’t what it used to be, and its best that the second half is used for rebuilding purposes, especially on the front of the starting rotation.

Western Division

Overview: This team is pretty much like if "The Heavy" of a mob had a baby with a bunch of ninjas. We have some of the best hitting, pitching, and plate discipline here, but not all teams in this division have the luxury of harnessing all three qualities. We all have that one clumsy ninja in the group. C'mon, Beverly Hills Ninja should have taught you that.

Los Angeles Dodgers (51-39) – Evidently enough, money does buy you happiness…or does it? Clayton Kershaw and clear CY candidate Zack Greinke certainly can. Their patience at the plate is also a key aspect of the team, as they don’t take much crap from opponents, and it ultimately works in their favor. The team appears to be clicking on all cylinders at home, and they’ll certainly be buyers for more workhorses now that the trade deadline is upon us. Don’t expect a slowdown or an early exit for these guys. Slow and steady may win the race, but swift and tactful also wins the pennant race.

San Francisco Giants (46-43) – According to the Twitterverse, this team is doing horribly. I don’t understand it. In fact, while there are some issues here and there, the team is getting its strength back in offense (Hunter Pence, duh) and the pitching is looking stronger than ever. Plus, the plate discipline is as equally precise as their Southern Californian brethren. If you expect anything less from Joe Panik and Buster Posey, you may have a problem. There has been a lot of changing of the guard in the rotation, but that shouldn’t be a source of panic. Their bullpen has remained consistent and healthy, that’s gotta mean something, right? They’re champions, for Pete’s sakes—they’ll always find a way to win.

Arizona Diamondbacks (42-45) – Holy crap, Paul Goldschmidt. He is obviously at the helm of a team that is still trying to find its footing not only in a consistent offense, but a hunched-over pitching staff. In fact, that’s actually been a rough problem for the former green-and-purples since Dan Haren was traded off to the great beyond. And the kicker is, once they get that settled, they can be clear contenders. Once the days get hotter in Arizona, so should the pitching arms. Consider them a dark horse for the Wild Card.

San Diego Padres (41-49) – For what it’s worth, they try. They really do. However, the team is a bit older, and their plate discipline is pretty much poo-poo. The pitching staff isn’t doing a terrible job—in fact, they’re keeping up as best as possible; however, there really shouldn’t be any excuses for management to find decent coaches to enhance the talent. They’ve had these issues in the past, and they’ve been unresolved. I think it’s time for an overhaul at Petco Park.

Colorado Rockies (39-49) – Here is the team with the highest team batting average in the National League. But the pitching staff is the pits with loads of injuries and well…yeah. John Axford’s been pretty consistent, and Jorge de la Rosa hasn’t been TOO shabby, but the rest is rather laughable. Outside of that trainwreck, the usuals of Blackmon, Tulo, LeMahieu, CarGo, and Arenado have been leading the fronts on offense. In fact, they’re the “one side of the field” wrecking crew. But offense doesn’t always win games…

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Eastern Division

Overview: We tend to see a lot of good matchups from this division, but so far, we've also seen a lot of "tripping up the steps," as it were. while there's a lot of promise from each squad, everybody still has a long way to go, no matter whether they're above or below the .500 mark.

New York Yankees (48-40) – The impressive part about this is, is they’re doing this without Jeter. But A-Rod has also returned to the squad, and he has been a valuable part of this offense. However, this hasn’t entirely been an offensive show; in fact, it hasn’t even been much of a pitching spectacle, either. What’s happening here, ladies and gentlemen, is a sweet case of “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” Things have been fair and well in the Bronx, but dodging close calls only lasts for so long. This second half is one of separating the men from the boys.

Tampa Bay Rays (46-45) – Unlike the Yanks, the Rays’ pitching staff is a little more polished, especially in the realms of strikeout pitchers. While they may give up the big hits more often than not, the stellar defense makes up for a less-than-promising and inconsistent offense. This does not mean that they don’t have a snowball’s chance in Chris Berman’s basement, but the more promising and patient at-bats everyone gets, the better off they’ll be. Look at Evan Longoria. He knows what’s up.

Baltimore Orioles (44-44) – O my. That’s a lot of different guys that love to swing the bat and miss…and miss a couple of games at that. It’s rough too, because the starting rotation isn’t doing a shabby job—who’d have thought that Bruce Chen still had it in him after all these years? Being at .500 isn’t a bad thing at the All-Star Break, but when you’re in a heated division like the AL East, your crap has to get together, and silly at-bat mishaps can’t happen. The decent rotation can’t be wasted at a time like this.

Toronto Blue Jays (45-46) – With a few injuries here and there and a case of star-power from guys like Josh Donaldson and Mark Buerhle, they’re not in a rough enough spot to worry. However, the lack of run support during games (especially since RA Dickey has officially been figured out) doesn’t mean that the hitting is poor—in fact, it’s one of the best in the AL. The bullpen and some of the rotation has been rocky. They may be dealing soon enough for a stronger rotation—that is, if that can afford to in a tight race like this.

Boston Red Sox (42-47) – Oh, Bahhstin, what happened? While small ball tends to win games, the pitching staff hasn’t been keeping up their end of the bargain. The days may be gone of seeing David Ortiz as a consistent man at DH in favor of young blood that have been fighting to make a name for themselves in Beantown. Heck, even Mike Napoli is under the Mendoza line. We might need a new breath of life here before things ultimately get worse.

Central Division

Overview: What is usually a one-man division has now become a source of possible Wild Card fever. While there may be a bit of a lead going on, it's still anybody's division, and that says a lot for a division that is mostly quiet throughout the season compared to the others.

