Derek Jeter: Gone or Just resting - Part one

Derek Jeter: Gone or Just resting - Part one
by Dan Salem and Todd Salem (6-3-13)



TODD:
Unpopular opinion alert: Derek Jeter is probably not playing this season. He has had setback after setback. His return date jumped from April to May to July to no timetable. The captain may not have an at-bat this season...which logically brings us to this harsh reality: Jeter may not play again.

Of course he's a Hall of Famer. His numbers are good; his postseason accolades are historic. His career outlook is not at risk if he never takes another swing. My question, Yankee fan to Yankee fan, is whether this possibility bothers you.

Now clearly not having a starting shortstop on your favorite club is troublesome. That's not what I mean. Does the fact that Derek Jeter may retire (and that Mo Rivera IS going to retire) bother you? You are certainly aware at this point of my ice cold heart and stony demeanor. I never become attached to players. The Yankees could trade Robinson Cano tomorrow and I wouldn't mind as long as the haul made them better off. But you never broached the analytic approach as far as I.

If Derek Jeter cannot play baseball anymore for the New York Yankees, how will that make you feel?


DAN:
My entire adult life has consisted of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera in pinstripes. I have a vague memory of Don Mattingly playing for the Yankees, but my first true memories of our team come from 1996 and year the Yankees won their first World Series of my lifetime. I'm definitely blessed to barely recall a time before our team was dominant as hell, but that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. What does make Jeter's absence bearable is Mariano's dominance during his swan song of a season.

We know this is Rivera's final season and can enjoy it for everything it is. His greatness continues on and that continues to be absolutely amazing. On the flip side is Derek Jeter, who I assumed would take the field for at least another half year. Until you threw the facts in my face, I still expected him to return by August 1st. But if he is done, done, then I'm sad.

Its one thing to watch your team's captain and former best player, knowing he is going to retire. Its quite another to realize that the year before was his final season and nothing more is coming. If I'm being honest, I was surprised how well he played in 2012. He blew up expectations and destroyed any notion I had of his demise. But reality is here now and I'm not surprised he's on the bench. I would be shocked, however, if he didn't make at least a few plate appearances in September and the post season.

On a side note, how amazing is it for Jeter to be a Yankee, not from a fan's perspective, but from a player's? They are basically paying him this entire season to rehab an injury, knowing full well that he is about to retire. I don't think any other team does this, no matter the caliber of player. They should really name him an honorary bench coach and have him dress for the games. Not a mascot in the literal sense, but definitely a mascot! I would love that.


TODD:
Even though I have no heart or loyalty to specific players and my blood runs cold as the River Styx, I do agree that watching Rivera play out his final year knowing he will retire is more pleasant than waiting on Jeter's future. But really the nice feeling is 98% derived from the fact that he is playing so well. If Rivera turned into Fernando Rodney, I'd probably wish he was out rehabbing a devastating injury.

But with Rivera's future announced and Jeter's so up in the air, the Yankees have a different feel to them. The other injuries on the team play a large part in this as well. We didn't expect to still see Travis Hafner, Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay playing in June. However, despite any injuries or whatnot, this is Robinson Cano's team. What now happens if the Yankees are not able to re-sign him? He is a free agent at year's end and will be asking for a lot, I mean A LOT, a ton, a great ton of money. With the Yankees' self-appointed salary cap ceiling for 2014, it is at least possible Cano does not wear pinstripes next season. What then?

[Part two - A new era in New York]

NHL Playoff Hockey: Nonstop Action, Crazy Fun - Part two

NHL Playoff Hockey: Nonstop Action, Crazy Fun - Part two
by Dan Salem and Todd Salem (5-31-13)

[Part One - 'Now with Real Value']



TODD:
The NHL now rewards a point for overtime losses, so each individual regular season game's effect on the end is so minuscule it is comical. Albeit a lockout-shortened year, in 2013 the New York Islanders lost 24 of their 48 games. In the West, Detroit also came up short in 24 of their 48 games. Both of these teams comfortably made the playoffs. In fact, Detroit was on the brink of making the Stanley Cup Finals. The Islanders and Red Wings each lost half of their respective regular season games, either in regulation or in overtime...and it really didn't mean squat.

No matter how hard guys are playing or how into it the crowd is, the ultimate test of a game is still going to be the game's worth. If you're attending a sporting event, ask yourself how much this specific win matters to the two teams. A playoff hockey win is up near the very top; a game seven victory is the pinnacle. A regular season hockey game is whatever the opposite of pinnacle is: the nadir, AKA rock bottom.

