There's mounting evidence that some coaches are intensely biased or blindingly ignorant when voting in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Take Clemson, which lost its opener to Georgia 30-0 at home. In its next game, Clemson beat Division I-AA Furman 28-17 at home. The next week, at home vs. Middle Tennessee State - the same MTSU that lost its opener to I-AA Florida Atlantic - Clemson won 37-14.
An unimpressive start for the Tigers, eh? Not according to at least one dolt. Clemson, inexplicably, received four votes in the coaches poll last week. Someone ranked the team 22nd (four voting points), or four coaches had the Tigers No.25 (one voting point four times) or some combination thereof.
There are other fiascos. Fresno State fell behind 45-7 at Oklahoma last week before "rallying" to a 52-28 final - and got a vote despite its 1-2 record. Auburn and Georgia Tech started 1-2, but Auburn got more voting points (5-4) despite Tech winning convincingly at Auburn.
What's the point of the poll if it has no credibility? ESPN and USA Today should remove their names from this sham or start holding voters accountable. Better yet, perhaps it's time to do away with the coaches rankings and have only the AP (writers) poll. Two is one too many, allowing for ridiculous "split" national titles. Get rid of the coaches poll.
Crawford turns out to be hit
Devil Rays leftfielder Carl Crawford had too many plate appearances in 2002 to qualify as a rookie this season, which is too bad because he would spice up a tasty rookie-of-the-year debate.
Crawford, who turned 22 in August, would be a rookie if he hadn't been so productive in the minors, inducing the Rays to call him up last season. He played in 63 games in 2002 and did not ground into a double play in 259 at-bats. He can motor.
The question was, could he hit, or more to the point, could he be a leadoff batter? Crawford hit a respectable .259 in 2002 but walked just nine times for a paltry .290 on-base percentage.
When he started slowly this season, the Rays' judgment in rushing him to the big leagues at age 20 was questioned. There are no worries now.
Since the All-Star break, Crawford is batting .298 and leads the majors with 29 stolen bases (he is tops in the AL with 51). He needs to boost the OBP (.315 since the break), but plate patience usually develops. And at 6 feet 2, 220 pounds, expect his power production to increase.
Rightfielder Aubrey Huff, 26, became a star this season, and no one doubts centerfielder Rocco Baldelli, who turns 22 on Thursday, is escalating into stardom. You can add Crawford, too. The Rays have the best young outfield in baseball, and one of the best, period.
