SB Nation User Blog: kk218

Could Olsen and/or Cabrera be the long term solution to our bullpen woes?

kk218 — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:10:21 -0000

Hello everyone! I haven't been here in a long time, but an idea regarding our Nats' pitching staff future crossed my mind recently and I feel like sharing it. Oh and I'm not the best writer in the world, so just bear with me, please. :)

Anyway...

It appears that Stephen "The Savior '09" Strasburg will be a Washington National starting rotation member before we know it. It also appears that much-heralded Ross "The Savior '07" Detwiler is moving his way up the minors to eventually be a Nat. Thus joining fellow youngsters Lannan, Martis, & Zimmerman, LLC to form the Nats starting 5 of the future. (Don't look now, but 2006 Savior Colten Willems--still very young at 20-- is looking alright for Potomac also!)

But if Detwiler and Strasburg do manage to be decent starting pitchers at the MLB level (and that's not a given), what would happen to current starters Scott Olsen and Daniel Cabrera? Designated for assignment? Not so fast!

For all their struggles, Olsen and Cabrera still have two things going for them: (1) They are still fairly young at 25 and 28 years old and, (2) though they rarely show it, they are both very talented pitchers. So, what should we do with these control-challenged starting pitchers? The answer is simple: Bullpen. Bullpen. Bullpen.

And I'm not talking just middle or long relief type roles. I want to see Daniel Cabrera and Scott Olsen as our next great Washington National Hold & Close experimental duo. And the two reasons mentioned above are why.

If you look at some of the better, or at least more consistent, closers of the past decade here in baseball (Eric Gagne, Mariano Rivera, Jason Isringhausen, Eddie Guardado, Jose Mesa, Bob Wickman, Keith Foulke, Joe Nathan, the list goes on and on), you'll see they all began their major league careers as very mediocre, but very talented MLB starting pitchers. Then, a manager or a general manager, or somebody somewhere within their organization decided to make them into a closer. And quickly an All-Star was born.

If it could work for all those guys and lord knows we need consistency at setup man and closer, what's to stop Daniel Cabrera and Scott Olsen being the next two guys on that list? It's at least worth a shot.

I'd try for Olsen first. At 25, he can be our closer for the next 7 years probably if successful. That works for me.

Cowboys to interview Dave Campo for coaching position

kk218 — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:44:03 -0000

That's right kids! He's BACK.

Source: Campo a possibility to be Cowboys’ secondary coach

By CLARENCE E. HILL, JR.
chill@star-telegram.com

The more things change.....well, you know the rest.
And when it comes to the Cowboys and hiring assistant coaches, it appears to be business as usual.
Despite owner Jerry Jones’ comments last week that the team’s three assistant coaching openings will give coach Wade Phillips a chance to hire coaches in line with his philosophy, it still doesn’t hurt to be in line with Jones’ philosophy.
According to a source, the Cowboys have requested and received permission to speak to Jaguars assistant Dave Campo about Dallas’ vacant secondary coaching position.
Campo’s possible return to Dallas comes five years after he was fired as head coach following three straight 5-11 seasons. Campo was the defensive coordinator in Cleveland in 2003 before spending the past four years in Jacksonville as assistant head coach/secondary.
He is available because the Jaguars have hired Donnie Abraham to coach the secondary.

Phillips cuts TE Thorn for missed curfew

kk218 — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:19:27 -0000

Get 'er done, Wade. Nobody is walking over him like the Chicken Littles thought they would.

Wade lays down the law
When Wade Phillips hollered at the Cowboys before Saturday's practice, he swore to cut the next player who was late to anything.
TE Andy Thorn found out the hard way that Phillips wasn't just talking tough. Thorn's release yesterday came hours after he missed curfew.
Now, Thorn obviously isn't a huge loss. He might have been the team's third tight end, but it's not like he's a far better player than Adam Bergen or Tony Curtis. Thorn is the kind of player a new coach can use to make get the rest of the roster's attention.
Flozell Adams and T.O. had to hustle to make it to yesterday's walkthrough in time. It would have been sad to see two key starters go, but I'm sure Wade would have stuck to his word if they didn't arrive at the Alamodome in the nick of time.

Players try to take advantage of Wade, get schooled

kk218 — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 03:54:47 -0000

Interesting little gem in Colombo article

Before the start of the second workout Saturday, Phillips pulled the team together in the center of the field. He was very animated as he angrily discussed responsibility and accountability after several young players were late for special teams work. After practice, Phillips made each player who was late explain himself to the team. A players' only meeting followed in which Tony Romo, Jason Witten and Terrell Owens spoke about being on time and accountable to each other.

I said this before and I'll say it again: it's not about whether the coach is a mean a-hole or a nice guy. It's about players respecting the coach, believing in his philosophy, and listening when he talks to them.

Needless to say, this story is probably too positive involving the Cowboys and T.O. in general. It probably won't be reported on ESPN.

Sidney Rice = A QB's Best Friend

kk218 — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 16:09:19 -0000

I posted this on another place, but I wanted some extra feedback.

Giving it some thought here at what would be best for this team and one thing I remember from all of Romo's struggles in December that a lot of his INTs were not necessarily bad decisions under pressure but bad throws made on good decisions. Go look at the Sheppard and Dawkins INTs in the Philly game, the Demps INT in the Giants game, Kennedy INT in the Lions game. It's just my opinion, but looking at all those plays Romo was able find the open receiver and direct the ball along the route of the receiver. He just threw the pass too high, going over the receiver and falling to the defender, causing the interception.

Also, watch the first throw of Romo's NFL career against the Texans. Hurd had to leap up and make the catch.

This now leads me to believe that Romo does not big receiver like Bowe or Jarrett, which he had in Owens, or fast receiver like Ginn or Hill, which he had in Glenn. He needs a jumpball receiver. A target with the wingspan, the leap and physical presence to make a catch out of an off the mark pass. He needs Sidney Rice.

Combine Measurables
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 200 lb
40 Yrd Dash: 4.51 sec
Vertical Jump: 39 1/2" (best among WRs)
Broad Jump: 9'11"

College Statistics

Year	GP	Rec	Yds	YPC	TD
2004	DNP	-	-	-	-
2005	11	70	1,143	16.3	13
2006	13	72	1,090	15.1	10
Totals	24	142	2,233	15.7	23

Video Clips
Are you Ready for Sidney Rice?--Keep in mind this was just showing clips of his freshman year
The Catch--there is also a sign in there, too. He made the catch while news blurb on Terry Glenn being a gametime decision was on the ESPN ticker.

Bottom Line: Sidney Rice has one of the quickest reaction times of any receiver to ever play the game. Throw the ball his direction and at the most impossible last second he'll make the adjustment and find a way to make the catch whether it be diving, jumping or twisting his body.

Razorback Fans Note: Among receivers Dwayne Jarrett, Robert Meachem and Dwayne Bowe, only Sidney Rice had a 100 yard rec game against Top Arkansas CB Chris Houston.