Kansas City Royals (52-34) – With the way they’ve been playing, you’d think they want to go back to the World Series, eh? From the looks of things, they have the magic to do it again this year. Despite minor hiccups here and there, especially with minor injury issues, this team has the consistent hitting power, and the bullpen is also pretty strong at times as well. Every team is going to lose once in a while, but this team won’t quit and won’t give up stupid victories to the opposition. Oh, and one last thing… MOOOOOOOOOSE.

Minnesota Twins (49-40) – This is a welcoming sight to see, considering the numerous problems that plagued the team and the front office over the past several years. Joe Mauer has found his home at first base, and because of his adjustment, the offense and plate discipline have returned via leadership. With that noted, they’ve been going pound-for-pound in run differential, and even though they’ve had their share of streaks, they’re making a name for themselves as a scrappy team that won’t settle for less. It has been a while for them, and they want to make these slugfests count.

[NOTE: They’re currently atop the Wild Card standings.]

Detroit Tigers (44-44) – While this shouldn’t be seen as something to panic about, the Tigers appear to be cooking a bit slower than usual. I mean that in the pitching department. Oh, trust me, there’s nothing wrong with the disgustingly powerful hitting staff that has the highest team average in the AL; the only problem is, aside from David Price, the team hasn’t been very strong pitching-wise. Even Justin Verlander looks like half of the pitcher he was in previous seasons. Defense wins games, but you need good, precise pitching to carry on to a possible fifth AL Central title.

Cleveland Indians (42-46) – The team is neither here-nor-there. A player to definitely take a gander at is Jason Kipnis, who has been a viable piece of the offense. Unfortunately, whether there has truly been problems, has been run support, especially for last year’s CY winner Corey Kluber. While there haven’t been very many fireworks with this club for a while, there’s a slim chance we’re going to be seeing any come the end of September. There may be a slight problem in management, too, but any persisting issues remain to be seen.

Chicago White Sox (41-45) – While there are a lot of bright spots in the rotation and in the starting lineup like Sale, Abreu, Samardzija, and Cabrera, injuries and suspensions haven’t been very kind to this squad. They’re not floundering at all, but they’ve also been dealt a rough hand in the first half of the season. While they may not be contenders, they’re perfect candidates to play the spoiler. Whether they’re going to make a bigger impact than their NL brethren, well… I don’t think that’ll be the case this year.

Western Division

Overview: This division always surprises me in some way. You'll see why in a little bit. In my time of writing these, I've come to learn to expect the unexpected, especially in the AL West. And by golly, this time is no different at all.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (48-40) – Now, you might just be a straight-up silly person if you thought the Angels would be anywhere else in the standings. They’ve been riding a hot streak of good fortune for the past couple of seasons; however, this is the part in a timespan when the rubber meets the road and we see who the weak links are and who is helping the team grow. In his semi-older age, Pujols is still performing, and we’re still seeing MVP-like numbers from Mike Trout. We’re also seeing definitive strength out of the rotation. However, there are some patchy spots in the lineup, and it might be time to check up on them.

[NOTE: They’re technically in first place because they’ve played lesser games, and their winning percentage is higher due to that. Math.]

Houson Astros (49-42) – You know that scene in A Christmas Story when Schwartz’ mother starts screaming “WHAT?! WHAAAAAT?!” That was totally me. It’s been a long time coming for this organization, especially since they were basement material since almost the last time they went to the World Series (ten years ago, in case you didn’t remember). The obvious Achilles’ heel of the team is the offense, where Jose Altuve is the only guy who is performing extremely well on a consistent basis, and the team leads the AL in strikeouts which is no bueno. Even so, the pitching staff (and even the bullpen) looks really fresh and steady. Could we see a shocker and look at them in October? It’s been ten years too long, but this young team can’t afford to get big-headed in any regard.

[NOTE: They’re currently Team #2 in the Wild Card standings.]

Texas Rangers (42-46) – Prince Fielder is having arguably the season of his career, and well… It doesn’t look like anybody else on that team wants people outside of the fanbase to know. We’ve also seen a few hits and misses (literally) on the pitching staff, aside from starting rotation men like Yovani Gallardo, whose record doesn’t show what great material he’s been dealing. Granted, this team got hammered—and I mean HAMMERED—by the injury bug, but no amount of health can regain consistency once we see which player is actually the best fit for the lineup. It’s a sticky situation, but somebody’s gotta go through it.

Seattle Mariners (41-48) – While they have bright spots in the starting rotation and in the starting lineup, we can’t get away from the fact that we can’t get on base to save our lives most of the time. Big hits are great and all, but that tends to tire out more than you’d think. Just look at the pitching staff, for instance. They’re in the middle of the pack, but there are times when they need a little more rest or a little more time to warm up than usual. Basic stuff, really. But when the only thing going for you at times is King Felix himself, it should be a wakeup call for something. The call hasn’t been answered in quite some time, and it doesn’t look like it’ll get any better anytime soon.

Oakland Athletics (41-50) – It isn’t how you start, it’s how you finish. I have a feeling that the bullpen didn’t get that message this year. A lot of leads have not been kept by these guys, and it’s hurt them a couple of times. It also doesn’t help that the hitting hasn’t been as strong as it has been in seasons past. There are strong showings by Reddick, Vogt, and Lawrie, but with spotty injuries, we haven’t seen a whole heck of a lot of support outside of them. We could see a more fierce side to them after the All-Star Break, and we could very well hear those saxophones again with them as a come-from-behind Wild Card contender. Baby steps.

