The Dynasty is Done

After years of making the playoffs-the thrill of Kaleb Toth's game winning goal, squeaking it out in Albany, winning at Blue Cross, or dismantling the Sting at the ACC, the Rock will not live to see the 2nd season this year. Who's fault is that? Somebody behind me at the arena today said it was Bob Watson's fault-referring to him getting pulled in Buffalo (even though that was Poulin) and not winning any other games this year. We all know this is wrong. Watson was incredible and still deserves an MVP shot for keeping the Rock alive this year, but as we know Iannucci will get it. Other people say Blaine Manning. This is easy to refute, because, as anybody who saw a Rock game this year would know, Manning was often the only consistent scoring threat and was somebody who could have had 45 goals if not for posts. What about Lewis Ratcliff? The Rock never won a game with him in the lineup, and although he took some wildly questionable shots down the stretch, he was still better than most of the forwards (aside from Manning). Ryan Benesch? An alright player who I, and many others, have rightfully given the challenge of replacing Colin Doyle (2 G and 7 A vs Colorado on Saturday btw), but shouldn't be blamed entirely for the crappy season. Jim Veltman worked his tail off in his last year (more on that tomorrow), but just couldn't carry the team like before.

So the real onus for the 7-9 season (better than last year, but not good enough) falls on the wide, flabby shoulders of Mike Kloepfer. Kloepfer failed to properly rebuild a fine team from 2006, and has instead put together a team that has no future (no Veltman anymore, Watson getting old), and only Blaine Manning and possibly Lewis Ratcliff to build around. The team has traded away draft picks for marginal talent (Beirnes) and given playing time to questionable talents (Chris Stewart). If Kloepfer had properly set the team up for the future, I'd be willing to give him more time, but the truth is, this isn't Junior B, and building a contender is not something that should be trusted to this guy.

I'll vent more later, I am tired right now. Also, Jim Veltman tribute coming up.

Kloepfer at It Again

Did Anybody see the interview from the National Post with Mike Kloepfer reagarding Greg Van Sickle's firing? It seems its everybody's fault but his.

The Toronto Rock will not hire an offensive coach to replace Greg Van Sickle, who was fired Monday after a pair of crucial weekend losses to Rochester and Philadelphia.

Sounds like a good plan. The offence wasn't producing so a change needed to be made, right? Wait a minute, before the Rochester game the Rock posted back to back 14 goal games

In in an interview with the National Post, general manager Mike Kloepfer said the team will instead hand responsibility for the offence over to head coach Glenn Clark as Toronto tries to stay in playoff position with only three games remaining on the regular-season schedule.

He is officially the GM now? That sounds promising. That's great that Clark will be running it too. He has so much experience running offences in the NLL

“We feel it will be best to have Glenn work directly with the forwards,” said Kloepfer.

Why is the Mike? Going to give the fans a reason? No...just going to say its best, just like all your other moves.

Kloepfer said the decision to dismiss Van Sickle was difficult but necessary after Toronto’s offence appeared out of sync on the weekend, despite the trade-deadline acquisition of sniper Lewis Ratcliff.

Why was out of sync? Possibly because their best passer and a guy who has been working with the offence all season was dealt just as the team was coming around.

The Rock’s offence has sputtered most of the season and is averaging only 10.3 goals a game. Only the 4-7 Edmonton Rush score fewer goals in the 12-team league.

Except when they started to actually score before the Ratcliff trade. They were doing quite fine then.

“We just weren’t getting the production we needed from our offence,” said Kloepfer. “Sometimes nothing improves without having to make a difficult decision.”

You actually were on Easter weekend. I guess you didn't bother to check that Mike. You know what else might improve the team? You stepping down you fat piece of shit.

Toronto had a chance to move into first place heading into last weekend’s pair of games. But losses in both dropped the 7-6 Rock back into fourth place, only a half-game ahead of the fifth-place New York Titans. Only the top four finishers in each division qualify for the NLL playoffs.

“That’s the nature of the National Lacrosse League,” said Kloepfer. “There’s so much parity now. One weekend you’re playing for first place and the next weekend you’re fighting for a playoff spot … We need to take the next three games very seriously.”