So do we congratulate the NHL for getting the more important half of their sport right or shouldn't we be striving to legitimize the other half, the longer half, the larger than 50% half?


DAN:
I have to congratulate the NHL on nailing their post season. Hockey is the least popular of the major American sports and yet its post season is probably the most thrilling, for those that actually tune in. I'd argue that if the NHL could do what you're asking, increase and legitimize the regular season to any degree, the sport would sky rocket in popularity and potentially over take the other sports in time. Stay with me. I don't watch hockey, but I think hockey is awesome to watch. This is a fixable problem for the NHL.

Hockey combines the nonstop action of basketball, the difficulty in scoring of baseball and the aggressiveness and hitting of football into one. And then everyone wears skates. How awesome! I love seeing the Yankees play in person, but nothing has topped a hockey game for all around fun and excitement in the arena. Take all of that into the playoffs and the NHL has got it down. Except America only sort of cares for two reasons. First is what you mentioned about the insignificant regular season. The other reason is the absurdly poor manor in which the league has dragged its fans through multiple lockouts in recent memory. Bad management will sink a ship every single time. But we can set that aside and tackle the regular season which no one cares about. The NFL is currently immune to this, having a small number of games in total. The MLB and NBA both deal with this, however, to varying degrees of success.

What the NHL is missing are stars. Star players keep the NBA relevant throughout the regular season even when the games mean little to nothing. And star players have always driven baseball. But the NHL lacks cache and star power. Its made strides in recent years, don't get me wrong, but the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings won the last two Stanley Cups and those victories barely resonated outside the cities themselves. When the Lakers or Celtics win the title, the entire country takes notice. Same goes for the Red Sox and Dodgers. Something is missing.


TODD:
I agree something is missing, but you missed what it is. A lack of stars is not the problem. Sidney Crosby is one of the most famous hockey players of the past few decades. Alex Ovechkin is a famous man; so are Evgeni Malkin and Henrik Lundqvist. Perhaps the problem is a lack of American stars; that argument I'd buy. I don't even know who the most famous American in the NHL is...

By the way, I absolutely nailed the spelling of all those names. I only looked them up afterwards to make sure they were correct and BAM, zero mistakes! That might have something to do with this problem as well; if you can't spell someone's name or pronounce it correctly, doesn't it make you less likely to talk about them?

You also are off-base about the lockouts hurting the league. That is only the case if the fans weren't that interested to begin with. Has a single person not returned to the NFL or NBA after their lockouts? Lockouts do not turn fans away if the product is still desirable. And that is a fact that has played itself out in front of our very eyes.

You did get one thing right though: the NHL hits a lot of the desirable qualities a sport should have. Unless they revamp the entire system of how many regular season games, how many teams make the playoffs, how points are awarded, etc. I don't think this problem is going away though.

I don't want to sound naive or misinformed here but, watching these past few playoff rounds, I noticed another problem that is ingrained in my mind now. Don't all hockey games look and feel the same?

Every scoring chance is either an odd-man break or a power play. I don't know enough about the sport to notice nuances of offensive game plans. And the same thing could be argued about the NBA if you replace odd-man breaks and power plays with pick and rolls and isolations. BUT STILL! The NHL has a fun product but, to the casual fan, a lot of it looks the same and gets repetitive.

Sitting in front of my television during the game sevens of the Western Conference semi-finals, a sudden realization hit me. I was enthralled not by the play but really only by the stakes. It was game seven! Winner goes to the conference finals! And the Wings-Blackhawks went to OT! Sudden death! It was exciting only because of what was at stake; I could take or leave what was actually happening on the ice...which seems like a whole other problem that could only be solved by becoming an informed, die-hard fan. No thank you.

[If you missed Part One - 'Now with Real Value']

NHL Playoff Hockey: Now with Real Value - Part one

NHL Playoff Hockey: Now with Real Value - Part one
by Dan Salem and Todd Salem (5-27-13)



TODD:
Admittedly, neither of us are the biggest hockey fans. I play fantasy hockey and do wondrously well for some reason. But that is about the extent of my hockey fandom. Nevertheless, the NHL Playoffs are spectacular. Everyone always says this, but that's mainly because it's true. I caught that Bruins-Maple Leafs game seven from round one...there are no words to properly describe the game. Wow!

