Weekly Chats

New Chat wrap feating J.A. Adande, Jim Callis, Steve Muench, Terry Blount, Chris Mortensen,Orestes Destrade, Rob Neyer, Marcellus Wiley & Football Outsiders Aaron Schatz

First Up J.A. Adande

Tommy(TheStatPack): Hey J.A. whats going on in tennis? Gambling, Poison attempts, Cocaine, sounds like a crazy night at the lounge?

J.A. Adande: No sport -- NONE -- has as many wild storylines as tennis. All they need is a positive steroid test. But seriously, Poison????

Next some Rays & MLB with Destrade, Neyer & Callis

Tommy(TheStatPack):Hey Orestes, The Rays have been mentioned as players for Michael Barrett & Torrealba. With Posada now off the market are these 2 the best options available or should they give Navarro more time?

Orestes Destrade: It's a FA field full of catchers this yr. Those 2 prob the best. I like Barrett alot. LaDuca is out there, as is a sleeper in Jose Molina. Remember when nobody wanted Benji and he's had 2 great yrs. Jose is one to look at.

Tommy(TheStatPack):There could be FA's out there who could be named in the Mitchell Investigation and possibly face suspension Will teams be weary about who they sign this offseason?

Orestes Destrade: It's too late for that to be an issue. Owners, just as guilty, I feel and you can't punish the player and not the owners who knew all along. If someone screws up this season or found out for last...I penalize that guy for stupidity, ignorance and all out greed when word has been out strong!

Jules(TheStatPack): What do you think of the Rays plans for a new waterfront stadium?

Rob Neyer: I think I need to dig up the letter Vince Naimoli once sent me, arguing that Tropicana Field is the best ballpark in all the land.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Delmon Young or Pedroia?

Jim Callis: Pedroia deserved the AL rookie of the year award over Young, easily.

NASCAR W/Terry Blount

Tommy(TheStatPack): 30 minutes in and no mention of an international driver or danica?

Terry Blount: And what would a chat be without one mention of Danica. Thanks for bringing it up.

Tommy(TheStatPack): What happened to the 20? Last year he made a ton of noise during the chase and he didn't even qualify for it. This year he makes the chase and falls off

Terry Blount:) Tony never recovered with the deal at Kansas. He had it won when the rain came, wrecked when it restarted and never was a contender after that.

Tommy(TheStatPack): How long before the Danica to NASCAR discussions start? After she wins an Indy Car race?

Terry Blount: You got it. She has to win first, then it's off the big bucks of NASCAR.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Is there any current driver that would be a great crew cheif? Why aren't more former NASCAR drivers involved that way like other sports where alot of players become coaches?

Terry Blount:) If retired drivers say in it, they usually become team owners or broadcasters. Most drivers don't know enough on the technical side to become crew chiefs.

Tommy(TheStatPack): True. What about Steven Wallace's progress? Who will be in Nascar first him or the kid in the Geico commericals?

Terry Blount: The Geico kid will become an actor. Young Wallace is learning and getting better.

Tommy(TheStatPack): When are people going to stop referring to "he would have won it the old way."?

Terry Blount: Never. As long as there was an old system, people will compare the two.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Will the last race of the season stay in homestead?

Terry Blount: It will for next year. Who knows after that, but the final event is limited to warm-weather locations.

Tommy(TheStatPack): How jacked up on Mountain Dew AMP will the crowds be next year? Would it be better if they all just stuck to budweiser?

Terry Blount: At least this way it's better when they get in their cars after the race.

And finally NFL with Mort, Marcellus Wiley, Steve Muench & Aaron Schatz

Tommy(TheStatPack): Tank Johnson looked pretty good on Sunday. With Him now in the mix and Henry, Newman & Ellis healthy can we expect the Cowboys defense to really step it up?

Chris Mortensen: Well, it's a better defense but there will always be some pass coverage deficiencies. That's OK. The Patriots have some of those problems, too.

Tommy(TheStatPack): I know he wouldn't say it on Camera. But how proud of Tony Romo is Parcells?

Chris Mortensen: Very proud. And as we have talked about all the team wanting to press young QBs into action, I know Parcells is proud that he didn't rush Romo, that he let him learn the league, simmer and develop.

Tommy (TheStatPack): Julius Jones is a UFA and Marion Barber is a RFA. By the look of things Jones will be able to walk he hasn't done much this year to warrant the money he's going to be asking for. What will the Cowboys Running Back situation look like next year? Will they be looking a RB 1st day or Maybe go out and sign Michael Turner to complement MB3?