---

That about does it for me here. With the dog days of summer on our toes, it's almost time to start warming up for more hard-hitting sports action not just from baseball, but from other sports as well. But savor it now, it could speed by you in an instant.

No. Seriously. It should still be, like, March.

Until next time...

-- Stephanie

The Slant on Sunday - Gender-Bend It Like... Solo?

I almost wrote about this case in February, but I'm awfully glad I waited.

Over the past year, we have seen a number of domestic violence cases coming to light. The most notable ones came from NFL players, such as Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens and Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings. It is a social stigma that men are usually the perpetrators of domestic violence cases due to their size, strength, and gender role in a relationship or household. Nobody usually thinks that a woman would be capable of doing such an offense. Well, it today's era of feminism, women are equal to men in just about every way, including having the capability to be accused of domestic violence.

Before you continue reading, I am going to throw up a disclaimer that I am going to be saying a lot of stuff here that you probably aren't going to like. Most of the editorial here might not even have to do about sports, but about the psychology behind this and how this case should not be ignored. If you disagree with what I say, that is your opinion, and I am glad you have one. However, this is mine, and neither opinion is right nor wrong. Plus, I doubt you're going to hear a lot of female opinions about this. Let's be honest.

During the summer of 2014, U.S. Women's Soccer star Hope Solo was arrested in Washington State on charges that included domestic violence against her half-sister Teresa Obert and her nephew (who was a minor at the time). After reports that she was drunk and had attacked her nephew--who had a foot and over 100 pounds over Solo--and later fended off and attacked her sister-in-law (despite taking an alleged shot to the head with a broomstick), the charges against her were dismissed in mid-January.

Once the case was dismissed, Solo had made an appearance on Good Morning America and spoke with Robin Roberts on how she was falsely accused and was the clear victim of this case. She had alluded to being categorized with Ray Rice, and how it had hurt her. Obert was allegedly disgusted with Solo's remarks and called her a liar about the incident. On Sunday, ESPN's Outside the Lines had broadcast reports that not all of the facts have been presented, and that the Hope Solo case is far from over. This all comes the day before the U.S. Women's Soccer team kicks off their FIFA Women's World Cup journey against Australia. Funny how things are situated, eh?

Would this be the first time she is a supposed victim of assault? It's possible, but unconfirmed. In 2012, before her marriage to former Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Jerramy Stevens, he was arrested on accounts of physically assaulting Solo, but the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. That aside, they were married the next day. Outside of this, Solo is no stranger to the public eye as far as poor decision-making. She had to serve a 30-day suspension in January after getting into the car with her intoxicated husband and arguing with police soon after the incident.

While there is much speculation and a small amount of evidence that represents a dispute, apparently there is a lot more that we do not know about this night last summer. The case, according to reports, was only dismissed due to errant procedures and issues regarding Obert and her son not appearing in court. This case could fire up again as early as September.

As of this writing, there are no suspensions, and she is participating in the Women's World Cup as scheduled.

Hoooargh....
(cracks knuckles)

Can we all see the double standard in this entire debacle? It's like we're protecting women because of this rise in feminism. Give me a BREAK. I'm normally not the type of person to get upset at something like this, but this is quite a disgrace. She's had run-ins with the law and she's had quite a mouth on her, and the fact that she dusted herself up on GMA and with her philanthropy business, it's not going to take away from the fact that she has an attitude and an alleged problem with her temper. Plus, I could also go further in explanation by saying that she married the wrong kind of guy too if she wanted to clean up her act. He's had a bunch of allegations against him, including a rape and assault case. Awesome, right?

Just because a woman is, by primary nature, a caretaker and soft figure, that does not mean that we should be protected from the law as well. No matter whether she was the victim or not, she isn't helping her cause by getting suspended after mouthing off to an officer earlier in the year. A "Facebook apology" isn't great, either. There is some guilt in that as well. When it came to the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson cases, the suspensions were handled swiftly even before there were any court cases to be heard of. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and FIFA should have more of a hand in this, as this not only affects the PR (c'mon, FIFA's had enough already), but it also casts a disgusting shadow over the U.S. Women's team. It doesn't matter that she is arguably the best female goalkeeper in the world. She has a case--currently dismissed or not--to handle, and she can only say "no comment" for so much longer.

We all know that she is a competitive woman, and she is very much in shape for her job; however, you know she might be a problem when she causes a stir during the 2007 World Cup and her teammates had allegedly shaded her for her comments about Briana Scurry being started over her during the World Cup Semifinal. Regardless of whether statements are retracted or lead to a requested apology, those words should never have been said in the first place. It's like she doesn't have that "self-control" filter when it comes to things.

The only thing that I can say in opposition to this is that Solo's nephew--who I am going to name Bob because he was a minor and his name wasn't released--is doing an absolutely horrible job in keeping his mouth shut amid the allegations. I understand that Bob wants to make it clear that Hope Solo is, in his point of view, a criminal. However, there is no need to put her on blast on social media. I know you were allegedly attacked by her, but let it be handled in court, okay? Everyone will find out without you being the leader of the blame. That's all I'm going to say about that boy.

In conclusion, much like other court and crime-involved cases, I absolutely can't stand this story. It shouldn't even be ongoing. Solo should be suspended until the investigation and court case ceases. Rice and Peterson weren't allowed to play, even though the only difference between them and her is that there was clear evidence against them. While you can't use previous actions as evidence that she is capable of causing havoc, that has to be taken into account, and she won't be able to hide from the media much longer now that ESPN has this huge beef on her.