Up three goals mid-way through the final period of game seven...still up two with two minutes remaining...Boston pulls their goalie and scores once...after the ensuing face-off, Boston pulls their goalie again and scores again within 30 seconds. After that, we knew Toronto had absolutely no shot at winning in overtime.

There have been other great games and other great series as well. So many contests go to overtime it's uncanny. So what is hockey doing to make the playoffs so much better than the regular season? Or, perhaps more importantly, what is hockey doing wrong during the regular season that makes casual observers not care a lick until playoff time? I have my theories.


DAN:
The NHL playoffs make for pretty amazing drama. Unlike the NHL regular season which is significantly less interesting that college hockey, the NHL playoffs nearly top the collegiate hockey experience. I'm a Boston University alumni, so I know great college hockey. What made hockey great at BU was two fold. An enthusiastic and energized fan base that went balls crazy at every game and rivalry. We hate Boston College, would chant "BC sucks" at every game regardless of the opponent, and it was awesome. Most college sports have these things going for it, but with college hockey you get extra crazy fans in a small space. Ice rinks are often intimate, with the fans smushed against the glass at ice level.

Playoff hockey in the NHL is amazing for a different reason, however. Hockey is a tough sport and hard on a player's body. Its a close second to football for brutality and bodily injury. Yet the NFL season is sixteen games and the NHL season is much, much, much longer. If I was a professional hockey player I think I might just play at 85 to 90% some nights. Not always intentionally, but always knowing I have to save my best stuff for the playoffs. I have to be healthy, I have to have energy left in the tank. I can't go balls out on a random Tuesday unless it has playoff implications. So now its the actual playoffs. Woo! I'm kicking things into high gear, giving 120% every night because now I'm playing for a chance to win the Stanley Cup, the coolest, most awesome trophy in sports. If my team wins this trophy, I personally get to carry it around for a week and do whatever my sick and dirty mind desires with it.

How can you top this? You can't and every hockey player is doubling their efforts in the playoffs. Add to that the insanity of hockey fans and their increased enthusiasm at a playoff game, and you have an incredible game and experience night in and night out throughout the playoffs. I don't think you can hope to get this level of play into the regular season. Overtime during a regular season game is a chore. No one wants that as a player. But in the playoffs? Bring it baby, bring it!


TODD:
I think you touched on the answer a bit. Obviously the crowd is more into playoff games because of the stakes. A better crowd means a more exciting contest, almost regardless of how the players are feeling. But the players are also giving a tad more in these games. How can you possibly give 100% effort on a Wednesday night in mid-January and expect to have anything left come June? It's not feasible.

But crowds wax and wane; players still try very hard during the regular season because this is their passion and they are paid professionals. The real difference between playoff hockey and regular season hockey has nothing to do with either group. The reason regular season hockey is not entertaining is because the system is designed against it's excitement. Even if said player DOES decide to give 100% effort on that Wednesdaynight in mid-January, it doesn't effect the standings to a larger degree. With the NHL now rewarding a point for overtime losses, each individual regular season game's effect on the end is so minuscule it is comical.

[Part two - Nonstop Action, Crazy Fun]

NBA Playoffs: The 'Unleap' & the Miami Heat - Part two

NBA Playoffs: The 'Unleap' & the Miami Heat - Part two
by Dan Salem and Todd Salem (5-24-13)

[Part one - No Zzz's Please]



DAN:
I loved watching Stephen Curry make the leap. It was amazing and its very, very sad to have him out of the playoffs. I'm not sure anyone on the Spurs can make their series with Memphis fun to watch, but Steph Curry would have. Oh well. On the flip side, is there anything worse than watching a player unleap. Kevin Durant took a step back this postseason. I full on believe that you often have to take a step back in order to take two or three forward, and this will be Durant's future. However, I wanted him so badly to take over in the Memphis series in the final five minutes of the game and win it for OKC. They were within five points every single game and he could not overcome Memphis' stellar defense. I wanted to watch him make another leap, but instead he stood still and when compared to Curry, seemed to have stepped back.

Are you worried at all about Miami? I keep hearing how Indiana matches up the best with them of any team in the league. That they can really push Miami and make things interesting. I'm doubtful, but more importantly, do not want to imagine a world without Lebron in the NBA Finals.