Aaron Schatz: Who says that Michael Turner will get a smaller contract than Julius Jones? Yes, I like the idea of getting a cheaper back to team with Barber and saving money. I doubt it will be Turner, who will get starter's money to go somewhere and start.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Who wins Columbia or Notre Dame if they played on a neutral site?

Marcellus Wiley: Football or spelling bee? In football I still would
say Notre Dame, but for me to even have to think of that, shame on you
Notre Dame. Go Lions!

Tommy(TheStatPack): What could the browns get for Brady Quinn?

Steve Muench: Great question. In my opinion, I would be surprised so see them get anything earlier than a third round pick. While I still think Quinn has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback, several teams passed on him in the draft so there are obvioulsy questions about his trade value. More importantly,he hasn't done anything since.

That's all for the chats this week folks, be sure to tune in next week. Same Stat time, same Stat channel.

Rob Neyer not so opimistic

I normally love Rob Neyer. I'd love to have him for an interview some day, but I don't know how likely that is after his latest entry in his espn.com blog. I'll post the entire thing so you all can read it, his blog is Insider only.

"You can't really blame the Tampa Bay Rays for wanting a shiny new ballpark. After all, everybody else has one! Well, almost everybody. The Marlins don't, but they will. And it just wouldn't be fair if the Rays don't, too.

How are they going to pay for theirs? Well, they say they'll kick in "perhaps as much as $150 million" (which could mean $150 million or $0 million, but when you're launching a PR battle you want to get in a big first strike). They'd like the state to kick in tax revenue from concessions and merchandise in the new building (which is tax revenue that would actually flow into the state's coffers if generated in any other building). Also, "a primary source would be proceeds of the sale of the Tropicana Field site to a developer who would build a large retail/residential complex there."

Sounds generous of them, don't you think? Funny thing about that, though: that land the Rays want to sell for development, with the proceeds financing their new ballpark? As Field of Schemes impolitely observes, the Rays don't own that land Tropicana Field, though, is owned by Pinellas County (and leased back to the city in a complicated tax dodge), so normally any money from developing that site would go to the county, not the Rays. Add in that Al Lang Field is owned by the city of St. Petersburg, and the Rays are effectively asking to develop two publicly owned parcels and keep the proceeds for themselves -- and that's before knowing whether the team would even agree to pay rent to the city on the new park. It's yet another sign that, as I wrote last year, teams are increasingly asking for development rights in lieu of cash, since while they're just as valuable, they don't make for as many nasty headlines. ... The Rays' leverage to make any demands on taxpayers is limited, given that they have an iron-clad lease holding them to Tropicana Field through 2027 -- so if the city says no, it's not like the team can up and threaten to move to Orlando. Certainly no one's a fan of the Trop, which was designed at the height of '80s fixed-dome ugliness -- but with the city still $100 million in debt on the place, one would hope that local officials would at least ask the Rays to pay their own way before letting them out of their lease two decades early.

On point, as usual.

Just a few additional notes:


• Two years ago, new Rays owner Stuart Steinberg said, "You will never -- and I will say it now and hopefully I can say it and you'll follow up -- you will not hear the words, 'We need to have a new stadium.' "

• There really isn't any reason for MLB to continue asking for giant public subsidies. I mean, there's neven been many good reasons, but now there aren't any reasons at all. Local governments are suffering all kinds of financial problems, in part because "tax" has become a dirty word in this country, and in part because voters don't like honest politicians. (Yes, it's our fault.) Meanwhile -- and this story is just beginning to sink in -- Major League Baseball is awash in cash, so much cash that there really aren't enough free agents to go around this winter. We know the teams aren't going to lower ticket prices or stop selling billboards. So why not finance new ballparks? I suspect it's an idea whose time will come, someday.

• Somewhere here on my desk I've got a letter from ex-Rays owner Vince Naimoli. He wasn't happy about something I'd written about his team. Among his points: Tropicana Field was the best ballpark in the majors. Someday I gotta get that sucker framed."

I usually agree with most of Neyer's views, but not this time. I have a feeling that while the Rays will win their first World Series title in '10 will be in the Trop, all the others will be in the new water front stadium.

Put me in Coach....Literally?

And now at guard 6-4 from Kentucky....PATRICK JAMES RILEY? Ever since I read his book "The Winner Within" when I was like 10 years old I've been a Riley fan. The man in the Armani suit with the slicked back hair was on fire last night. When asked what he could do help his struggling Miami Heat offense, Riley replied

"Me? Play. I guarantee you I should suit up. I'd play better than some of them right now," Riley said Tuesday night. "I guarantee it. I swear to God. With an old hip and 62 years old and I can't see, I'll play better than some of my guys tonight. Come on, they were pretty bad."

Come on Pat suit up one more time.
