As a woman and a former athlete, I'm going to say this: Don't protect her because she's a woman. She's in question, and things need to be done about that now.

-- Stephanie

(The base article used for this post can be found here: CLICK ME!)

The Slant on Sunday - Haymaker-weather

I realize that I haven't written anything here in over two months. To be quite honest, nothing has really jumped out at me in the sports world. However, I can't let this one go. These opinions are mine. Don't like them? Oh. Okay. I'll love you anyway.

Since the 1890's, one sport has been deemed one of the most violent and most unique sports to ever exist. Long before martial arts left the particular regions of Asia, everyone settled an altercation in one way: their fists.

Boxing was a common sight in North America, even before professional wrestling became more mainstream among the people. Shoot, men did it outside of the ring for money and for show. Early boxing matches didn't even have gloves, for cripes' sake. For the next century, boxing went from being extremely popular, to a thing of the past that may come on at 2AM for willing viewers. Mixed Martial Arts is becoming the more popular sport in North America, and boxing is not a much-talked about phenomenon, unless if you're an avid watcher of NBC Sports' Boxing Night in America or ESPN's Friday Night Fights. However, this slightly changed when a dream fight originally concocted in 2009 came to fruition Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are arguably the two biggest names in boxing world today. Mayweather's undefeated record and Pacquiao's multiple title wins have been huge stories all throughout the 2000's and 2010's. These clash of boxing titans were sure to bring the house down since Mayweather was pinned down for it after six longs years of waiting. But was it worth the hype and would it make boxing a topic at the dinner table and bars again?

Before this fight, there was a heaping metric ton of controversy all around the bout. For those who aren't familiar with Mayweather, he's had quite a history of domestic violence cases against him, and none of his cases led to any specific resolution to them. Allegedly, he had barred three journalists--one of which was ESPN's Michelle Beadle--who had covered his cases and were against him. The public relations representative (who cracks me up, by the way) did a terrible job of trying to clear that fact up. Not only that, the money value of the fight and the winnings that he and Pacquiao were going to receive (on top of the whopping $100 pay-per-view price) was deemed as preposterous. Plus, the Internet community likes to jump on the fact that Floyd Mayweather is somewhat illiterate. I could go on and on about the controversies, but then this would turn into an ethics post that would not be worth reading unless you were totally into politics and morality and such.

I digress.

After the fight, I'd read a lot of reactions over social media--believe me, there was a lot, and reactions weren't that hard to find--and those who are involved with either mixed martial arts or boxing praised Mayweather for his boxing "art" of evasion and how he made every punch count [according to statistics, his punch accuracy was higher than Pacquiao's]. The huge point of this is simply: there is strategy in boxing, but this was never meant to be a form of martial arts. Sure, you can evade, you can strategize, but the original point of the sport was to make sure your skill, speed, endurance, and accuracy of punches was so great, that you either knock out your opponent, or had enough credibility to be deemed the winner of the fight by decision. Taking all of 12 rounds to do something that could have lasted eight or nine (especially with Pacquiao's alleged nagging shoulder) was the problem that most "outsiders" to any sort of involvement in organized fights had with Saturday night.

But, all things considered, this is the main argument for the sport now: the game has changed. Because of the risks and spoils, the sport has become a lot more strategic and counter-heavy than it once was. Defense has taken more of a front seat, and leaving the slugfest era in the dust. Why is that? It's not just for the money, but it's also for "the art," as some people call it. They would much rather show a display of evasion and "smarts" than more offensive pushes. Thanks to YouTube, I (along with thousands of other people, it seems) did a little digging to find classic matches to see the overall differences between Saturday night's fight and ones from long before. I found a gem from 40 years ago between an undefeated George Foreman [Grill] and an older Muhammad Ali--that's right, I'm talking about "The Rumble in the Jungle."



Considering Ali's age--he was 32 at the time, which was considered older in that age--and the fact that Foreman took down the two guys who had defeated Ali (the lates Joe Frazier and Ken Norton), this fight seemed like it was not only one of redemption, but of: "Oh man, how great is he if he took down the two men that took me down in two rounds?"

You're going to notice something very interesting here--Ali is evading and moving around and stalling the same way Mayweather did in his fight with Pacquiao. However, the major difference is that Ali still took the opportunity to wear down Foreman through any kind of punch (regardless of accuracy) instead of having Foreman wear himself out. It proved to be a good strategy. [I'm not spoiling this fight for you if you've never seen it before.] What Mayweather did was bide energy and punch sparingly, and take advantage of his wider reach over Pacquiao.  This ultimately led to the fight going to the decision of the judges.

Now... I present to you this little gem. Not a lot of you may know this, but Mayweather was also an Olympic fighter as well...



At this level of boxing--one that Mayweather actually specializes--punch accuracy actually counts here in a point-based system. While there was a lot of controversy surrounding this bout, you can tell that the only kind of defense that exists here is parrying and dodging. No stall bait here, my friends.

Because of the kind of fight that occurred, a lot of people were disappointed. In fact, a lot of people were expecting an amateur-style fight where both men would go out punching like in the Foreman/Ali fight; instead, it was the total opposite. People on Facebook and Twitter were saying things such as: "When's the next time Ronda Rousey fights? I bet she could put Mayweather in an armbar and make things right. Yeah, MMA is better." The type of match left a bad taste in people's mouths, and because of the numerous opinions of so many, this may not look good for the future of boxing in the United States. It doesn't matter that the film Creed (a.k.a. the next Rocky movie) is coming out in the Fall, or that we have boxers going to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Olympics. What matters the most is that the sport has fallen by the wayside in favor of the more physical, less dancing-filled MMA giants like UFC. These two big names failed to deliver what the lesser-informed masses wanted, and what the people are talking about now are the controversies surrounding the match instead of the match itself.

