Alan Greenwood

Floating down a lonesome stream of consciousness, wondering if Marcus Smart really hasn’t figured out the fundamental problem with NBA officiating …

Before anyone considers this a surrender to the tyranny of baseball analytics, be aware that this is not a statistical defense of the Red Sox’ give-away of Mookie Betts and half of David Price’s salary for not-much in return. A bad deal is a bad deal.

Still, in the back of my mind, there is a thought that Betts may miss Fenway Park more than many folks realize. Betts’ lifetime average at Fenway is .319, compared to .285 on the road. He has more homers on the road (74) than at Fenway (65), but he racked up 135 doubles at home and 94 away.

This isn’t to say that Betts is going to turn into a pumpkin at Dodger Stadium, but despite all conjecture on wind currents and other such folderol, The Wall and right field’s great expanse continue to make Fenway a friendly haven for smart hitters…

Once again, Major League Baseball is wielding a proverbial sidearm and taking dead at one foot. It has been reported that MLB is pondering whether to expand its playoffs to 14 teams – three division winners and four wild cards per league. To make it even worse, the scheme would also include a bye for the top records in each league, with the other division winners and the top wild-card team in each league would decide on their opening-round opponents.

One of these years, the lords of the game will succeed in killing it once and for all. …

By the way, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, clearly distracted by issues that warrant no consideration, continues investigating the 2018 Red Sox sign-stealing charges. It isn’t as if there are hundreds of principals to question or mountains of communication to wade through.

They did it or they didn’t. Make a call and let the world move on. …

Smart vented some frustration after Tuesday night’s Celtics loss to the Rockets, in which Houston went to the line 42 times to Boston’s 25. That measure of home cooking is a bit lopsided, even for the NBA.

Caution should be exercised before writing off such unbalance as simply homers at work. Actually, the fundamental problem with NBA officiating, as has been the case for years, is that they are collectively a gaggle of incompetents.

It’s a problem the NBA refuses to recognize, which makes it a problem that will eternally linger.

TIME TRAVEL: Feb. 14, 1955 – “Three Nashua amateur boxers are expected to appear in the finals of the NH Golden Gloves championships bouts Saturday evening at the state armory in Manchester.

“Mike Mercier at 147-1/2 pounds won his way to a championship bout when he hammered out a unanimous decision over Walt Hickman, 151, of the Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, Maine.

“The other two Nashuans, Nelson Grondin, 1954 state 160-pound champion, and Burleigh Briggs Jr., heavyweight, drew byes in the semifinals this past Saturday evening and did not have to fight.”

Contact Alan Greenwood at 594-1248 or agreenwood@nashuatelegraph.com.

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