In other NBA News Team Turmoil aka The New York Knicks know how to keep the fans on their toes. After Starbury, Stephon Marbury, left the team during a road trip because he was upset, Marbury left us hanging with this...."Isiah has to start me," Marbury reportedly said, according to the Daily News. "I've got so much [stuff] on Isiah and he knows it. He thinks he can [get] me. But I'll [get] him first. You have no idea what I know."

Getcha popcorn ready!

Random Thoughts

Funny exchange on the radio between Bubba The Love Sponge and Aubrey Huff

Bubba: "Now Aubrey, do you jack off a lot on the road, like when you're not with your wife."

Huff: "It's all I do. It's all I do. You guys have no idea how much downtime there is in baseball. You wake up from a hangover about 1 o'clock."

Producer shouts: "In the afternoon?"

Huff: "Oh, yeah! Lemme tell you this. When you are hung over, how horny are you? I'm horny, when I'm hungover, I'm horny. So I'm just gonna beat off. And that's all I do."

He also says Baltimore was a horseshit town.

Enough Tony Romo Vs. Ben Roethlisberger talk. As much as this hurts me to type Big Ben has the ring and Romo doesn't.... yet.

Also ESPN has come to the dark side check out this weeks power ranking for the Giants

So, what did we learn from the Giants' loss to the Cowboys? It's this: Eli Manning is just not as good a quarterback as Tony Romo. Frankly, it's doubtful he ever will be. For the near future, the Giants will have to overcome that deficiency twice a year.

If his name was Jack Jones instead of Eli Manning would he still be starting quarterback in New York after 4 average years? I mean Chad Pennington is sitting on the Jets sidelines with better numbers on a worse team with a lot less weapons.

I like what Dick Jauron is doing in Buffalo. He's just going with the hot hand. First it was Trent Edwards now it's back to JP Losman. I wish more coaches did this and stopped worrying about feelings and media pressure.

Jorge Posada won't be catching in 4 years...

Chris Chandler should be starting in Chicago.

And don't let your kids eat chocolate pudding on a tan rug....

Orlando Magic : Eastern Conference Contenders?

Just finished off a 4-0 road trip that included a tough game @ Toronto.

Apart from that, a relatively easy trip, and they did get smashed at home by Detroit earlier this year but all four main players on the team are under 28 or younger (Dwight, Lewis, Hedo, Nelson).

With games against Phoenix and Boston in their next five, Orlando's young starting five will be tested early at home as they look to establish an identity.

Let's face it, Orlando is a team on the cusp right now. They're a team with one of the dominant young forces in the NBA and a lot of other young guns surrounding him. I think bringing in Lewis helped a lot because they now have a sharp-shooting scorer that they can turn to late in the game when Dwight is getting smothered by the double-teams that he still has trouble shaking. The early results look good for Lewis, he's shooting above 58% from both the field and behind the 3pt line and is nailing his free throws as well, a problem that fans of the franchise are all too familiar with, dating back to the infamous Shaquille O'Neal days.

For right now, Orlando is playing with a lot of momentum and a lot of heart, winning games that are hotly contested up until the fourth quarter. We've seen some defensive lapses and some tepid offensive stretches, but every participant of the starting lineup is contributing night-in night-out (including Bogans hitting long shots and playing solid defense) and hopefully this trend continues.

One thing's for sure, Dwight Howard has arrived. I can't wait to see this guy control a post-season series for the first time.

Rays planning Waterfront stadium

Obviously the Rays know how to keep everyone's attention. One day after unveiling a new logo and uniform, the newly named Rays announced plans to build a $450 Million 35,000 seat stadium along the waterfront where Al Lang Stadium currently sits. The new stadium will have a McCovey Cove-like aspect as home runs/foul balls hit to Right field will splash into the water. Also the stadium will be open-air with covering. Some areas will be air-conditioned. I can't wait to see some prototypes.

Pena wins Silver Slugger

Congratulations to Carolis Pena for becomming the first Rays player to ever win a Silver Slugger Award. This award caps a career year in which Pena hit .282, and a franchise best 46 home runs and 121 RBI. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Congrats Carlos...now just keep it up.

(Devil) Rays

I went looking on ebay for old (Devil) Rays stuff. When I searched "Devil Rays" it turned up 666 items...coincidence?

Weekly Chats

Another addition of chatting with The Stat Pack. More MLB, NFL, NBA, NCAAF, NASCAR talk this week. Chatters include Jayson Stark, J.A. Adande, Terry Blount, Jeremy Green, Steve Muench, John Seibel & Matt Williamson

First up a little Rays talk that caught Stark off guard

Tommy(TheStatPack): With Longoria, Niemann and possibly Price & Mcgee or Davis coming up by the end of the season can the Rays seriously take some strides next year and contend by 09?