I won't go so far as to say that "boxing is dead," but the changes it has undergone over the past ten years and the situations surrounding the sport, the judging, and the spoils of it haven't meshed well at all with viewers in North America. Boxing is trying to reestablish itself as a separate entity to MMA, and still try to be a big draw at the same time, but unfortunately, it seemed like a way more glitzy Oscar-styled Super Bowl that I was watching. It certainly wasn't the stuff I watched with my father on Friday nights 10-15 years ago. The game has definitely changed, whether it's for the better or not remains to be seen. It was never meant to be an art in the category of MMA; it was meant to be a sport of wit and power, with minor focuses in evasion and defense, because the main point was to knock your opponent down in any way possible. It's certainly an awkward time for boxing in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and it could be costly.

The aftermath of the fight seems to be a massive cleanup, and when we least expect it, we're going to hear about the domestic violence cases again and allegations that the fight was fixed. Because that's the way the sports world works today. The only thing that could really bring the masses back into boxing again is to see younger guys come in and take out these titans. That's what guys like Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield did in the late 1980's and most of the 1990's. It's time for a new breed, and more faces to make things interesting again.

Well, that's the way I see it, at least.

-- Stephanie

Five.

I don't like to think that I'm an emotional person with things like this, but I can guarantee you that I cried a little bit when I typed this out. People feel accomplished when they travel or they get a job that they've worked very hard to achieve. For something like this, I feel like I've made a personal accomplishment.

I remember exactly what was going on when I created this blog. It is as vivid as a sweet childhood memory, or a horrible event like a death in the family. I remember the way my bedroom was situated. I remember the purple walls (good feng shui, my friends), the shelves, the television playing an Olympic hockey game. I didn't think that five years later, I would be using this same exact site, doing the things I had intended to do here.

After five years of memories outside of the blog and within this blog, I've learned a lot about the journey of life. I read the first 15-20 posts on this blog, and I can laugh hysterically, because I had no idea what I was doing, but I had a dream, and I wanted to fulfill it. It wasn't the exact thing, but there's a major plan for everyone. You're following a path that you can't create an ending for, because you can't build something at Stage 20 when you haven't even stepped on Stage 1 first.

You don't see the small steps in life. Why? Because you're in the moment; you're enjoying the ride. You might be looking at another staircase, thinking that this is going to lead you somewhere else. I will admit this: I thought this was going to lead me to getting a job with ESPN. If you told me that I was going to go back to acting after college and begin screenwriting within three years of writing in this blog when I started, I'd have laughed at you and asked where you happened to buy some decent weed. No, I'm not working for ESPN, and I'm not working for the Phillies like I had so hoped, but I gained a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience elsewhere. Because of my writing, I've met a lot of very close friends. I've learned enough about sports and people that helped toward my own self-enrichment, because I'll be honest, I wasn't in the best of places at the time in which I started The Sports Nut Blogs. I've gained strength as a writer, so much so that I have written sketch comedy, a piece that gained the attention of The American Outlaws (imagine sitting at a tavern for dinner with your best friend, and seeing your site blow up...that'll make you have a beer or two), a number of pieces for another sports website, a piece that was performed by my alma mater's theater group in their Fall show, and a number of other works itching to be brought to life.

The Sports Nut Blogs gave me confidence in the abilities that I have.

I never wanted to monetize this site. Why? This is a tool. This is my dojo. Even when I was nowhere near a computer or laptop or tablet, I was writing down ideas on paper, or I was pounding out an entire MLB midseason slant on my iPhone. I take this seriously. This is a job, and I even declare it to be so on my LinkedIn profile. Some of the greatest jobs (even careers) are things that you do not get paid for. This is a service to myself, and it might be a good laugh or insight for anyone else who reads it.

The feeling I have in my stomach right now? I don't know if I can put it into words. But you know what? I'm going to do the best I can to describe it, because finally, after five whole years, I can call myself a writer.

This is the feeling that you get when you find out that you got a really good grade on a test that you studied hard for but you thought you had screwed up. Mix that feeling with finding out that a person that you were madly in love with--yet you were afraid to tell them--that they've had a lover of their own for quite a while. Mix those two feelings with the feeling of when you're standing on the edge of a somewhere while on vacation, feeling every breeze and sound and sight, and you're at total peace. It truly is a mix of emotions, but it hits every single level, takes you out of your comfort zone, and it takes you for a ride that you are ever so thankful for.

I've learned a lot about a soul's purpose, and how people are considered "late bloomers," and how many of my friends still consider me a "baby" when I feel like I'm a 45-year-old in a 24-year-old body. I feel like I've run out of time about 90% of the time, because it seems like the world around me is accomplishing their goals much faster than I am. But you look at people like Julia Child, who didn't become as renowned as she did until she was 40. Then you truly ask yourself this question: "When do you really know when you've 'made it?'" I might not be a famous sports broadcaster or Oscar winner or a superhero in a known business field, but you know what? I've made it. I've finally figured out who I am. I've figured out what makes me happy, and what I should do with my life in order to keep creating happiness for myself. It's been here all along, and I've been manifesting it in this blog.

The Sports Nut Blogs helped me find myself.

