Waiting for Something Exciting

I've been quiet here the past few weeks, because there's just not a whole lot for me to be excited about right this second. The Texans' injury problems have been out of control and have ruined what started out as a promising season -- now I'm just looking forward to the draft. The Rockets are 9-9 coming off a disappointing loss to the Kings. I'm going to give the Rockets a free pass for the rest of 2007. They have played the toughest schedule in the NBA so far and have a new coach, new system and virtually all of their bench players are new or playing different roles. However, 2008 is a different story. January and February are very favorable months on the Rockets' schedule and I look for them to make a significant move and improve dramatically.

The Astros were so bad this season and so many things are wrong with this team, I fear the problems cannot be fixed in one offseason. I don't think they have the bargaining power to pull off a deal for another starting pitcher and a closer. I think Chad Qualls is a great set-up man, but I don't see him as the answer. I would try to go after a closer before a starter, because I think out of Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez, Chris Sampson, Matt Albers and Troy Patton, three of them will be able to step up and do a serviceable job. However, serviceable does not win divisions or compete for the wild card, especially when you've got a weak No. 2 in the rotation.

Now on to my last team. I was all for Baylor making a serious run at Mike Singletary as its next head football coach, but I was OK if Ian McCaw decided to go in another direction. Singletary's inexperience as a head coach was a red flag, but in Baylor's position I don't think it was much of a risk considering the rewards that would be reaped in recruiting and national media exposure. For whatever reason, the two sides could not get on the same page during the interview and I don't care what happened. I still respect Mike and I have more respect for Ian to go out and make a solid hire.

I am happy with the selection of Art Briles, but I'm not annointing him the savior just yet. The man did not become a major college football coach by being an idiot, so of course many people are going to have great things to say about him. You don't get a 100% raise after a terrible evaluation. Each job, whether it's coaching or something else, is it's own beast, and being the head football coach at Baylor is a lot different than being the the head football coach at the University of Houston. I believe Coach Briles is a terrific offensive mind and is the right man for the job, but he must have an outstanding defensive coordinator. There should be no excuses, because money will be no object for this position, and Baylor had a respectable group out there last year. Even though the scoreboard was tilted, you came blame a lot of that on offensive turnovers deep in its own territory, the inability of the offense to sustain drives and manage the clock and a poor kicking game.

Next year's schedule is tough, but if Briles is as good as advertised, it's not unbearable (no pun intended). The one thing that impresses me most about Briles is he doesn't consider next year any kind of rebuilding year or honeymoon year. He wants to get it turned around now, and he wants to win no matter what.

Significant dates for the Sports Guy's teams:
Jan. 5, 2008: The Rockets return home from a brutal two-game road trip to Boston and Orlando to begin a favorable stretch through the end of February.

Feb. 15, 2008: Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.

April 26, 2008: NFL Draft -- Texans picking 11th right now.

Aug. 30, 2008: Baylor vs. Wake Forest