TODD:
Unleaping is a hilarious concept. Kudos. I'm not sure it is fair to Durant though to categorize what happened as him unleaping. First of all, his numbers in the Memphis series were crazy good: 28.8 points per game, 10.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists. His percentages were below what we've come to expect from him but that goes with the territory of being your team's entire offense and the focus of double, triple and quintuple teams. And I don't buy the clutch argument either; no one is 100% clutch all the time. KD has already proven he can take and make big shots in big games. The only thing this series did to Durant's legacy is it proved he is not LeBron James. Congratulations but we all already knew this. This dispelled that he was close to the King's level but we already knew they were not equals.

The interesting hypothetical to test would have been how far LeBron could have carried OKC if the two switched teams. I think the Thunder then make the NBA Finals, but that is not because Durant unlept. He just doesn't have that all-around ceiling James does. Forget the other facets of the game; just defensively, LeBron is light years better.

Which brings us to Miami. Am I worried about the Heat? Well, I don't think they'll sweep Indiana. I'm worried they may lose twice. How's that? Depending on Dwyane Wade's health, Miami will either win in five or in six. I think there lies your only worry. Then the story becomes about how banged up Miami is. They slogged through the Chicago series, taking a beating. Indiana will be no different...and frankly could be worse. Where does that leave them heading into the Finals? A match-up with Memphis there could be rough. Is there a tougher trio of teams to face back to back to back than Chicago, Indiana and Memphis? It'd be unbelievable. And I still think Miami would win, but they'd feel it in June. We may be in store for a number of off-season surgeries by Heat players.

On the other hand, if San Antonio wiggles through to the Finals, which is entirely possible (the Western Conference Finals seems like a toss-up to me), I think that makes Miami's time of things a bit smoother. At that point, they may make it through the entire playoffs losing fewer than four times.


DAN:
I know Kevin Durant is not Lebron James, but at the very least he is aspiring to reach that level of greatness. Beyond that, what I saw from Durant was a dip in attitude. He had swagger before, fed off of Russell Westbrook's insanity and was a practical guarantee to nail a jump shot or free throw. In the Memphis series he looked like he'd been slapped in the face by a dude. A skinny white guy slapped him and he was dumbstruck, still playing great but without his edge and slightly rattled. This does not have to be a trend, and I'm guessing it won't be, but as of right now Kevin Durant looks way more like a Tracy McGrady than a Dwyane Wade. Time is on his side and we're all pulling for you Kevin. Keep climbing up that hill.

Now Lebron James is standing on top of the hill and I'm not worried one bit about him and the Miami Heat. They can win the title with or without Dwyane Wade and you know he's giving them everything he's got no matter if its 50% or 80%. They may lose one or two games to the Pacers, but its irrelevant considering the amount of days off between playoff rounds. What matters most is that the Western Conference Finals is going seven games. Its unwatchable basketball between two grueling opponents who punch and kick one another mercilessly. Advantage Miami. No matter if the Spurs or Grizzlies prevail, although its leaning towards San Antonio right now, both teams will be physically and mentally drained. Neither plays at a speed anywhere near what Lebron and the Heat bring night in and night out. They will get run off the floor.

My unscientific breakdown of the two potential NBA Finals match ups as I see it:

Heat vs. Grizzlies:
- Great Defense vs. Great Defense = Even
- Great Offense vs. Consistent Offense = Advantage Miami
- Fast vs. Slow = Advantage Miami
- Jump shooting team that pounds it to the hole vs. Post up and rebound = Advantage Miami
(Miami in five)

Heat vs. Spurs:
- Great Defense vs. Great Defense = Even
- Great Offense vs. Consistent Offense = Advantage Miami
- Fast vs. Average Pace = Advantage Miami
- Jump shooting team that pounds it to the hole vs. All time great finesse team that's old = Even
(Miami in six)


TODD:
That was a cheap shot at McGrady right there. He should be cherished and don't you forget it! He is on the Spurs right now. Are people aware of this fact or has it slipped under the radar? Tracy McGrady has now, officially, made it out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. He also might make the NBA Finals.

A two-time NBA scoring champion with a career average of more than 19 points per game and who scores over 23 points per game for his playoff career is not a shabby "bad news" situation for Durant. In fact, McGrady's playoff averages are aligned pretty well with how Durant performed in that Memphis series: unstoppable but inefficient. Durant should be so lucky to be Tracy McGrady on his worst day. Tough destiny for T-Mac though, being KD's worst case scenario.