People will sometimes journal in order to help get their feelings out. Not only did this get my feelings out, I found a new side to myself that was informative, but also "stupid funny" to the point where I didn't believe the kind of humor I'd throw out there, regardless of how bad it was. I wasn't afraid of that, and I started taking that outside of the Internet, and if I didn't, I wouldn't have networked with and met the people that I have over the past five years.

Because of this blog, I have also branched out into screenwriting too. The ability to tell a story and to convey a message has bled into this blog as well, so my style of journalism is certainly...awkward to say the least. However, that doesn't matter. What matters the most is that I am doing something that makes me incredibly happy, and I have gotten much stronger with it. Regardless of who reads this blog, I hope that they are entertained and impressed with what I have talked about, and that they have seen that I have a deep love for sports, as well as a deep love for writing these things.

I'm a writer.

I've decided that after today, my "AZ" signature will be retired. Heck, my name is even in the "About the Author" section. If I want people to know who I am, I shouldn't hide behind a username anymore. I've hid long enough. It's time to write even more.

I'm here to stay, and the world of sports will be rocked even more.

-- Stephanie

(I made it, Mom and Dad.)

Go! And Make It Snappy!

The concept of time is a strange one, as those who consider themselves "conscious" believe that time is an illusion. Well, it can be depending on how you're spending it.

Let's be honest... How long does a sporting event usually last? About three hours or so, right? But, of course, athletes aren't playing for three hours straight. Heck, their breaks between gameplay aren't even all that long. Are we wasting time? Well, we very well could be, and it looks like baseball is going to make a change to that.

TIME HAS COME TODAY! ... HEY!

As announced to the mainstream media Friday morning, new rules in Major League Baseball will be incorporated this season. While they aren't as exponentially large as say, instant replay, they will not only adjust the way we watch the game, but see how teams adjust to the lesser amount of "freedom" they can have when it comes to movements and warming up. Two rules that were incorporated include: adjustments to the instant replay rule (shocker), and a rule that was tested in the Fall Leagues--the batter's box rule. The third rule, which the post is ultimately about, has to do with time management in the game.

The rule states as follows:

MLB & MLBPA announce additions to the pace of game program, effective this season. Details: pic.twitter.com/qr0KBcPLA9
— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) February 20, 2015

In truth, this rule has been enforced slowly but surely over the past several years. The time for pitchers to transition from pitch-to-pitch on the mound has been closely watched for a while, and it has become a problem for both the pitching, and the fluff between.

Is it a good move? It's way more of a yes than a no here. Why? I can't begin to tell you how many people I have spoken to in my 7+ years of willingly talking shop with people that I have been told that baseball is the slowest and least exciting sport because of the long pauses between each pitch and play. Due to a lot of the fast-pacing of its other Big Four brethren, it does contain more pauses and more monotony than, say, hockey. Before you go asking: "But what about the pauses between each play in an NFL game," note how I said the word "monotony" above. Different plays can occur in that time clock period in football, while the same event is almost always occurring in baseball. Why prolong the same action with a variant flair on it?

Despite that point, a type of rule like this could be a blessing in disguise for the NFL, considering games are nearly three hours in length, and only an average of eleven minutes are dedicated to play execution.

I remember going to the Army/Navy football game a few years ago, and how I would dread each time I heard a referee proclaim, "Media timeout." It was cold, and I sat up in the higher levels of Lincoln Financial Field with my family. This was me by the end of the game, even though I was bundled up:

In this world of funding, sponsoring, and advertising, you can't really stop the plethora of commercials pertaining to beer, local stores, movie previews, and insurance companies. However, those can be curbed so that you're not watching only five minutes of game before commercials, or seeing a kickoff return and then another minute of that same guy at a bar being suave with the glass of beer he can't drink on-screen due to media regulations. When you're at home, that's an opportunity for you to get food or go to the bathroom. When you're at an outdoor game, a venue where you run the risk of facing the elements, you will be sarcastic in saying: "I'm dying of suspense out here." Come on--this rule is great for not having to sit out in the rain in a poncho that you had a total ball in opening while waiting for the next pitch in total dread. Sure, the overall atmosphere may make a difference, which makes it seem like the pace of the game isn't as big of a deal during a football game. But what if you're losing by a lot and the weather is beyond lousy? Game, set, and match, naysayer.

The change in pace is going to be a test for production crews--both the television crews and the stadium crews. Veterans who have been working games for years are going to feel quite a difference in pacing, but if they're that professional, the change will be a smooth and welcoming one. However, there is a question and concern for this rule: Who takes the hit (as receiving a fine for a rule break) if the pace of the game is affected, the stadium crew, or the television crew? I guess we could find that one out sooner than later.

These kinds of changes aren't going to be overly noticeable, but they will guarantee that we're not having long pauses between the actions occurring on the field. Honestly, the only group that will likely take any kind of hit from this rule to shorten time is the sponsors. They pay good money for :30 spots, and if they're not all in within a time frame, they could certainly pull out or downsize on a deal. Of course, that would be a bigger deal in a national telecast, but when it comes to local telecasts, the deals aren't as immense or as crucial. Larger networks that show more than sports do exist, like WGN. However, those guys may broadcast more than one team as well, and advertising costs will work in their favor since they have more programming to give spots to. See? The rule change looks more reasonable than not.

