Off Topic: US U-20 National Team

That's soccer folks. Stay with me here. The U-20 stands for Under 20 years old, as in teenagers. As in the future of American Soccer. And boy does the future look bright for the Americans.

The US Men's U-20 team is currently at the U-20 World Cup in Canada, and they are making quite a name for themselves. After a sub par 1-1 draw with South Korea in the opening match of the tourney, US came back strong with a 6-1 thrashing of Poland behind Captain Freddy Adu's hat trick.

In their third and final game of the opening round, played round-robin style, the US went up against a Brazil side that was 1-1 in the tourney. Always a tough foe, Brazil was also playing for perhaps it's tournament life, adding incentive for them going into the game. The US, however, played well and came away with a hard fought 2-1 win. Now to the meat:

This US U-20 team is good. I mean, scary good. I watched almost all of the Brazil match (with flip-backs to the Cubs game for my Chicago friends i was visiting, even as the Cubs were getting smoked), and i was impressed. This team is a Team, in the true sense of the word. Both goals, set up by Adu and finished by Jozy Altidore, were fantastic. Adu knew where Altidore was going to be, and Altidore knew where Adu would put the ball. They KNEW. Before anyone else did. Watching it reminded me of watching top-notch level soccer.

The other thing that i came out very impressed with was our ability to hold the ball in the midfield. Something the US National team has traditionally struggled with has been keeping the ball in the midfield and overall time of possession. This U-20 team was superb at it. The balls they played, the way they moved without the ball.... All of it was world class soccer. This team was better than the senior team we sent to play in the Copa America.

And it starts with our two forwards on the team, Adu and Altidore. Adu has struggled in the MLS at times, and quite frankly i have not been impressed when i have seen him play lately (not many have). But he looks at his absolute best at this level, gathering the ball in the middle, pushing it forward, and looking to make great outlets to streaking players either up the middle or down the wings, looking for Altidore in particular. I was surprised to see him carrying the Captain's armband for this team when i tuned in, but after watching him play i am all for it.

And Altidore... how good has he looked? He has been getting a lot of buzz this year, making waves in the US. It is justified. This kid has the potential to be scary good. He is a fantastic finisher, with a killer instinct inside the box, something the US MNT has been desperately seeking for, oh, forever.

Also, let's not forget another member of this team that is already making his mark on the senior team, Michael Bradley, son of MNT Coach Bob Bradley. At just 19 years old, Bradley has had an impact on the senior team, as well as holding the ship steady for the U-20 team.

There are other members of this team i could touch on as well, including Goalkeeper Chris Seitz, who appears to be the next great American GK, following in the footsteps of Meola, Freidel, Keller, and Howard. But the greatness of this U-20 squad, at least so far in this tournament, has not been about individual players. It has been about the team.

This team will make up a large chunk of the next senior World Cup, in 2010. We need to start getting behind these guys, and the time is now. In their own U-20 World Cup, they are into the second round, facing a Uruguay side Wednesday at 4:45pm Pacific Time. And while it is not easily accessible, being shown only on ESPNU and Galavision, you should be watching.

This team is the future of US Soccer. And the future is looking mighty good...

Good God

Jesus H...Are you kidding me with this crap? The Dbacks have lost 5 IN A ROW. 8 of the last 10. They've got one win this month! What the hell is going on with this team right now? The last few years it's been a slumping June. Apparently this year it's July.

I'm sitting in Atlanta's airport right now, having been in Chicago all weekend for a wedding. As such, i didn't see the Dbacks play at all this weekend. I didn't need to apparently. Doesn't look like i missed much. One run games have been their specialty this year, but we lost two such games against the Reds, with a blow-out thrown in for good measure. They've also now lost their last four series. That is called not getting it done.

I also heard that they FINALLY sent Carlos Quentin down to Tucson. I like the guy, but man he needed some work this season. His batting has been terrible. Hopefully he can get it together and make his way back up by the end of the season, when the Dbacks will need him.

For now, however, the Dbacks can be thankful it is All-Star Break time (kudos to Webb for getting on to the team). Time for them to rest up, and hopefully get their act together. Time for them to right their ship, because their is still plenty of time left in the season, and they're still in great shape.

Scoring runs, or not scoring runs

The twins scored 32 runs today! OMG, 32 runs. The Dbacks have used 11 games to get to that total. ENOUGH SAID!

Deja Vu, all over again

Unbelievable is all I can say, otherwise this blog might generate a triple XXX rating. I mean come on, again, 2 days in a row, F'n up the 8th and 9th innings. My blood pressure is now through the roof. If this keeps up we will very quickly be talking football; ahh football, blood pressure is lowering.

The good - Reynolds doubles to lead off the eight, Montero walks, Hairston strikes out, and Augie drives them home with a triple. Dbacks down by one now with Augie at 3rd and only one out. You know the drill, simple sacrifice fly and the game is tied, come on Chris Young. The BAD - First pitch bunt, what the *uck? Explain to me how bunting yourself to first is going to get Augie in from 3rd. It makes no sense unless it is a suicide squeeze, and it wasn't. And he didn't even get on! Then he proceeds to do Nada, nothing; a pop up, damn A*s*h*le. Now we need a hit by O'Dog, grounder to second. Insert 30 seconds of expletives from Smitty.

