No, the two topics presented above are not related. They just both presented themselves as topics of conversation over wings, Lagers, and DirecTV not showing the Phillies game last night at American Legion post 34.
Anyway, I'll open with the political conversation and leave it open to discussion. One party believes that there shouldn't be any random DUI checkpoints, as it violates civil liberties. The main point is that this party believes that you should only get in trouble if you are caught doing something wrong. The random searching of cars, breathalizers etc is a violation of civil liberties. The other party believes that if you have nothing to hide, there is nothing wrong with being subject to random checkpoints. Random checkpoints, although annoying, have the possibility of finding people with warrants and ultimately keeps the place safer, which is the point of law enforcement. Party A believes that we are not a police state, and therefore, should not be policed unless caught. Party B believes there is no harm in random searches, and that it benefits society progressively. I will leave this one for debate. (I was called a communist during this conversation. I guess this is what happens when you spend 2 years in a socialist country.)
Ok, now the real stuff. Ben Revere and his role with the Phillies. Since Ben Revere was signed before the 2013 season, his defense was heralded as top notch. We put up with his mendoza line batting average for a good part of last year, hoping that his defense would counter balance his struggles at the plate.
As it turns out, Ben Revere turned his offense around, kind of. His defense- started as a disaster, continues to be a disaster and will be a disaster. I don't remember the exact quote he gave a few weeks ago, but he made an ill-advised diving catch attempt in centerfield, resulting in an extra base hit, that should have been a single. Jimmy Rollins confronted him in the dugout. And after the game Revere said that's just the way he plays. He'll dive every time. He plays hard. Blah Blah Blah. That's great Ben. Keep diving and making stupid plays and call it 'playing hard.' Aaron Rowand will always be a hero in Philly for busting his face up against the centerfield wall. It's not because he busted his face. It's because he caught the ball and busted his face. Ben- no one cares that you stupidly dove and sacrificed your body. We care that you didn't catch the ball and hurt your team.
Giving up on that fly ball to center field Wednesday night buried the Phillies. Down 1-0 to the AL East Powerhouse Toronto Blue Jays, Revere looks back to the wall and gave up on a fly ball to center field. The ball, which was easily catchable, hits the bottom of the wall and becomes a triple. No error, so his error stats don't look bad (even though statistically he already has 2 errors and the worst fielding percentage of his career.) But he kills his pitchers and teammates by just being dumb. He's a dumb player. His mishap on Wednesday night led to a 9-run inning, taking the Phillies out of the game. Cliff Lee didn't have the ability to let the mistake go and he caved. I'm not justifying that. I'm just saying that the leadoff hitter gets a triple because Ben Revere is dumb, and the Phillies lose again. He's a leadoff hitter that doesn't walk. He can't hit a sacrifice fly. He can't throw anyone out with his lady arm. He can't read a fly ball. He can't make decisions. He hasn't homered in his career. And he won't.
All things considered, the Phillies did the right thing in trading for Revere. Worley didn't work out as a pitcher. Revere still has an upside. I think he's a great bench player. But the way he thinks about the game, the way he thinks that diving for a ball should be heroic, the way he ruins quality starts for his pitchers. Tony Gwynn Jr. is getting the nod over him. The Phillies organization put so much faith in Revere that they have no depth in the outfield now. The Phillies are bad. Ruben Amaro has ruined them and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. So what's the harm in playing out this Revere thing? There is no harm. I just don't want to watch them anymore.
I found this clip of Ben Revere showing off his arm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgwAywJlo1M
Anyway, I'll open with the political conversation and leave it open to discussion. One party believes that there shouldn't be any random DUI checkpoints, as it violates civil liberties. The main point is that this party believes that you should only get in trouble if you are caught doing something wrong. The random searching of cars, breathalizers etc is a violation of civil liberties. The other party believes that if you have nothing to hide, there is nothing wrong with being subject to random checkpoints. Random checkpoints, although annoying, have the possibility of finding people with warrants and ultimately keeps the place safer, which is the point of law enforcement. Party A believes that we are not a police state, and therefore, should not be policed unless caught. Party B believes there is no harm in random searches, and that it benefits society progressively. I will leave this one for debate. (I was called a communist during this conversation. I guess this is what happens when you spend 2 years in a socialist country.)
Ok, now the real stuff. Ben Revere and his role with the Phillies. Since Ben Revere was signed before the 2013 season, his defense was heralded as top notch. We put up with his mendoza line batting average for a good part of last year, hoping that his defense would counter balance his struggles at the plate.
As it turns out, Ben Revere turned his offense around, kind of. His defense- started as a disaster, continues to be a disaster and will be a disaster. I don't remember the exact quote he gave a few weeks ago, but he made an ill-advised diving catch attempt in centerfield, resulting in an extra base hit, that should have been a single. Jimmy Rollins confronted him in the dugout. And after the game Revere said that's just the way he plays. He'll dive every time. He plays hard. Blah Blah Blah. That's great Ben. Keep diving and making stupid plays and call it 'playing hard.' Aaron Rowand will always be a hero in Philly for busting his face up against the centerfield wall. It's not because he busted his face. It's because he caught the ball and busted his face. Ben- no one cares that you stupidly dove and sacrificed your body. We care that you didn't catch the ball and hurt your team.
Giving up on that fly ball to center field Wednesday night buried the Phillies. Down 1-0 to the AL East Powerhouse Toronto Blue Jays, Revere looks back to the wall and gave up on a fly ball to center field. The ball, which was easily catchable, hits the bottom of the wall and becomes a triple. No error, so his error stats don't look bad (even though statistically he already has 2 errors and the worst fielding percentage of his career.) But he kills his pitchers and teammates by just being dumb. He's a dumb player. His mishap on Wednesday night led to a 9-run inning, taking the Phillies out of the game. Cliff Lee didn't have the ability to let the mistake go and he caved. I'm not justifying that. I'm just saying that the leadoff hitter gets a triple because Ben Revere is dumb, and the Phillies lose again. He's a leadoff hitter that doesn't walk. He can't hit a sacrifice fly. He can't throw anyone out with his lady arm. He can't read a fly ball. He can't make decisions. He hasn't homered in his career. And he won't.
All things considered, the Phillies did the right thing in trading for Revere. Worley didn't work out as a pitcher. Revere still has an upside. I think he's a great bench player. But the way he thinks about the game, the way he thinks that diving for a ball should be heroic, the way he ruins quality starts for his pitchers. Tony Gwynn Jr. is getting the nod over him. The Phillies organization put so much faith in Revere that they have no depth in the outfield now. The Phillies are bad. Ruben Amaro has ruined them and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. So what's the harm in playing out this Revere thing? There is no harm. I just don't want to watch them anymore.
I found this clip of Ben Revere showing off his arm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgwAywJlo1M
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