Jayson Stark: (1:14 PM ET ) Boy, can't even remember the last Rays question in one of these chats. Way to go. I don't know about '09. I could see them being respectable by then. But I would have to see some major progress next year to believe they can contend by then. I think 2010 is the watch-out-for-the-Rays target date. So hang in there!

Jules(TheStatPack): I keep hearing rumors of Carl Crawford getting moved. Are the Rays listening to offers? And if so, what teams would be interested?

Jayson Stark: (1:24 PM ET ) We've set a record. Two Rays questions in one chat. We should win a grouper sandwich or something. I don't see the Rays' stance on Crawford changing. They would listen on him or just about anybody. But to give up a guy like Crawford, they would need at least three sure-thing players back, and one of them would have to be, basically, a star already. Think Cole Hamels. Or Fausto Carmona. Someone like that. In other words, he's technically "available," but he's not going anywhere.

Here Tommy lays the ground work for a Around The Horn appearance as he and J.A. Adande debate Seattle Vs. Oklahoma City

Tommy(TheStatPack): Is it true Britney Spears tried to get into the lounge and she was denied at the door?

J.A. Adande: (3:06 PM ET ) Britney would have to pass multiple drug tests before we allowed her in the Lounge. If she's clean, we do have babysitting services to keep an eye on the kids. But you know who's in the Lounge lately? Kim Kardashian, baby

Tommy(TheStatPack): JA what the hell kinda costume was that? You gotta admit Mariotti's idea was brilliant

J.A. Adande: (3:18 PM ET ) You have to realize, I don't like Halloween. As a kid, I resented the fact that it took attention from my birthday (Oct. 25). As an adult, I hate the idea of putting on a costume. And I really didn't appreciate all of those kids knocking on my door and sticking bags in my face while I was trying to watch the games on Wednesday. So, no, I didn't put much thought or effort into my costume. And it's not like Marriotti's costume took a lot of work. He just grabbed a hoodie and snipped the sleeves. But he executed it brilliantly, right down to the impersonation. I still liked his Bartman a few years ago. That was one of the great moments in ATH history

Tommy(TheStatPack): Hey JA whats so great about Seattle? Starbucks & Rain...OK Citys is where National Softball HOF & Museum, Frontier City & Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse

J.A. Adande: (4:11 PM ET ) Can OK City give you a fresh plate of Copper River salmon while dining at Cutters and looking out over Puget Sound? Can it give you the view of Mt. Rainier from the Space Needle on a clear day? Wild Ginger? Not to mention decades of NBA tradition, including a championship? Sell the team to people who will keep it in Seattle!!!!!

Up Next some NASCAR with Terry Blount

Tommy(TheStatPack): Does Hendricks continue their New England Patriot like run this week?

Terry Blount: (3:24 PM ET ) Judging from the first practice today, I would say yes. Gordon topped the speed chart and Johnson was fourth.

Tommy(TheStatPack): What does NASCAR going to do about the competitive imbalance that we are seeing?

Terry Blount: (3:37 PM ET ) They hope the COT will help chane that, but I haven't seen it happen yet.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Does JJ Get HOF Racing and the 96 into victory lane next year?

Terry Blount: (3:54 PM ET ) I'd say the chances of that are slim and none. If he can't get the 18 to Victory Lane, how can he get a weaker car there?

Tommy(TheStatPack): Who will win ROY next year?

Terry Blount: (4:04 PM ET ) Tough question, but I';ll go with Franchitti.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Realistically how much longer will guys like Jeff Gordon & Tony Stewart be on top 7-10 years?

Terry Blount: (4:07 PM ET ) Less than that for both. They don't want to race that long and they don't need the money.

On to the NFL & College Football

Tommy(TheStatPack): What do you think about the Romo deal? The length and $ seem to be perfect to me

Jeremy Green: (4:07 PM ET ) I love the deal for both parties. Even though Romo is a little loose with the ball at times he will get better with that as he gets more starts and more experience. He is their future and they made sure they got the deal done... smart move by Dallas.

Tommy(TheStatPack): McNabb to the Bears in 08?

John Seibel: (2:13 PM ET ) considering the current momentum, i don't see donovan coming back next year. that could change, but as of now, i see a lot of changes coming to philly. there's no doubt he would love to play in his hometown chicago. there's equally no doubt the bears would LOVE to have him under center.

Tommy(TheStatPack): How does George Selvie project at the next level he seems undersized to be an everydown DE

Steve Muench: (2:28 PM ET ) It's a good point but at the very least he should emerge as a productive sitautional pass rusher. I also think he COULD move to outside linebacker and develop into an every-down player for a team that runs a lot of 3-4 fronts.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Carson Palmer & Ben Roethlisberger over Tony Romo? The guy has done everything except turn water into wine.