Even though you nailed your Kevin Durant analysis, your finals outlook is wrong. Miami would rather play San Antonio. No matter how the beginning of the Western Conference Finals has played out, Memphis' inside presence is much more fearsome than San Antonio's. No one on Miami can handle Gasol and Zach Randolph for quarters at a time. This could get the Heat in foul trouble or force them to play some actual centers and power forwards in this series, getting them out of their comfort zone. Miami versus Memphis would definitely go six, or even seven games. The Spurs, on the other hand, would get swallowed up. They're prideful so they wouldn't get swept, but Miami would beat them in five.

[Part one - No Zzz's Please]

NBA Playoffs: No Zzz's Please - Part one

NBA Playoffs: No Zzz's Please - Part one
By Dan Salem and Todd Salem (5-20-13)



DAN:
So its come down to this and I couldn't be less excited. The NBA playoffs are considered the real season, the second season, the good stuff if you will. Since almost half the league, sixteen teams, makes it we get the best competing against one another. And I'd agree that the best teams were in it this year, but that is NOT saying much.

Round one match ups fell on their faces. The Clippers, Celtics and Lakers, three interesting teams who are fun to watch, all bit the dirt. Only the Celtics made a peep against the Knicks. A peep. Round two pitted the most deserving teams against one another, to be sure. But defense is boring as hell. Memphis and Indiana are great and all, but slow basketball is boring basketball. We can even include San Antonio in that grouping, leaving one of the four match ups as not slow and boring. Yet the Miami Heat were in that final match up, and being better than everyone, absolutely destroyed the Bulls after getting woken up in game one from their "We are the best and you all know it" daze. Zzzzzzzz.

Finally round three, the conference finals! Oh nuts, Memphis made it so we are guaranteed one slow as hell series of games. I respect the hell out of their team, their defensive prowess and their ability to win despite never having done so. Yet can we all agree they make an awful television product? To make matters worse, the second best television product, the Golden State Warriors, were eliminated by the Spurs who aren't exactly a fast team either. I had the pleasure of seeing Golden State in person the first week of the regular season against the Clippers and damn are they fun to watch.They can shoot the lights out of any arena and the 2013 playoffs have now lost something without them in it. Spurs vs. Memphis is like asking to giraffes to fight. Eventually one will knock the other over, but who knows how long it will take.

In the east we have Miami against the Pacers. It would have been fun for the Knicks to keep playing since if nothing else, they are interesting. But it doesn't matter. It was a near certainty before the regular season began that the Heat would be back in the NBA Finals and low and behold, here they are on the brink of doing just that. They will win, possibly sweep, but definitely win. Thank you Lebron James. You are always fun to watch.


TODD:
I think you may be confusing popular teams with exciting teams. You've fallen into the television ratings hole that pedestrian NBA fans often do. First of all, the Celtics were not fun to watch. They were awful offensively, even with Rondo playing. I agree Indiana and Memphis are slogging, defensive black holes but San Antonio cannot be grouped in with them. They shoot a ton of threes, play fast-paced and share the basketball with a wonder only replicated in Miami. The Spurs series with the Warriors was one of the more exciting playoff rounds we've had in a while, especially before Stephen Curry tweaked his ankle.

By the way, what's more exciting than witnessing a player make "the leap"? Watching Curry become unstoppable offensively by being the most effective three point shooter in some time (in history?!?) was amazing. He set the league's all-time record for made threes in a year during the regular season while shooting a remarkable percentage; he somehow then managed to step his game up another notch during the playoffs by taking nearly 10 threes per contest, making a large chunk of them and striking pure fear into the hearts of anyone he is playing. There may not be a more terrifying player for your favorite team to face other than Curry and LeBron. It is remarkable that he did not even make the All-Star team this year.

But I digress. These NBA Playoffs are giving us what we want/expect every year from the NBA Playoffs: few, if any upsets and the very best teams playing for the title. Sure Oklahoma City should have been one of the final four, but injuries play a part and they fell victim. Otherwise, who is more deserving of making the conference finals than Miami, Indiana, Memphis and San Antonio? The NBA gets it right nearly every season. And some people enjoy watching great defense!


DAN:
I am not one of those people who enjoy watching great defense, but if San Antonio and Miami make the finals I will be elated. This would pit the old guard vs. the new, old dynasty vs. current. And the Spurs hall of famers would be playing one last time in the finals. At least I think it would be their last, as it seems every season for the last four they have managed to be great and ignore father time entirely.

