Training Camp Sotck Report #1

UP- 26yearoldmormonrookie: The last couple of practices, he's owned by throwing slant lasers all over the field and also throwing a bomb to Ted "SPEED" Ginn. He's not going to be #3 on the chart for very long. I'm trying not to get too drunk off the Kool Aid with him and let's see him play a game with live ammo before we put him in Canton, but it's obvious that this guy's got something. Most QBs take 3-4 years to develop, but some guys just seem to click right away, although they're the exception that proves the rule.

DOWN- Jason Allen: There might be some more patience required here. Ever since UT, he's been moving back and forth from safety to CB and Capers has it in his head to play him at corner. And so far, he's struggling a bit. But then again, he's never really had an actual position since he's been in Miami. So it might be for the best to keep him in one place and damn the torpedoes. Unfortunately, he keeps up how he's playing and he's going to be seeing A LOT of torpedoes this year.

UP- Vern Carey: He's making the adjustment to LT, and he's also holding his own against the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the process.

DOWN- Chris Chambers. The next time he catches 5 balls thrown to him will be the first.

UP- Derek Hagan. By contrast, so far his hands seem to be improved.

DOWN- The offense as a whole. They say in Spring Training that the pitchers are always just a little bit ahead of the hitters. In this case, the pitchers are a lot ahead.

UP- Jesse Chatman. Although he's been up AND down. On one end, he hasn't followed through on his runs. On the other, he made some impressive work of the defense on Sunday and with Ricky Williams gonzo, he's sitting at #2 on the chart ahead of Booker at the moment.

DOWN- L.J. Shelton- He might not have a starting job at this rate.

And that's the end of that chapter...

Daunte's like that person you're ready to break up with but still have to go on vacation together or have commitments you can't get out of. Mercifully, it's over.

Now everyone can move on with their lives and Saban's pet project can go to hell with him. Or Jacksonville... whichever one is worse.

Navigating The Dead Zone

This absolutely IS the dog day period. Baseball is just kicking back into gear after the All-Star Break, training camp hasn't opened up yet, Summer League ball is winding down for the NBA and the NHL is following its inate Canadien-ness and standing in the corner quietly not wanting to cause too much of a fuss.

But there is stuff to be found. That is, if you have the patience to scroll through the daily papers.

-First off, you KNOW it's a dead period when The Courtship Of Maurice Williams is the most captivating story in the market. No, really. Mo Williams is a nice player, but he's not exactly anything special. The Heat really can't do anything more than its vaunted mid-level exemption anyway, so it keeps them from overpaying for the guy. That is, if they don't do a sign-and-trade so that they CAN overpay him.

-Also, the Sun-Sentinel-- not to be outdone by ESPN's silly meaningless Big Now tourney, is asking for your vote for the All-Time-For-This-Year Dolphins team. Delvin Williams, really?

And then there is my favorite story so far of dead zone period. I knew that they were looking to renovate Dolphins Stadium, but I'd love to know whose idea this was. I suppose SOMETHING should be of interest for Dolphins fans this coming season other than the game itself. Although be wary of the following quote:

"We’re working with Sprint on activation."

They wouldn't be so hopeful if they ever had one of their cell phones.

Half and Half...

And here we are at the All Star Break. Like Kansas City, we've been relegated to "Team Designee" status. As my "cousin" Miguel Cabrera makes the reserve roster at 3rd. With the exception of Ramirez, no one else really deserves to be on the team. Hanley, though it's hard to admit, really is the 3rd or 4th guy in the NL at an incredibly stacked position as there are at least 3 guys who have legitimate gripes that they are not in SF tonight. Hopefully, next season, more people can see that Ramirez really is among the elite at the position... and he'll only be 24 too.

However, it's the whole Marlins team that really concerns me at this point. 5 under .500... no major prospects on the immediate horizon... no legitimate shot at winning the division barring an astronomical collapse by the Mets, Braves, and Phillies... the very real possibility of losing Cabrera very soon... and still no word on the stadium.

I want to focus on the positives (Cabrera, Uggla, Ramirez), but the negatives are too obvious not to acknowledge.

The second half starts on Thursday and this franchise definitely has a history of making things interesting in the 2nd half...