Matt Williamson: He has been great-so has Ben. I love Romo, but he has started like 14 career games. Just want to see it a little longer before putting him right up there with the big boys.

That's all for the chats this week folks, be sure to tune in next week. Same Stat time, same Stat channel.

New Look New Results?

Hopefully the changing of the Rays colors and uniforms will have the safe effect as it did for the '97 and '98 Denver Broncos...Ok maybe not but one can hope. The Rays unveiled their new look Thursday in downtown St. Petersburg. They even got Kevin "The only good roles I've had are baseball players" Costner and his band to play a concert for the event. I'm one of the people that liked the old uniforms, but I was never a fan of the name "Devil Rays". The new uniforms are ok, I wish they didn't have that starburst on them, and I like the name "Rays". For the past couple of years no one in town ever called them the Devil Rays anyway, it was always just Rays. I hope these chanes indicate a new beginning for this young team, '09-'10 can't come soon enough. Here are some pictures.

NFL Recap

JAC 24 (5-3) @ NO (4-4) 41

TV: Saints have won 4 in a row and hung 41 on a pretty good Jags defense.

JW: How does Jones-Drew, one of the slowest return men in the league, bring back a 100 yard TD?

WAS (5-3) 23 @ NYJ (1-8) 20

TV: The Jets are bringing in Bubby Brister & Neil O’Donnell for tryouts during the bye week

JW: This game should have been blacked out in all areas of the country.

ARI (3-5) 10 @ TB (5-4) 17

TV: Earnest Graham looking better and better every week, he’s played his way into a permanent role on the team. As bad as the Cards have been the last 3 weeks they are still 1 game out of first in the West.

JW: Being one game out of first in the NFC West isn't something to brag about, seeing as no one is over .500

CIN (2-6) 21 @ BUF (4-4) 33

TV: Marvin Lewis’s ass has begun to burn on the hotseat. Good to hear Ocho Cinco wasn’t seriously injured. I really like the Bills, ever since they almost gave me a heart attack on MNF they’ve won 3 straight.

JW: Adrian Peterson is getting all the pub, and rightfully so, but Marshawn Lynch has been quietly having a great rookie season.

SD (4-4) 17 @ MIN (3-5) 35

TV: Marty continues to laugh while he sits on the couch and watches AJ Smith & Norv Turner sqirm. And Minnesota doesn’t need a QB, Adrian Peterson should just take direct snaps all game.

JW: I don't have much to add except Phillip Rivers has looked terrible lately.

SF (2-6) 16 @ ATL (2-6) 20

TV: The Anti Colts-Patriots match up. Alex Smith & Joey Harrington combine for 287 yards…exciting.

JW: The Pats have the Niners first round pick. Enough said.

DEN (3-5) 7 @ DET (6-2) 44

TV: Jon Kitna should replace Lebron James in the Nike Believer campaign…I am a believer

JW: When's the last time we've seen a Denver team this bad?

GB (7-1) 33 @ KC (4-4) 22

TV: I don’t ever think I’ve seen a more quiet 7-1 team than the Packers. On the other hand Kansas City still maintains a share of 1st place

JW: Way to cover Greg Jennings with a linebacker Chiefs.

CAR (4-4) 7 @ TEN (6-2) 20

TV: Vince Young just wins games…ugly but still wins

JW: Vince Young is on the field when the Titans win, LenDale White has been carrying the Titans.

SEA (4-4) 30 @ CLE (5-3) 33

TV: Cleveland continues to ruin Dallas’s other 1st round pick by winning games they shouldn’t. Maybe the Browns should think of trading Quinn instead of Anderson

JW: The Browns have scored more points than the Niners and Rams combined.

NE (9-0) 24 @ IND (7-1) 20

TV: 9-0 enough said

JW: 18 different players have scored a TD for the Pats this year. I'm not making that up.

HOU (4-5) 24 @ OAK (2-6) 17

TV: And the leading passers and rushers from this game. Sage Rosenfels & Ron Dayne for HOU, Josh McCown & Justin Fargas for OAK. Good thing nobody saw this game.

JW: Andre Johnson continues to disappoint fantasy owners.

DAL (7-1) 38 @ PHI (3-5) 17

TV: Anyone else think McNabb would like to take back his “the NFC East runs through Philly comment” . The Cowboys just ran through the Eagles.

JW: I see McNabb on the Bears next season.

BAL (4-4) 7 @ PIT (6-2) 38

TV: Kinda strange to see Bill Cowher on the Steelers sidelines joking and playing around

JW: James Harrison has the day of his life. Wow.