Would this rule benefit other leagues? It could. In regards to other sports like soccer, the halftime break is necessary, as the coverage for each half is nonstop. In hockey and basketball, breaks between each period or quarter are usually very rare, and are very short when they do occur. For sports like football and baseball, the pacing is extremely inconsistent, and it got out of hand in baseball. Because the NFL is already having a lot of issues in other regions of the game, a pacing regulation may not ever occur, and even if a rule does come to pass, it could face a huge backlash with the defense claiming: "These men need longer breaks between each play to prevent further injury." I feel like I can see the future with things like this, and it's rather sad.

In conclusion, this rule is definitely going to help Major League Baseball with pacing, and consistency in play. A watched pot never boils, so continually waiting for something to happen isn't going to be much fun anymore. Sports are supposed to be well-paced and full of some sort of action. It isn't supposed to be chess. Watching games this year might be a little different, as there won't be as many ear-grating diatribes from commentary on television, and you're not going to sit for a longer stretch at the ballpark. I say it's a win for the good guys here.

Slow and steady doesn't mean you'll win the race--efficient and steady means you will, especially if you're watching a game.

--AZ

All sources of rules came from the MLB Public Relations Twitter page (@MLB_PR).

Mad Skillz

And now, for my next trick, I'm going to make mention of things that show off some "mad skills, yo." One of which had disappeared many years ago, but due to the magic of writing, I'm bringing it back. You're welcome.

Hey now, you're an All-Star.

As that right hook from the 90's sent you flying, I took the time to do a little bit of research.

We all know how All-Star Games function. There's one for each of the Big Four (and one for MLS, but some people don't think it counts), and they're often made to be a huge weekend spectacle--unless you're Major League Baseball, when you think Tuesday is the most brilliant day of the week to broadcast a game like this. In any case, there are usually events that precede each All-Star game, and there is a load of pomp and circumstance flying all around the area for them. Some of them involve sporting legends and celebrities (even veterans of the American military), and some involve conventions and meet and greets. However, I'm not going to be getting into that crazy business. I'm going to talk about the realm of talent. That's right--I'm talking about skills competitions.

The first instance of a skills competition occurred in the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1976 with the Slam Dunk Contest, which was won by "Dr. J" Julius Erving. Other skills competitions came about much later on; the NBA began a Three-Point Contest in their 1985 season (won by Larry Bird), with Major League Baseball beginning their annual Home Run Derby in the same year (won by Cal Ripken Jr.). Each league has grown in hosting celebrity events and other assorted skills competitions except for the NFL, which had stopped their Pro Bowl Skills Competition after 2007. That said, I guess you could really call them the No Fun League, eh?
(Fun Fact: The ABA merged into the NBA after the 1976 season.)

[Side Note: I just named three legends in the paragraph above. I'm pretty sure this means that these events aren't a load of garbage. But let's move forward, shall we?]

During my Valentine's evening of eating pizza, playing Injustice: Ultimate Edition, and watching Alfred Hitchcock, I got to thinking... Why do these events even exist? What in the world are they proving? These guys make enough money as it is--why do they have to show off?

If you peel away at the concept like an onion, these skill competitions actually break the sport down even further. Simply put, these events are even more difficult variations of practice drills or endurance sessions. For example, during the skills competition before the NHL All-Star Game, a lot of it relies on speed, agility, and handling. For many, the grace of ice skating does not come easy at all. To see these men display their speed while handling their stick and a puck speaks volumes on how skillful these athletes are. In basketball, focus is key, especially in the area of shooting. In baseball, it is about timing and efficient movement (strength is a gimme).

Skill competitions add more dimensions to a player who can only show just a limited amount of skill in-game. For example, you're not going to be able to see Steph Curry nailing three-pointer after three-pointer due to the fact that he's going to have really tall guys attempting to block him. Shooting from the arc isn't the easiest thing in the world to begin with, and to be consistent and accurate at that is a talent whether you like it or not. Also, you wouldn't be able to see a guy like Josh Hamilton hammer 28 home runs in a short amount of time [and later blow it to Justin Morneau in the end] in a regular game, because it would break the rules of the game. You have a time and a place to express yourself.

Is it really showing off? It comes down to perception. It shows that abilities of athletes may know no bounds, that is for certain; however, it could be seen as an "I'm better than you, and I'm going to rub it in your face for the next two hours plus advertising space." Events like this are entertaining spectacles, sure, and some of these guys are extremely humble in these competitions. They're seen as events where "rookies and sophomores" can look ahead to veterans and pick their brains if they aren't on the same team. It's an effective brain-stew convention of sorts, don't you see? It isn't about the showing-off, it's the humility and the learning experiences that one can gain from watching athletes display their talent in a particular spot of the sport.

--

I'd like to bring up an interesting question: Do the skills competitions help or hinder the All-Star Game that succeeds it on the following day?

I hate to do this, but in my own opinion, the answer is yes and no. Yes, because when the skills competition actually existed for the NFL, people tended to watch (and frankly, care more about) the Pro Bowl the following day. No, because sometimes people don't truly care about who is playing in the game, and might just care about the competitions themselves. An example of this is the Home Run Derby; people might pay more attention to who is in the competition, and totally not care about the other guys playing in the game the following night. The gray area falls upon the NBA and NHL, where fans are more likely to watch both. Then again, it also helps that these events take place on weekends, where Major League Baseball chooses the middle of the mother-flipping week to do this stuff. I digress.

--

In conclusion, skill competitions are a good breakdown of the sport, and you get to see the very best surgically dissect each aspect of a trait and add more passion and flair to it. Those who are bound for greatness should be able to set a high bar, and that bar will empower boys, girls, men, and women to kick that bar off of the rungs and place it even higher. Sure, it could be a bit much at times, but this could also be a way for them to unwind and have even more fun outside of the game itself.

