The Ohio State Buckeyes versus Georgia Bulldogs 2022 Playoffs, keys for Ohio State to win or lose.

It's 4 hours and change before the OSU vs Georgia 2022 playoff game starts, here are the keys to the game.

If Ohio State has 2, but preferably 3 healthy running backs rotating playing time throughout the game, OSU has an excellent chance to win.

If Ohio State has 2, but preferably 3 healthy running backs rotating playing time AND C.J. Stroud is able to occasionally leave the pocket and scramble for at least one first down per quarter, OSU should win.

Give Georgia a 7 point advantage every quarter that CJ Stroud does not scramble for at least one first down, and the OSU running game is down to one running back.

Notice I have not mentioned the OSU passing game. The OSU passing game will ideally work when the Georgia secondary has to pay attention to the running game, and, an occasional CJ Stroud scramble for gain. 

If all we see is CJ Stroud stay in the pocket, this could be a very long game for OSU fans. The OSU wildcard is the health of their running backs and CJ Stroud keeping the Georgia secondary honest with a few successful scrambles throughout the entire game.

I am very disappointed the game is not on ABC or Antenna TV. This anti Free TV movement for major sporting events is a horrible trend that all major sports are following.  Hopefully some of the major advertisers will step up and fight for free TV for sporting events of such importance. 

Quick update, 50 minutes later. KABC in Los Angeles is showing INFOMERCIALS during the day on what used to be the most intense day of NCAA football for the past 30 years. I think there was ONE college football game on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. Wow.

Looks like I'm going to have to get something productive done, lol.

This post received ONE view, lol.

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

Michael Brantley signs same type of deal that may have prematurely ended Grady Sizemore's career.

It surprises me that Michael Brantley just signed a virtually identical deal to the one that probably contributed in a negative way to Grady Sizemore's baseball recovery from his surgeries his last season in Cleveland. I call these total at bat contract incentives for players coming back from surgeries taunting type of contract. Contract incentives based on total at bats that accrue in rapid fire order once a recently injured and now recovering ballplayer reaches 400 at bats or more are defective in my opinion.

The problem with this type of total at bat incentives is it forces the player to believe they are 100% from day one of the season. 

What if a ballplayer needs the first couple of months of the season to be fully ready and during those two months they take every third day off, maybe do pinch hitting on that third day? Just like that Brantley's cushion is gone for meeting his at bat incentives. The at bat incentives basically force the player to believe they are 100% from day one of the season and if they have to go on the I.L. for any reason, it just puts too much pressure on the player going forward to contribute without feeling like they personally failed.

Ballplayers like Brantley and Sizemore may try and go 100% from day one so that they can take time off later if needed once the dog days of July and August arrive.  Playing too much too early is one of the worse things a player coming back from major surgery can do. 

The irony is cruel, in order to meet total at bat contract incentives, a player coming back from surgery has to play full time in the cold when the reverse makes more sense, get up to speed with health as the number one goal, then when the summer months hit, make a decision that does not focus on how many missed at bats the ballplayer has left during the hot, summer days.

Michael Brantley experienced heat stroke once in Minnesota while playing left field when he was with the Guardians.  The solution is so obvious its painful to give it away for free. At bat incentives should be based on MONTHLY at bat totals, not total at bats. This way a "recovering their strength" ballplayer can see the prudence in starting slower in April and May so they can ensure their regular workout routines are not being compromised by trying to play every game early on.

In Brantley's case, his 2022 incentives should have been been based on 70 at bats in April, 80 at bats in May, then 90 at bats in June, 90 for July, 90 for August, 80 for September. The total is still 500 at bats, but each incentive is not pinioned on totality of seasonal at bats, so the ballplayer can ramp up health wise without feeling like they have failed if they need more rest early on in the season. 

What is also superior about monthly at bat incentives is if Brantley reaches his total for the month by the 27th of the month, and its either raining during the next game, or very hot, Brantley can take the game off and be available for pinch hitting without feeling like he is losing ground towards his at bats total incentives. Plus, one down month does not jeopardize any other incentive but that specific month. The monthly incentive method is so superior to these insipid at seasonal bat totals one has to wonder why nobody has ever thought of it before Sportscam Detective came up with it.