One weekend you are smoking an upcoming Edmonton team and getting a relatively easy win over a very tough Buffalo squad. Then your best playmaker is dealt, and the offence sputters. I can almost guarantee they would have put up more of a fight against Rochester if Sanderson were still there.

Kloepfer would not comment on specifics when asked how the team will try to boost scoring heading into Saturday’s home game against the 4-7 Chicago Shamrox.

He won't comment on specifics because he has no clue how to run a pro lacrosse offence.

“We believe in the personnel that we have,” said Kloepfer. “We have very good forwards. These guys are professionals. They have a collective responsibility to create those scoring chances and to finish when they get them.”

You had a better offence before you dismantled it a couple seasons ago. Every player in the league is a professional, they are all getting paid to play lacrosse. You have a collective responsibility to make good decisions for a highly successful lacrosse team. You are an idiot

Thoughts on the Weekend

I analyzed the stats, I thought that the Ratcliff trade might have been good, but a combination of an out of sync Rock offence and a solid game from Pat O'Toole did the Rock in.

Ratcliff played OK, but he looked lost out there at times, and made a couple of terrible passes to the far side to Manning and Wilson. I didn't see the game last night in Philadelphia, but I can only assume that it was better. He (Ratcliff) has to get fucking better or this team will be on the outside looking in.

I know Sanderson didn't do too well in Calgary, but the offence was clicking with him in Buffalo and against Edmonton right before the trade. If the team fails to reach double digits against Chicago then there needs to be more changes coming.

Greg Van Sickle was let go. Looking back at NLL.com it is hard to tell if he was a Kloepfer hire, but I have to believe he was responsible for the move, trying to take blame off of himself and transferring it the coaching staff. Sorry Mike, but you're the one that tore apart one of the greatest offensive teams ever assembled in the league. We could still have Josh Sanderson and Colin Doyle, but instead we are stuck with Ryan Benesch and Lewis Ratcliff. Which two would you rather have? I'll give you a hint, their names rhyme with Manderson and Foyle. Figure it out yet?

All I can say is if the Rock do manage to get into the playoffs, and make no mistake, it is going to be a challenge, then all the credit can go to Bob Watson. Watson deserved to win Saturday, and from what I heard deserved one on Sunday as well. Iannucci may break Gait's record, but if Watson wasn't in net for Toronto this year, I would really, really hate to see where the Rock would be at. I'm assuming below Chicago.

All in all, it was a shitty weekend. Does anybody else get pissed off seeing Kloepfer sitting (or waddling) near the bench around each warmup smiling in that ridiculous leather jacket, presumably admiring the destruction he has done to tear apart a great dynasty? Seeing the tribute to Les Bartley on Saturday before the 2nd half, one of the greatest lacrosse architechts of all time, made me sad. Sad that we have to put up with this guy running our time after so many years of sound decisions from Bartley and then from Terry Sanderson. If Mike Kloepfer isn't fired after this season, something is seriously, seriously wrong.

Ratcliff with Kloepfer

I was just thinking about what went on after the blockbuster trade happened about a week ago.

The following takes place at 3:00 AM Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

Mike Kloepfer is sitting in his living room, eating donuts and watching reruns of Trailer Park Boys proudly admiring the leather jacket he has worn for 5 straight years without once removing it.

He picks up the phone, and dials is newest acquisition, Lewis Ratcliff.

Kloepfer (on the phone with the Ratcliff residence): Hello, can I speak with Lewis?

Ratcliff: It's midnight. Who the hell is this?

Kloepfer: C'mon Lew, its me, Mike Kloepfer.

Ratcliff: Mike Klomper? Buddy look, I don't have time for this now. I have to be at the gym at 6:00 AM tomorrow.

Kloepfer: Not Klomper, Kloepfer.

Ratcliff: Yeah so? Why the hell are you calling me? Who the hell are you?

Kloepfer: I'm the director of lacrosse operations for the Toronto Rock.

Ratcliff: Oh, the guy who traded for me today.

Kloepfer: Yeah, thats me. Listen, I got some suggestions about your game when you play with us in a couple of weeks.

Ratcliff: Can this wait until tomorrow? I am really, really tired...

Kloepfer, interrupting him: I think when you come here, we are going to try to change your role around a little bit.

Ratcliff: What?