Don Shula should shove his *

Don Shula thinks if the Pats go undefeated an asterisk * should be placed in the record book. Shula was quoted as saying "I guess you got the same thing as putting an asterisk by Barry Bonds' home run record. "I guess it will be noted that the Patriots were fined and a No. 1 draft choice was taken away during that year of accomplishment. "

Pretty Interesting Mr. Shula, but you forgot to mention that your whole tenure as the Miami Dolphins Coach should also have an asterisk by it.

From Wikipedia

After the 1969 season, Joe Robbie, owner of the Miami Dolphins, signed Shula to a contract to become Miami's second head coach. As a result of Shula's signing the team was charged with tampering by the NFL, which forced the Dolphins to give their first round pick to the Colts.

Don't be a hypocrite Don...you cheated too.

Hello Baseball welcome to the 21st century

MLB has moved closer to limited instant replay. GM's recommended(25-5 Vote) replay on close Home Run calls to determine whether potential home runs are fair or foul, whether balls go over fences or hit the top and bounce back, and whether fans have interfered with a possible homer.

However, Bud Selig's stance on replay is "I don't like instant replay because I don't like all the delays. I think it sometimes creates as many problems or more than it solves," Selig said then.

Great argument Bud. A baseball game lasting 3 hours & 48 minutes with bad calls is much more fun than a 3 hour & 55 minute game where the Umps got the call right. Also, getting the call right on a potential game winning home run would cause alot more problems than getting it wrong and having it shown on sports shows across America.

Jeffrey Maier was unavailable for comment.

Special Interview with Will Carroll

We here at The Stat Pack are pleased to bring you another exclusive interview with another fantastic baseball writer. You may know Will Carroll from his time at ESPN or, more importantly, his Under The Knife column at http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ . Will was kind enough to answer a few of our questions in a piece that we don't have a name for yet but we'll call it The Stat Pack 20.

TSP: Your father was in the Sports Medicine field so you've been around it your whole life. At what age did you decide that this field is what you wanted to do or was their ever really a question?

Will Carroll: I dabbled in the field, learning just enough to ... go another direction. Of course, that direction changed a lot, from working in finance and acquisition to insurance consulting, before becoming a professional writer. I understand the mindset in the training room and on the sideline, which helps me talk to the medical staffs in their 'own language.' That's the big advantage I had at first, but now that I've built up relationships, they know that I'll get the story right.

TSP: Has a team ever offered you a position on its medical staff?

Will Carroll:Yes.

TSP: If so, why did you turn it down? Would you be interested in a role like that in the future?

Will Carroll: I've worked in consulting roles, but I'm not a doctor nor an Athletic Trainer. I wouldn't want to nor would I be qualified to tell any of those hard-working, well-trained professionals what to do. What I can do is offer suggestions and give an outsiders look at what they do.

TSP: Everybody points the finger at Barry Bonds as the poster child for steroids. However, most of the suspensions so far have been pitchers. Why does a guy like Roger Clemens essentially get a pass when all signs so far point to pitchers using steroids more then hitters?

Will Carroll: Good question. I think we need a villain, a role Bonds fills nicely. What seems to hurt more is when a "hero" is knocked down, such as a Clemens, a McGwire, or a Palmeiro. No one even wants to think about a player like Clemens or Ripken.

TSP: The NFL suspends players regularly for violating the substance abuse policy. Rarely do we hear this happen is baseball, even though Rays OF Elijah Dukes has admitted in court that he used marijuana regularly. Does the MLB not care about illegal drug use?

Will Carroll: Good lord no. Dukes was suspended and we've seen Jeremy Jeffress get suspended for marijuana use for a second time, putting the Brewers' prospect's career in jeopardy. MLB takes this very seriously, but does a great job using the EAP programs around the league to handle them. The NFL's just better at PR.

TSP: Sort of a follow up to the last question. Steroids in baseball is considered like the end all be all but, in the NFL you get your 4 game suspension and then everything goes back to normal. Why’s there such a difference is philosophy between the 2 leagues? Is it because MLB records are more sacred then the NFL?

Will Carroll:Public relations and perception. Someone should write a book about this.

TSP:How would you rate the Rays Staff and Medical Facilities?

Will Carroll:Top notch on staff. What the team has built up with Ken Crenshaw has been carried on by Ron Porterfield. It's one of the big advantages the team has. While some might point to Rocco Baldelli, I'll put keeping Kazmir healthy as a tougher task and one that many teams would have failed at. I can't comment on the facilities -- as odd as this sounds, I've never been able to get a press pass for the Rays games.

TSP:The Rays have done an exceptional job of keeping their young arms healthy. What do they do better than other teams and how much of it is just pure luck?

