* The Rays have been going through one of those troublesome stretches. Injuries and anemic hitting have taken a toll. But except for the occasional diversion from Planet Upton, the team chemistry has been excellent. Here’s hoping, however, that recent grousing by top-of-the-order, starting pitcher “Big Game” James Shields is not an indication of any untimely friction.
After suffering that awful homer fest at the hands of Toronto last Saturday, Shields intimated that it can be challenging getting “in rhythm” with rookie catcher John Jaso. Previously, he had hinted that the extra day’s rest afforded by the spot start of rookie Jeremy Hellickson wasn’t really helpful. If the Rays are going to have a post-season, they will need Shields, currently saddled with a disappointing 10 losses and the team’s highest ERA, to pitch like a number one starter and treat every game like a “Big Game.”
* Stuff happens, but that Emmitt Smith faux pas at his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, was weird. While expressing gratitude to those who have impacted his life via “values and skills,” including influential individuals from Pensacola Escambia High School to the Dallas Cowboys, he omitted any reference to his University of Florida years. Now, it would be understandable if we were talking about some extemporaneous remarks. Emotion can trump any ad hoc list of thank-you shout-outs. But this was a well-prepared–and well-delivered–speech. A post-omission, twittered apologia to Gator coaches, friends and fans seemed lame.
* Normally a pre-season Heisman Trophy campaign is a blatant exercise in self-serving hype and a make-work project for some PR flack in some university’s athletic department. The front-running candidates don’t need the publicity and those under the radar can only be helped by big statistics as the season unfolds. But it’s something for the media to munch on during July and August.
Among the current morsels: an Internet-based campaign for Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder. Interestingly, FSU has had two Heisman winners, Charlie Ward (1993) and Chris Weinke (2000), and neither had any extra help. But that was then–and this is not. Hype has never been more hip. But ponder this: FSU’s Heisman candidate is as good a student as he is a player–and he’s a very good quarterback with impressive stats. He also graduated early and already has his MBA. Frankly, that ought to be part of the Heisman criteria.