Kloepfer: I want you to make sure Ryan Benesch gets the ball on every single play, I don't care if you are wide open, or if another guy is open, but I want you to get Benesch the ball on every play, no matter what.

Ratcliff, suddenly becoming more alert: You want me to pass the ball when I'm wide open?

Kloepfer: I know it seems odd, but you are really being brought in here to kick start Benesch. If he goes, then the team goes.

Ratcliff, wondering about guys like Blaine Manning and Aaron Wilson making his new team go: So if Ryan Benesch is on the floor, he gets the ball?

Kloepfer: Yes, exactly! Thats why we brought you in. To make sure Benesch gets the ball every possession.

Ratcliff (questioning him): You said in an article in the Globe or something today that I was going to be a big part of the offence.

Kloepfer: That was a cover. Sanderson wasn't getting Benesch the ball enough and that is why we traded him.

Ratcliff: You know I scored 50 goals last year. Benesch has like 11 this year. I have more than double that.

Kloepfer: Stats don't matter to me, they are hogwash. I don't use objective player evaluation measures like statistics and skill level. The only thing that matters is if you played for Barrie at some point in your life or not. You have never played for Barrie, Lewis. I brought in Benesch to lead this team, and you are just going to come along for the ride. Aren't you excited to be part of the Rock?

Ratcliff (with sarcasm oozing in his voice, while realizing Benesch never played for Barrie): Sure Mike! I can't fucking wait!

Kloepfer: Great, I'll see you at practice in a couple of weeks.

Ratcliff proceeds to hang up the phone.

The next day, after doing some research, he found out that Mike Kloepfer got to where he is today by being the owners of some lacrosse teams in Barrie. That is all he has done to run the most successful lacrosse team of the last decade.

Ratcliff suddenly begins dreaming about playing for Kurt Silcott again.

First Place in Sights

Thanks to another upset by the Chicago Shamrox last night against Minnesota (seriously, who thought they had it in them two weeks in a row?) and a loss by the Philadelphia Wings at Blue Cross, the Rock now have a chance at first place this coming weekend with Knighthawks in town Saturday, and the remake of the March 8th Philadelphia game. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this is the will be the first time this late in the season that the Rock would be in first place since 2005.

Of course with the Rock among the best teams in the NLL, what does the Toronto Star decide to put its attention on? An eliminated hockey team, a basketball team that got its asses handed to them tonight, and a soccer team that hasn't score since their first game or something. Absolutely embarrassing. You think that the team that has given Toronto its only championship caliber rosters since about 1994 would get some press, but no. I really don't give a shit about the Marlies either.

As many have noticed, the Rock gave Lewis Ratcliff the nickname "Sweet Lou". How the hell do they come up with these atrocious things? Sweet Lou sounds like a Birmingham, AB stripper's name, not the nickname for a guy who is supposed to lead the Rock to a championship. He doesn't need a nickname unless it is something that has meaning, or connects somehow to his name. Like Cam "Bam Bam" Woods. I suppose he has a strange fixation with the Flintstones or something. Let the guys who have developed cool, classy ones have them, otherwise don't force them down our throats at the ACC.

Ratcliff Stats

I posted some stats over on the NLL message board about Lewis Ratcliff. I will now cherry pick some of those to prove his value as an NLL scorer and particularly to the Rock.

Of his assists this season, only 37% have been second assists. As we all know, 1st assists are generally more important as they contribute directly to the goal. Not to say 2nd assists aren't important, but on average, it is safe to say 1st assists are the more important.

Since 2005 at the Air Canada Centre, Ratcliff has averaged over 5 PPG, scoring 13 goals and 13 assists in that span. This bodes well for the remainder of the season, with Ratcliff having 3 more home games.

Unfortunately, his points go down slightly against the Eastern Conference. This year in games against Rochester, Buffalo and Toronto, he has 1.7 goals and assists per game. This will have to get significantly better.

The stats support this trade. Ratcliff has also contributed to 22.0% of Calgary's goals this year, where as Josh Sanderson had only contributed to 19.2 % of Toronto's.

Trade Deadline: The Dust Has Settled

With the trade deadline yesterday now in our rear view mirror, lets take a look at some of the trades that happened yesterday

First, the Rush added the guy who is consistently the among the league leaders in dropped passes. Dan Teat joins the barbwire brigade (a great fucking nickname I know), a team that has virtually no offensive power after Chris Gill was traded to Colorado and Mike Accursi's production was exchanged for Teat ball dropping and some picks.