Will Carroll:There's not much luck, especially over the long haul. The Rays have made a commitment to the medical staff from top to bottom in the organization, something that started in the Naimoli era and continues today. They have a plan that's supported by everyone in the organization and great people working together to carry it out.

TSP:You recently took a question in a chat about Scott Kazmir & Pitch counts. How do you feel the Rays have handled their young pitchers at the Major League level? Are they being too cautious or are their limitations justified?

Will Carroll:Absent a logical development plan, they've been about as good as anyone. You could ping them for being slightly cautious, but I'll take that over the alternative.

TSP: Which is better for a player to compete on; natural grass or field turf? Are there more injuries on one than the other?

Will Carroll:There's definitely more injuries on turf. Even the best turf has a higher injury rate.

TSP: Besides Jeff Niemann, which young Rays Pitcher has the biggest risk of injury?

Will Carroll:Wade Townsend has a similar injury history without the same upside, but the one that I'd say is Kazmir. His mechanics and stubbornness to recognize that the limits have helped him rather than held him back really worry me. He's just so talented.

TSP:Is it time to give up on Rocco Baldelli as an everyday player?

Will Carroll:No, but it's close. I think there's still the chance to get him back to some level, but they need to make their last, best effort now.

TSP:What is the key to guys like Tim Wakefield & Greg Maddux avoiding major injuries throughout their major league careers?

Will Carroll:The knuckleball? I'm not sure we can draw any lesson from Wakefield , but Maddux is a combination of great mechanics, smart pitching, efficiency, and a continual focus on the craft of pitching. There's not many that can do what he does. No one would look at Maddux or his stuff and compare him to Clemens, Johnson, or Schilling, yet there he is.

TSP:Do people still use the Pitcher Abuse Point System as a way to measure wear & tear on a pitcher?

Will Carroll:Absolutely. It's the best available proxy. I'm working on a research project now that might give us a closer, game-to-game proxy, but until we can do needle biopsies or get the results of functional strength testing made public, PAP is the best system.

TSP:Why do you think it isn't talked about more? If not why did it fail as a measurement of abuse on a pitcher's arm?

Will Carroll:I'm not sure any statistical tool has ever had more of an effect on the game than PAP. If you look at the usage stats, we just don't have high PAP starts any more because it measured it so well and pointed it out to the general public. Now, it's likely something of an overreaction - some pitchers could go further and throw more, just as some could get more efficient and go deeper into games on the same pitch count.

TSP:Has Microfracture surgery become to the NBA what Tommy John is to the MLB & ACL is to the NFL?

Will Carroll:Nooooooo. Microfracture doesn't have near the success rate, but it's far newer and is getting better.

TSP:It’s been 4 years since you and Derek Zumsteg wrote the "Pete Rose Article". Do you still stand behind it till this day as being correct?

Will Carroll:Absolutely. Rose himself has been quoted as saying he had a deal.

TSP: I know you were working on novel a while back, are we going to see the finished product?

Will Carroll:Someday. It's one of those things on my "someday list"; I have a couple books in the works now.

TSP:Do you have any Sports related books on the horizon?

Will Carroll:Yes, one that hopefully will involve the Rays, but getting all the ducks lined up has been a bit more difficult than I anticipated. Nothing before 2009 as far as "on the shelf" is concerned.

TSP:And the get away question....Once and for all who is the founder of the Rays Bandwagon you or Jim Callis?

Will Carroll:You know, Jim was one of the original three people that I sent a copy of UTK to back in 2002. We've played in a retro league for years. I think we can share that

Thanks Will. Be sure to check out all of Will's work at http://www.baseballprospectus.com/

NFL Recap

We're skipping this week's NFL Recap. Don't fret TSP readers we have a special treat for all of you coming Saturday, stay tuned.

The Stat Pack Weekly Special

This weeks Football upsets courtesy of The Stat Pack

Tommy V.

NFL

Indy over New England

NCAA

Navy over Notre Dame

Jules W.

NFL

Philly over Dallas

NCAA

Alabama over LSU


Jules W: I'd like to point out that both of my upset picks came through last week.

Weekly Chats

This weeks chat wrap is all across the board like a quarter to three...go ahead take a minute to figure it out. We've kinda moved a little more toward other sports instead of just MLB & NFL this week. This weeks chats feature David Newton on Nascar,Barry Melrose on NHL, Patrick Crayton of the Dallas Cowboys, Steve Muench on College Football& David Thorpe with NBA Talk

Here you go...

Keep in mind Jules knows nothing about Nascar and still get a bunch of questions answered. We love D-Newt

Tommy(TheStatPack): Is the 96 team looking at adding a big name driver or develop one of their own?