As for Grady Sizemore, Grady Sizemore did resurrect his career after leaving Cleveland and he even signed another incentive laden contract with Boston. But Sizemore's final season hiccup in Cleveland may have been adversely affected because Grady Sizemore tried to play every game early on. If Grady Sizemore had been given monthly at bat incentives rather than total at bat incentives, the pressure to reach his at bat contract incentives would have been removed, and that is always a good thing for players who already play the game with an intensity that does not need to be amped up any further, especially when they have to build their strength back up during the season.

 

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.

MLB Cleveland Guardians might be squandering their best chance to sign Steven Kwan long term at an affordable cost.

While there is always the possibility that a rookie with a tremendous season may not continue to excel as time goes on, Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan, barring injury, probably will continue to excel. 

Other than Kenny Lofton, Steven Kwan may be the most prolific lead off hitter the Cleveland Guardians have had in 50 years or perhaps even much longer than that. Now combine excellent fielding and laser accurate throws to any base and Kwan's over all value is above and beyond expectations.

Kwan's numbers over the final 110 games (aka June 1st, 2022 through part of the first week of Oct. 2022), were basically equivalent to Kenny Lofton, who has received Hall of Fame consideration.

 Steven Kwan was paid the major league minimum in 2022 of $700,000, Kwan has two more year of minimum salary eligibility. Year four would be his first arbitration year and his salary would probably rise to around 5 million. Year five and Kwan's salary could rise to 9 million, and in Kwan's final year of arbitration his salary could rise to 14 million dollars. 

All told, Steven Kwan could make around 30 million dollars by the end of his sixth year as a Guardian. However, the majority of that money, 23 million, is still five years away. Kwan does have a propensity to play all out and there were a couple of times where Kwan hit the stands in foul territory so hard he temporarily looked like a compressed cartoon character. Thankfully, both the cartoon characters and Steven Kwan decompress after impact. 

So there is risk for the Guardians pre-paying Kwan now for an overall discount later. For Kwan, with the right investments, a higher, front loaded contract could offset the next two years at $700,000 for a higher overall salary payout later, AND since the front loaded contract is guaranteed, Kwan can focus on baseball without thinking about his contract or some type of career ending or compromising injury.

What if the Guardians offered Steven Kwan 3.5 million a year for the next five years, a 17.5 million dollar investment along with a repeater option at 13 million a year for the following five years with a 5 million dollar buyout option. The Guardians are basically risking 22.5 million guaranteed for a chance to have a prolific defender and lead off hitter in their line-up for the next 10 years.

If the Guardians wait another year before deciding to offer Kwan a long term deal, Kwan only has one more year left at $700,000 before he can go to arbitration and start collecting at least 4 million for year four with the probability of even larger increase for year five and then for year six.

Yes, there is risk for the Guardians to offer Steven Kwan 3.5 million a year for the next five years, but the chance to have a repeater clause for an additional 5 million means the Fans can enjoy having a fan favorite in left field for the next 10 years rather than talk of trading Kwan after year four to "maximize" trade value.

The Guardians just signed Josh Bell to a 33 million dollar two year deal even after Bell had a prolific two month slump after he was traded to the playoff contending San Diego Padres.

Sportscam Detective previously proposed a front loaded contract for Jose Ramirez before the start of the 2022 season when it appeared Jose would be traded. Although Guardians ownership somewhat followed up on what was proposed here, Ramirez's contract fell slightly short of a true front loaded deal. Ramirez's deal basically ignored the two remaining years on Jose's present contract and front loaded those 2 years enough to get Jose Ramirez to sign on for five more years plus the two he already still had a lower amount.

Unfortunately, Jose Ramirez makes the most money on his new contract over the final two years of his 7 year new deal, when it is possible his athleticism may have diminished, just another reason the contract should have been either front loaded, or balance loaded, (my new term), in which every season is the same amount so in his final two years Ramirez's contract does not look like an albatross towards team payroll.

Getting back to Kwan, now is the time to invest a modest amount for someone who should continue to thrive and even get better.

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.