This is what new GM/Coach Bob Hamley had to say about the trade:

"He hasn't had the season he wanted. He's going to get a lot of playing time with us and he'll help our young guys mature. He doesn't need the ball in his stick until he's on top of the goalie and he's good at getting open. And he's a great guy."

OK there Bob. You did a great job in Arizona and really did well brining in Plunkett and Hominuck. But why bring in Teat? He is old (and not John Tavares good old, but just kind of old and bad). He wants to help the team's young forwards. I guess Brendan Thenhaus will get some playing time with Steve Hutchins. But essentially what Hammer wants Teat to do is to help Dan Stroup, Jim Quinlan, Plunkett, Hominuck and some other guys like Randy Daly who don't play anymore. Thats great, those guys are all really, really young. He also mentions that Teat doesn't need the ball in his stick until he is on top of the goalie. He doesn't need it in his stick because he loses the ball or passes it to the other team. I think Darris Kilgour figured this out finally. Usually once he gets the ball on top of the crease, he drops it too. That will be a big help for Edmonton.

The one thing I did like in this trade for the Rush (in addition to trading the great Matt Disher to Portland) is the draft picks acquired, because Paul Day seemed to think that trading what could have been Jeff Zywicki or Dan Carey for Andrew Turner was a great move:

"I worked the phones pretty hard," said Hamley. "We didn't have any draft picks the next two years when I arrived and we had to get some back."

Good for you Bob, just don't play up the Dan Teat part of this trade so much.

Now on to Jamie Batley, the guy who couldn't get anything for Scott Self because the asking price was too high in Chicago's end:

"Our defence and our goaltending are keeping us in games and giving us a chance to win,"

That is great Jamie. You are 2-7 and 3.5 games behind 4th place with 2 teams to leapfrog. Do you really want to go 4-12, or do you want to have a chance at Darryl Veltman or somebody good for your team. Have fun when Self is playing for Winnipeg or Dallas or wherever the Sting end up next year.

Finally, lets hear some statements of the big one yesterday.

First, Lewis "Sweet Lou" Ratcliff: "I just have to play my game when I get there. That's trying to put the ball in the net, being a threat on offence. I don't think they're bringing me in to change my style at all."

No shit Lewis. I don't think they are going to put Scott Campbell out on offence instead of you.

Now Sanderson: "After we won both our games last weekend I thought it was off so I was a little bit shocked when it happened,"

Why would you be shocked Josh? You don't play for the Barrie Lakeshores in the summer. Ask your old teammate who is now terrorizing defences on the west coast. Don't think he saw his coming either.

Lewis Ratcliff

I took a look at the NLL website yesterday and saw one thing I was hoping for. The Rock got a big power forward, which is one thing they desperately need. They also traded one of the best play-makers of all-time in a deal which made sense.

Here is a quotation from our favourite guy, the Director of Lacrosse Operations for the Rock, one Mike Kloepfer: "Kloepfer admitted that replacing the burly Doyle, one of the catalysts of the Rock's early decade dynasty, has been difficult, but felt that Ratcliff could solve the team's scoring woes."

OK. I have no problem with getting Ratcliff. The problem I have is that Kloepfer seems to think that there was some external force acting on him back in December of 2006. He believes that God spoke to him one night, saying that he needed to trade Colin Doyle for immortality. The owner of a local Tim Hortons franchise offered him free donuts for life if Doyle were traded, particularly if his favourite player, Chad Thompson came back in return. He may have also played that crossword lottery, and managed to put together a series of words saying "Trade Colin Doyle".

The point being that Kloepfer did not need to trade Doyle back then. He was still in his prime and still is. If replacing Doyle has been so difficult, then why do it in the first place? There was no need to trade for him. Had he not traded him, then there would no need to trade a premier playmaker like Sanderson for a power forward. Not to mention we lost a first round pick in the deal.

Lewis Ratcliff will solve a lot of the Rock's offensive needs. But where is the offence going to to run out of now? I'd expect to see a little more Jimmy Veltman out there as the quarterback in the last 5 games.