David Newton : (3:13 PM ET ) The 96 team signed J.J. Yeley a month ago. Where were you? Watching soaps on your DLP TV?

Tommy(TheStatPack): Can't watch DLP TV's the little girl with the mirrors scares me. Your a Carolina Panther guy how long can Vinny last?

David Newton : (3:25 PM ET ) Apparently he can last longer than Dan Morgan, who always is hurt. He might as well retire.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Can't watch DLP TV's the little girl with the mirrors scares me. Your a Carolina Panther guy how long can Vinny last?

David Newton : (3:25 PM ET ) Apparently he can last longer than Dan Morgan, who always is hurt. He might as well retire

Jules(TheStatPack): Are you related to Isaac Newton? Sir David Newton?

David Newton : (3:36 PM ET ) No, the only connection I have to his theory on gravity is connected to my waistline.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Best place to eat after a Daytona race?

David Newton : (3:38 PM ET ) Charlotte. After two weeks in Daytona you want to get the heck out of there.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Will all 4 Hendricks cars make the chase next year?

David Newton : (3:43 PM ET ) Let me read my tea leaves. Heck, I don't know. I suspect Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson will because they always do. Casey Mears could, but he has to prove it. Earnhardt Jr. has been there before, but you never know how long it will take to adjust to new equipment. The cars will drive differently, and if it takes a while he could be on the outside looking in.

Tommy(TheStatPack): The Over/Under is set at 7...You pick the question

David Newton : (3:50 PM ET ) How many times Tony Stewart will hit somebody on pit road this week.

Jules(TheStatPack): How do teams or drivers pick car numbers?

David Newton : (3:52 PM ET ) They find which ones are available and then go to NASCAR and ask for the one they want. For some there is sentimental reason. For others they just take what feels good.

Jeff (Rochester NY): Best racing movie...?

David Newton : (3:52 PM ET ) "Stroker Ace.''

Jules(TheStatPack): How could you pick against "Days of Thunder"?

David Newton : (3:54 PM ET ) Haven't been able to watch the movie since Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman broke
up.

Jules(TheStatPack): If you were a driver, what number would you pick?

David Newton : (4:00 PM ET ) I'd pick the No. 12. My kids both wore it in baseball and I loved watching Bobby Allison in the No. 12 Coca Cola Chevy.

Tommy(TheStatPack): How good will the lightning be when Ryan Craig and Danny Boyle return?

Barry Melrose: (3:09 PM ET ) They miss those guys, no doubt. The score probably flattered them a bit. They're like a lot of teams in the East--kind of treading water right now. They can't afford to lose a player of Boyle's stature for much longer.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Hows the hand doing are you back to 100%?

Patrick Crayton: (1:15 PM ET ) The finger is fine. It hasn't stopped me from getting the job done.

Tommy(TheStatPack): Yvenson Bernard 1st or 2nd day pick?

Steve Muench: (2:07 PM ET ) I think he's good enough to go in the thrid round but his problems staying healthy will likley cause him to slip to the fourth or fifth round.

We had to go undercover for some strange reason on this one. Maybe we have developing situation where we are going to have to go undercover more

Jeremy Grey(Dubai, UAE): Could Big Baby Davis play his way into the starting lineup and have KG playing the 5?

David Thorpe: (12:57 PM ET ) You know, you may be right. We should watch how he and Perkins play early on.

Millions of stoners collectively weep

This ABCNews.com story is sure to anger potheads across America. "General Mills on Thursday recalled about 5 million frozen pizzas sold nationwide under the Totino's and Jeno's labels because of possible E. coli contamination." No word on if Funions and Mt. Dew have also been recalled.

Its good to be Tony Romo

Whoever said nothing interesting happens on the Bye week forgot to tell that to Tony Romo. While Tom Brady was spanking the Redskins Tony Romo was probably spanking Britney Spears. Romo was seen hanging out at Hollywood hotspot Les Deux with Britney Spears and mutual friend Alli Sims. Word is Britney even gave him a lap dance. And if that isn't good enough, Romo just became a very rich man. ESPN is reporting Romo has signed a 6 years $67.5 million dollar extension with the Dallas Cowboys. It is believed $30 Million of the 67.5 is guaranteed. Not bad for an off week...not bad at all

Same ol' Song... Yankees steal the headlines again

In case you didn't know The Redsox won the world series...big deal. The bigger headlines are coming out of New York. A-Rod has opted out of his contract and will test the open market. Joe Girardi is expected to become the new Yankees manager and the old Yankees manager Joe Torre reportedly is in talks to replace Grady Little of the Dodgers. I love that all of this comes out the day after the Red Sox win their 2nd WS in 4 years.