I loved watching Steph Curry make the leap, but is there anything worse than watching a player unleap like Kevin Durant did?

[Part two - The 'Unleap' and the Miami Heat]

"Come on, Seriously?" - What ha... happened? (May - Part Two)

"Come on, Seriously?" - What ha... happened? (May - Part Two)
by Dan Salem and Todd Salem (5-17-13)

[Part One - "Not in my House"]



We scour the internet for a crazy sports photo and someone must try to explain it. Seesaw Sports asks what ha... happened? Monday: Opening statement. Friday: Rebuttal.

Real photos. Real results. But what in the heck happened?



TODD:
I present to you the following:

Photo: Oh no. That's not what I think it is, is it?

Title: "Come on, seriously?"

Description: This is low, even for this exercise.

W..Wh..WHY? Why did this happen!?


DAN:
The bad memories and horrendous nature of the event seem to have left you almost speechless. Arguably the best (or second best) pitcher in the history of the Boston Red Sox organization brutally assaults a historic member of our beloved New York Yankees, Don Zimmer, and all you can say is why. Zimmer was a staple of the Yankees dynasty from 1996 to 2003 and deserved better than this. But why this happened is simple.

Did you know, Don Zimmer was the manager of the Boston Red Sox from 1976 to 1980? He was manager for the infamous "Boston Massacre" which saw the Yankees eviscerate a fourteen game lead in the division to ultimately win the crown from the Red Sox on Bucky Dent's famous home run! Jump forward to 2003, his final year in the Bronx, when Pedro Martinez decided to exact revenge. The former Red Sox manager had jumped ship to join the arch rivals and now the franchise's premier pitcher had an opportunity to taste the sweet, sweet juice of bloody revenge.

Needless to say, this was not a fair fight and Zimmer never recovered. His embarrassment was so extraordinary that he was forced to leave the team and join the Tamba Bay Rays. The Rays! Pedro did what every thirty to fifty year old American wishes they could do, embarrass the elderly. He death gripped an old man by his shiny bald head and hurled him mercilessly to the dirt. Come on, seriously!

The Red Sox needed blood, needed revenge for the "Boston Massacre" all those years ago and Pedro Martinez got it. He struck quick, struck hard and the New York Yankees would never be the same.

That's what happened.

[If you missed Part One - "Not in my House"]

"Not in my House" - What ha... happened? (May - Part One)

"Not in my House" - What ha... happened? (May - Part One)
by Dan Salem and Todd Salem (5-13-13)



We scour the internet for a crazy sports photo and someone must try to explain it. Seesaw Sports asks what ha... happened? Monday: Opening statement. Friday: Rebuttal.

Real photos. Real results. But what in the heck happened?



DAN:
I present to you the following:

Photo: Batter is angry. Batter wants to fight using his bat. Oh no!

Title: "Not in my House"

Description: There are two solid descriptions here. The first racially charged version that has nothing to do with sports: "You have the right to remain silent..." These kind men are arresting the volatile individual with the bat. Let's move on.

Keeping sports in mind, we have our second description. An outraged batter is being restrained by both the catcher AND the umpire. They are teaming up, what gives? Usually the catcher is the first to throw down and the umpire has to hold him back. But no. Something insane must be happening for them to join forces against the man with the bat. But what exactly took place?

What ha... happened?


TODD:
Your ridiculously racist reaction is not that far off. However, the double-team restraint was not taking place because of the batter's skin color. It was occurring because of the batter's name and personality. This appears to be a photo of outfielder Jose Guillen. Mr. Guillen has....a track record of misbehaving.

In 2004 he was suspended for two weeks for inappropriate conduct.

In 2008 he was suspended for the first fifteen days of the season; the suspension was later rescinded, probably out of fear.

Later in 2008 he was involved in a confrontation with a fan. He had to be restrained by teammates.

Guillen was a member of eleven different franchises; he also was famously known for carrying a gun or a rocket in the outfield. This may have been in reference to his strong throwing arm but cannot be confirmed.

So really, it appears as though Paul Lo Duca and the umpire gang up to hold back Guillen in this photo just to be safe. You can never be sure what Jose will do. If I had to guess, I would say this happened before any pitches were even thrown. As soon as Guillen stepped onto the field, the two must have rushed him. They would have been silly not to.

[Part Two - "Come on, Seriously?"]