The ninth inning, Byrnes fouls out. A good AB by CoJack to gain a walk. Stephen Drew with the clutch double to tie the game, Sweeeeett. Oh Shit, over the wall and now it's a ground rule double and move Jackson back to 3rd base. The tying run at 3rd with only one out for the 4th time in the past two games in the eight or ninth inning. They are 0 for 3 so far, the odds are with them to finally get a sacrifice and send us to extra innings, correct, yes? Of course not, Montero hits into the 5th double play of the game to end it in another Dbacks loss.

This is ridiculous, two nights in a row with chances to tie the game with a simple Sacrifice and proceed to go 0 for 4 and lose both games. I am sure I am not the only one who is swearing at the TV! This is not how winning teams play! I am obviously upset and shocked that we can be this terrible on simple fundamentals. Bring on football!

Grant Hill

So it's official. Well, actually it can't be official until the 11th, when Free Agency begins. But Grant Hill's agent has said that Hill has agreed in principal to a two-year contract offer from the Phoenix Suns, worth a total of just under $4 million. The beautiful thing is, $500,000 of that is paid by a league fund for veterans and will not count against the Salary Cap. While Grant was offered more money by other teams (supposedly), the Suns fit the wish list he was looking for, which consists of a) A Championship contender, b) A chance to start, c) A style that fits him, and d) Lighter practices, due to his injury concerns.

And therein lies the only possible drawback to this deal: Hill's injury-plagued past. After signing a 6-year, $93 Million deal with Orlando in 2000, Hill has spent much of his time on the IR, having appeared in more than 30 games in just two seasons. In fact, in six seasons, Hill played in only 200 of 492 regular season games for the Magic.

His best year, however, was last year, where Hill played in 58 games and averaged 14.4 points, while shooting better than 50%. While not a three-point shooter, Hill attempted just 12 all last year, Hill has other great attributes he will bring to the Suns. One of those attributes, which GM Steve Kerr and Head Coach Mike D'Antoni in particular triumph, is Hill's ability to be a playmaker and distributor while Steve Nash is not on the floor. D'Antoni also said he likes Hill's late career push for a Championship, providing some veteran leadership for the young team.

Hill is expected to challenge Boris Diaw for the last starting position, alongside Nash, Raja Bell, Shawn Marion, and Amare' Stoudemire. Personally, i think they should hand him the starting job. I like Diaw coming off the bench better anyway, and Hill is a stud who will make the Suns go. Essentially he replaces Jr Jones, and while he doesn't have the 3 range Jones did, Hill rebounds well and can provide valuable leadership, as well as create his own shot when the Suns' offense goes through their lulls they are bound to have during games.

While Hill is no Kevin Garnett, he is still a great pick-up for the Suns. Every team needs that one veteran pushing everyone, and now the Suns have two with Nash and Hill. The time for the Suns is 2007-2008, and the run to the Championship begins in 4 months.

As for me, I'm off to Chicago for the weekend. You kids have fun now, and expect some more posts from Smitty about the Dbacks apparent effort to undermine the essential basics of baseball, pissing him off to no end. Until later bitches, i'm out...

Fundamentals, my pet peeve

So the F'n Dbacks can not figure out basic fundamentals which cost them the game today. I get so pissed off when they can not execute a simple bunt. In the 8th inning, Hudson and Byrnes on 1st and 2nd and Tracy hits into a double play and then Reynold's strikes out. So the very next inning, the 9th, Drew hits a ground rule double to lead off. An easy bunt him over and sac fly him in to tie the game. What happens? You know it, Augie Ojeda tries to bunt, let me repeat that, tries to bunt. Instead strikes out. Followed by stike outs by Montero and Clark. They could have and should have scored a run in both inning's without needing a hit. They have no one but themselves to blame for this loss. They have had lousy fundamentals the entire year and have lost several games as a direct result. They should have a several game lead in the division if they could figure out the basic fundamentals of the game. If the dbacks want to play in the postseason then they must start to hit with runners in scoring postition (.132 in the past 10). If they can learn to hit when it matters and do the little things to win games we will see some playoff baseball in Phoenix.

Grant Hill a Sun?

Ahh, very refreshing news if true.

Grant Hill would be a legitimate player in the Suns system, as a starter. The starting five would be Nash, Bell, Hill, Marion, and Stat. He would be an huge upgrade over James Jones in the starting lineup. It also allows LB, Diaw, K.Thomas, and anyone who happens to step up to come off the bench, which would be at least 8 strong. Hill is also a decent ball handler to help facilitate our fast break. It sounds like he will come cheap, the vets minimum around 1.3 million, partially paid by the NBA, and less than 800k counts against the salary cap. He will instantly average 12 point, 4 boards, and 3 assists CONSISTENTLY. The Suns were searching for that 5th starter the entire year, Hill is that guy! The only negative about Grant Hill is he is a Dukie, yuck. But if he becomes a Sun and stays healthy I am willing to overlook that.