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Shanoff’s Wake-Up Call: Replay, A-Rod, Tebow

Aug 27, 2008, 12:41 PM UTC

Today’s Calls: Replay vs. A-Rod, Phils vs. Mets, Brandon Webb vs. Cliff Lee, Michael Strahan vs. Brett Favre, Tim Tebow vs. Beanie Wells and More. â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: Replay in baseball is here — at least, as of tomorrow — and the game is better for it. (Editor’s note: David Arnott begs to differ.)â†µ

â†µâ†µHere is the entire ballgame: Get the calls right.â†µ

â†µâ†µI don’t care if it takes a few extra minutes, but if replay is the difference between a home run and a foul ball — perhaps a win and a loss, as more than a dozen playoff teams head down the stretch — it is worth the time and effort to get that call right.â†µ

â†µâ†µNo one can argue that replay in the NFL or college football or the NBA hasn’t helped; baseball joins the club.â†µ

â†µâ†µWhen you hear the cranks complaining, remember the value proposition of replay in baseball couldn’t be more simple:â†µ

â†µâ†µIf it helps the umpires get the calls right, it’s a great thing for the game.â†µ

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â†µMLB Instant History: At least this time the Mets didn’t wait until the final day of the season to choke away first place in the NL East to the Phillies. ...â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Quote of the Night: “Tonight, you can put it on me.” (A-Rod, after a terrible performance in the Yankees’ loss to the Red Sox that puts them six games behind for the Wild Card. ...)â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Milestone Watch: Brandon Webb denied his 20th win — for now ... Meanwhile, Cliff Lee won his 19th. ...â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Playoff Races, NL Edition: The Rockies can’t possibly replicate last season’s surge, can they? They have won 9 of 11 and are six games behind the D-backs. Likely too little, too late. ...â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Playoff Races, AL Edition: Do the Twins actually want to make the playoffs or not? Because after these past two games against the Mariners, I’m just not sure anymore. ...â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Your Trade “Deadlines” Are Meaningless: Rumor has it the Red Sox are going to trade for Braves OF Mark Kotsay, presumably to shore up the void left by J.D. Drew going on the DL. ...â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Award Watching: Among other things, this is a good reason Geovany Soto will run away with NL Rookie of the Year. ...â†µ

â†µâ†µ—Tip for Going to the Game: Don’t heckle Jose Guillen. (In all seriousness, only the worst kind of person heckles a player’s family.)â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL: Michael Strahan won’t return to the Giants — no matter how much sense it makes. Instead, he’ll keep his cushy TV gig and get to tweak the Giants for not having the pass rush they had when he was there. (His agent says he strongly considered a comeback.)â†µ

â†µâ†µBrett Favre’s Breather: Eric Mangini affirms there is nothing more worthless than the final NFL preseason game.â†µ

â†µâ†µIf you’re an athlete making TMZ.com, you’re in trouble. That’s a good rule-of-thumb. Dennis Northcutt has some explaining to do.â†µ

â†µâ†µCollege Football ’08 Preview: The Heisman.â†µ

â†µâ†µWe’re in a weird year: The reigning Heisman winner not only came back to school, but is only a junior — and arguably in an even better offense than he was in a year ago.â†µ

â†µâ†µSo it might surprise you to hear I think that there is very little chance Tim Tebow repeats as Heisman winner. Oh, sure, he’s the best player in college football, but a few things are against him:â†µ

â†µâ†µ(1) Voter fatigue. Having given him the award a year ago, voters will be more likely to want to find someone else. (See Leinart vs. Bush.)â†µ

â†µâ†µ(2) Expectations. Tebow’s “20/20” (20 TDs passing and rushing) was unprecedented and efficiently captured in his brilliant season. More weapons means it is unlikely Tebow can match it.â†µ

â†µâ†µAmazingly, Tebow’s team could have a much better season than it had a year ago — but still fall short. However, he’s a near-lock as a finalist.â†µ

â†µâ†µWho will join him?â†µ

â†µâ†µBeanie Wells. 1,609 yds and 25 TDs isn’t crazy.â†µ

â†µâ†µChase Daniel. Returning ’07 Heisman finalist.â†µ

â†µâ†µPat White. Top 10 team — and 20/20 talent.â†µ

â†µâ†µKnowshon Moreno. Can he top his ’07 season?â†µ

â†µâ†µ(“If He Stays Healthy” Candidate: Percy Harvin.)â†µ

â†µâ†µYour 2008 Heisman winner? Beanie Wells.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(HeismanPundit.com and the Orlando Sentinel ran the first of their weekly straw polls, and Tebow edged Wells. Of course, that’s before a game has been played — but it’s a barometer.)â†µ

â†µâ†µWho is your preseason Heisman pick? Put them in the Comments.â†µ

â†µâ†µComing later this week: The Title Contenders (Thursday) and the Top 10 (Friday).â†µ

â†µâ†µMeanwhile, Virginia Tech thrill ride QB Tyrod Taylor will redshirt this year; Sean Glennon is so good that Frank Beamer would rather not utilize a highly effective 2-QB combo.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(Heck, you don’t see Jim Tressel redshirting Terrelle Pryor, do you?)â†µ

â†µâ†µPenn State is going to run with Daryll Clark as the QB of their new “spread-ish” offense — at least in the season opener.â†µ

â†µâ†µGolf: Tiger’s EA ads continue to save a Tiger-free “real” golf season. The latest is a must-see. (For the record, I think he actually sunk that Rubik’s Cube putt. Might have taken a few takes, but he did it.)â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA: RIP, Kevin Duckworth, a key member of those great Blazers teams of the early ‘90s.â†µ

â†µâ†µMeanwhile, here’s to a healthy recovery for Wayman Tisdale, who had part of his leg amputated as part of treatment for bone cancer.â†µ

â†µâ†µJason Kidd bolts Nike: ...for a Chinese sneaker company. He liked playing in Beijing THAT much, did he? I think he’ll find Peak doesn’t bring quite the cachet of Nike.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: Jay Mariotti has left the Chicago Sun-Times, presumably to devote himself more fully to his TV work.â†µ

â†µâ†µBut it begs a question: Without the legitimizing platform of the Sun-Times — the reason he was tapped for “Around the Horn” — where does Mariotti’s cred come from?â†µ

â†µâ†µ(Disclosure: A few years ago, I shared the “Around the Horn” panel with Mariotti a couple of times. He was perfectly pleasant to me.)â†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com.â†µ

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