Brock’s Random Thoughts: More Hodgepodge for $200

A collection of thoughts from the week:

What does Phil Coke (pictured above) have to do to get released?  This guy doesn't belong on the team anymore.  His 0-1 record with a 6.75 ERA in 13 appearances speaks for itself.  The only reason he's still on the roster is the fact that he's left-handed.  Left-handed relief pitchers who are somewhat effective are hard to come by these days.

If you want to know why Joe Dumars is no longer the President of the Detroit Pistons.  This week's NBA Draft Lottery finalized one of the worst trades in franchise history.  With Detroit ending up with the 9th pick in the Lottery (it was only protected in the top 8, they were forced to give that pick to the Charlotte Hornets.  So the trade that happened two years ago is:  Ben Gordon and the 9th pick in the 2014 Draft to the Hornets for Corey Maggette.  Love you Joe, but not a good move, sir.

I agree with Tim Staudt about the Big Ten Baseball Tournament in this sense:  If you're going to play four games in one day, you must start the games at 9 am.  Then after Game 1 is over, you wait 30 minutes and start Game 2, and so on.  It is a joke that there is a 90 minute wait in between games.  You want to hold the crowds to watch action throughout the day.  The way it is now, people have time to leave and they don't come back.  Attendance has been a joke for the most part in Omaha.

I went to see Lansing United (the new professional soccer team in the area) last Sunday night at the East Lansing Soccer Complex.  I was pleasantly surprised to see over 800 people show up for the 4-0 whitewash over the Michigan Stars.  It was a very energetic crowd that was into it from the start.  I hope that they can hold that attendance throughout the season.  I'm concerned about that.

And finally, congratulations to Grand Ledge, DeWitt, Charlotte, and Eaton Rapids for qualifying for the semifinals of the Diamond Classic.  GL and DeWitt play the first semi on June 2nd at 5:30, then ER faces Charlotte at 7:30.  Good luck to all the teams.