The readers always write when they’re upset (and sometimes even when they agree):
From James Mandrake, via e-mail: “I am bored with the Lakers. They are an old and tired team. I am sick of the triangle offense. It is time to take the Lakers’ old stars and trade them for young stars with potential and for draft choices. It’s time to rebuild the Lakers!
“Shaq was 33 years old when the Lakers traded him for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom and a first-round pick from Miami that the team later used to get Jordan Farmar. … Now is the time to trade Kobe and Pau Gasol, the Lakers’ only All-Stars, while they still have some trade value.
“The Lakers’ problems of losing to good teams and struggling against bad teams is more serious than most reporters (believe). Anyone who doesn’t think now is the time to rebuild is in denial . … It is time to trade everyone and start all over.”
Comment: Sounds as if you agree with Magic Johnson’s “blow up the team” commentary, which was fittingly espoused on a network called TNT.
Obviously, salary-cap restrictions would prevent such wholesale changes, but it will be interesting to see if Jerry and Jim Buss (they make the major decisions – not GM Mitch Kupchak) decide to trade one of the three big men: Andrew Bynum, Odom or Gasol.
I think it’s too early to give up on Gasol, and Odom was the NBA’s best “sixth man,” meaning he could start for any other team, so that leaves the oft-injured Bynum as the primary trade bait.
If Orlando center Dwight Howard wants to play for the Lakers, wait for him to become a free agent. A true point guard is the Lakers’ most glaring weakness so it makes more sense to trade Bynum for a star such as New Orleans’ Chris Paul or New Jersey’s Deron Williams. If neither is available, hang onto Bynum.
From Art Mattson, Orange: “I see Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team is ranked in the Top 10. Why is UC Irvine unranked despite having a comparable record and playing much the same schedule? I know the Titans play a strong non-conference schedule. Don’t the Anteaters play some toughies, too? What gives?”
Comment: Good question. Yes, their overall records are comparable: Cal State Fullerton is 36-14, 17-4 in the Big West and No. 9 in Baseball America’s rankings; UCI was 35-13 (13-5 in Big West) going into its weekend series at UC Riverside.
But Fullerton has a higher power ranking (No. 12 RPI by Boyd’s World) and strength of schedule (No. 8 by Boyd’s World), having played 10 games against five ranked non-conference opponents (TCU, LSU, Texas A&M, Arizona State and UCLA).
Boyd’s World ranks UCI 49th in what it calls the pseudo-RPIs, a computer program based on a team’s Division I winning percentage, its opponents’ winning percentage and its opponents’ strength of schedule. UCI’s strength of schedule is a relatively strong 19th. But the Anteaters have played only four games against ranked teams, and three of those were against CSF.
The upshot of all of this is UCI needs a strong finish in its final seven games to get into the 64-team NCAA Tournament field that will be announced on Memorial Day. My guess is UCI will make it again.
From Ken Murray, Skippack, Pa.: “I read your Paul Goydos column (“Is end of career near for Goydos?”) via golfobserver.com. I’m really not too worried about the end of Paul’s tour career, because the Champions Tour is a gimme if he wants to keep playing (after age 50).
“But I see the TV networks battling each other for his commentating services. He’d be Gary McCord, David Feherty and Paul Azinger all rolled into one, with a slanted view of Seinfield and a dash of Steven Wright. He’s been watching those guys do it for years, so he would be a ‘can’t miss’ as a golf analyst.”
Comment: You’re right, Goydos would make an excellent TV analyst because of his wry and self-deprecating sense of humor and his insight based on his long career on tour.
An example: During a conversation earlier this week about putting, Goydos said he experimented briefly with a belly putter earlier this year but quickly dismissed it as a solution to his struggles on the greens.
“It’s not the length of the putter (that matters) – it’s the length between your ears,” he said, concluding that putting is mostly mental. And he had another great line about putting: “From the ball’s perspective, most putters look the same. They’re all flat.”
From Mick Meyer, Norco: “I grew up in the late 1960s and early ’70s and went to many Angels games. My problem at games these days is this: If there is a great catch that ended the fifth inning, I would love to discuss that play and the game itself with my buddy. But as soon as the third out is made, all we get is this loud, obnoxious music/noise blasting us out of our seats. I never thought I would say this, but bring back the organ. What do other fans think?”
Comment: The Angels aren’t making much noise with their bats these days, so maybe the team is trying to manufacture it.
From Terry Crow, Whittier: “You actually believe that Lane Kiffin getting suspended (for violations committed when he was at Tennessee) would be a bad thing?”
Comment: Ask Pat Haden what he thinks.
Contact the writer: ryoungman@ocregister.com