If you're playing a professional sport, you already have "mad skills" to begin with. Share it.

--AZ

Deflated Egos

Now, now. I had to come up with a creative title for this one, and I came up with this. It isn’t great, but what I’ve got below should make up for it. Hopefully.

We know who is playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday. We have the Seattle Seahawks, who are looking for a repeat in Super Bowl wins, and the New England Patriots, who have had their noses in the playoffs for more than a decade. Here’s the kicker: I’m not writing about the game. I’m writing about everything BUT the game. You should have expected this by now.

We seriously haven’t been able to enjoy the pomp and circumstance of the biggest American football game of the year. Why is that, you ask? Because we need stupid stuff to talk about before the game actually happens, and we also need ridiculous accusations for us to sit on that will probably ruin the whole idea of us enjoying the game on Sunday. During the AFC Championship slaughter between the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts two weeks ago, everyone seemed to scratch their heads as to why Tom Brady was getting all of the breaks, while Colts' QB Andrew Luck wasn't getting any...luck. Yeah. I walked into that. Anyway, The game went off without a sore hitch, and within 48 hours of the completion of the game, reports came out that Colts players were suspicious about the overall air pressure of the footballs. Allegedly, 11 of the 12 game balls used during the AFC Championship were not inflated to regulation levels, and it was noticed by D'Qwell Jackson after intercepting one of Brady's passes in the second quarter of the game.

AND THE MASSIVE SWIRL OF STORMS BEGAN.

(Charlton Heston not included.)

Did they have this up their sleeves the whole time? Did they do this against Baltimore too? Remember how I said 11 of the 12 balls above? That might not even be the correct amount. With every ounce of research I've done, numbers have changed, science was tampered with--not everyone should be allowed to "science," because it's dangerous work--and opinions have been thrown in left and right. Maybe people have been using excerpts of head coach Bill Belichick's press conference held earlier in the week. What my favorite part about that is that journalists are analyzing every sentence of his like it's the Bible. Because we need three more weeks of stories following the Super Bowl...am I right?

Because I am a child of the 90's, and I feel like it's quite appropriate, Bill Nye has to really break down this science for you. I'm more than certain that you'll be singing the theme song from his show after this. Check this out.

Many people have held press conferences and members of the Patriots' staff have been interrogated; however, the biggest surprise is that Tom Brady has not yet sat down to be formally interrogated. In fact, he won't have to deal with it until Monday morning at the earliest. That alone has gotten fans upset, feeling as if the NFL is going about this unfairly. However, in his defense, they probably don't want to affect him in any way before "The Big Game."

(If I were him, I'd actually want to get that done before the game. But I'm not him, so there.)

I seriously feel like this is some kind of serial drama, and that there is a dark room where there are a bunch of dark-suited misers writing scripts and fixing this stuff up. It's like a WWE Creative staff virus or something. I'm waiting for Vince McMahon to come flopping out and fire somebody.

I’m going to bring up an example of this "serial drama," being that it is Oscar season, and my example was a nominee for Best Picture. The film “Quiz Show” was based on the controversies surrounding the game show “Twenty One” in the mid-1950’s, and how most game shows at the time were accused of rigging the results of the show to prevent loss of viewership, among other things. This isn't the first time the Patriots have been accused of shady things. Ten years ago, during their Super Bowl XXXIX game (and eventual win) against the Philadelphia Eagles, they were accused of cheating via "Spygate," where they had allegedly videotaped the Eagles' defensive calls. Now, ten years later, we're dealing with another issue, and if that's going to make an impact on Sunday's game remains to be seen. Whether these things are rigged for the sake of betting, none of us know, and it isn't the best idea to get ourselves into it. People have died over betting.

If I didn't know any better, we’re getting rigged right now, and we’re getting rigged hard. Agenda is poisoning sports even further, and despite “Bounty Gate” from a few years ago, domestic abuse accusations, some guy named Culpepper competing on Survivor, and a trial for the ex-Patriot Aaron Hernandez in the charge of double murder conveniently beginning Thursday, nobody seems to care about the Super Bowl unless you’re a Seahawks or a Patriots fan. Heck, I think people are caring more about what Katy Perry is going to wear during the halftime show, or if the Church of Scientology is going to pay for a :30 advertising spot again this year. If you had watched the Pro Bowl last Sunday, did it sound like people were entirely there for the event, or did the whole "Deflate Gate" as it is being called ruin the whole fun of it? It's like continuing a baseball game after a pitcher took a line drive to the head. It's that heaviness that settles in, and there's no way to defuse the tension.

Because this is being treated as a serious offense, strict sanctions may be placed on the team in ways of fines, suspensions, and probable bans. But the thing is, with a situation like this, you can't point a finger at one particular thing. This isn't like Bounty Gate, where there were specific players involved and the coach was in on it. It's not like you can slap a staff member on the wrist, or put the footballs in Pigskin Court and sentence them to the chain gang. Punishments are going to be awkward, and they have to be handled properly. The Patriots won't get out of this with a simple shake of the finger, that is for certain by now.

Whether we like it or not, we're going to be hearing about this for a very long time. The game literally means nothing right now, and only the stories behind the game are getting weight. So now...prepare for the ultimate hair-pulling when any mentions of footballs and air pressure come up. Then again, we could always quote Mr. Beast Mode with "I'm just here so I won't get fined," and talk about how they're bringing up supposed uses of Adderall on the Seahawks team. We always need crap to fill the spaces, don't we?

Be responsible out there.

--AZ