The Suns are in a bind. Amare Stoudemire is likely not going to Golden State for a package featuring Stephen Curry. In fact, the Suns are looking at a return package that features little more than role players, hardly what the draft war room had envisioned when the erupted in applause at Curry’s selection.

So how does one interpret such a gap in intelligence gathering when it came to the Warriors 7th pick? When the deal was seemingly agreed upon in principle, did the Suns NOT submit a list of names that they wanted with the 7th pick? Did that list NOT include Curry’s? If it did, how did Golden State NOT inform Phoenix that Curry would be their property if he was available at #7? How did the Suns NOT find out a list of names that Golden State was content with drafting instead of the Amare deal? In other words (and this just has to be said) how did Steve Kerr and Suns management screw this up so badly? Moving forward, and in light of Sarver’s empty promise NOT to make a bad move just to make a move (yeah Mr. Sarver, that’s what you call the Shaq deal), how can Suns fans NOT be incredulous to any future moves that this organization makes?

They’re lost in other words. As lost as the star player that they’re trying to trade. So maybe the Suns and Amare really deserve each other. Neither seems to have a clue about where they’re going, where they want to go, or how fast they want to get there. Enjoy the 2009 season together guys… We surely will not.

We surely saw some bad baseball this weekend. But how bad is really bad? Or, better yet, what’s bad enough to be worse than the 2004 season?

Despite the “recentcy factor” Burnsy doesn’t think it’s quite “04’ bad.” He also doesn’t think the 09’ season is the most disappointing in team history. In both cases (at least thus far) it’s a close runner-up:

Worst season:

1. 04’ - 51-111.

Yes, they were expected to be bad. But this bad? It cost Bob Brenly his job, and led to the costly signing of Russ Ortiz. In short, bad with little hope on the horizon.

2. 09’ – 30-46 (in-progress).

No, they were not expected to be this bad. In fact, they were not supposed to be bad at all. All that could go wrong has: The loss of a manager, an ace, and relevance during a baseball season where it’s really hard not to be.

3. 98’ – 65-97.

Expansion teams are supposed to be bad, and the D-Backs were surprisingly good the following year (100-62). Compare that with their expansion brethren in Tampa.

Most disappointing season:

1. 02’ - 98-64.

How can 98 wins be disappointing? Well, it is after you win the World Series the year before, return with perhaps the most dominating 1-2 starting pitching combo in baseball history, and then fall in 3 games in the opening round of the playoffs.
2. 09’ - 30-46 (in-progress).

The D-Backs were supposed to be playoff contenders, World Series contenders according their GM, not irrelevant by late June. And as we said before: It’s very hard to irrelevant this year.

3. 08’ – 82-80 

In April the D-backs were MLBs best team in the worst division in all of baseball. They seemed like a shoo-in for the playoffs, but by the end of September they were the 2nd best team in the worst division in all of baseball. And not very fun to watch.

The D-backs haven’t been very fun to watch this year. Funny maybe, but not fun. This weekend also made Arizona the clear cut leaders in two categories: Errors and team meetings. The latter Burnsy really hates. Sure a team meeting garners some cheap headlines and might enjoy a brief push in the polls…for a day. Afterward you get what you would normally receive. In the D-backs case, that would be bad baseball. But what would be considered more frivolous than a team meeting in sports? We made a list:

Uniform changes – the Oakland Raiders probably have the most iconic uniforms in sports (or at least one of them). They’ve averaged 4 wins over the last six seasons. Uniforms don’t matter.

Team meetings – It shouldn’t take a meeting to realize that you’re not playing well. You shouldn’t play well because someone told you in a meeting that you aren’t playing well.

Logo tweaks – Players don’t player harder because the bird on their helmet looks meaner.
All-Star balloting – If I can name the All-Star starters before the season starts, it’s frivolous.

Stadium Signage – Makes money. Not wins.

Roof at Chase Field – The best team usually wins. Leave it alone.

Halftime interviews in college football –It’s not fun for anyone – the coach, the viewer, Erin Andrews. OK, maybe it’s good for the viewer if Erin Andrews is doing the interview, but other than that it is a waste of time.

NFL injury reports – Especially in New England. Think Tom Brady (pre knee injury)

Super Bowl “home field” – It’s the friggin’ Super Bowl. Trust me when you’re playing on the world’s biggest stage, in front of millions watching on TV, the idea of a few extra Steeler fans booing you probably isn’t going to bother you a whole lot.

All-Star Game Home field Advantage - Exhibition Game having any kind of merit is far-fetched. It’s a holiday for the extremely well paid. It’s a reprieve for the privileged. No matter how many times you harken back to the 1970s, it still will never be important to the athletes in the 2000s!

Retirement in boxing – no such thing

Brett Favre retirement – no such thing

Nationally televised games - Isn’t everything nationally televised now?

NFL schedule/strength of schedule rankings – teams change in the offseason. Those changes lead to more or less wins the following year. I don’t need 30 minutes of an ESPN special to explain that.

Mascots – Kids love them. Adults hate them. Adults pay for most tickets, and kids do not, so mascots should go away.

The similarities of Amare Stoudemire and the Phoenix Suns.

Yes, the 620 Sportsline finally had a full show with host Dave Burns.

As Kobe Bryant celebrates his first non-Shaq NBA championship, the Phoenix Suns may be preparing for a non-Shaq regular season, as there is speculation that the Suns are set to deal O’Neal, possibly to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Burnsy feels that the Suns options with Shaq are threefold. Buy, sell, or trade:

Buy – Keep Shaq and his $20 mill for one more season, writing it off at years end, and hopefully getting another year’s worth of quality work.

Pros: You could get another quality year out of Shaq, enough to be in contention for a playoff spot in the West, or maybe just get a better deal from a contending team at the deadline.
Cons: Shaq gets hurt, gets lazy, gets angry, and you get nothing for $20 million on a bad team next season.

Sell: Shaq to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the remnants of Ben Wallace, and another contract that can be easily dispensed (Sasha Pavlovic).
Pros: Cap relief, possibly enough to pursue a free-agent as soon as this offseason.
Cons: If Shaq is dealt and Amare immediately wants out, the Suns would be left with little more than expiring contracts and young players. You think Steve Nash wants to stick around for that???

Trade – Come up with a more enticing deal, possibly with Dallas, although Eric Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse hardly seem like equal return.

Pros: You could wait for another one to develop with New Orleans, possibly for an athletic big like Tyson Chandler, who although injury probe, could be a steal if the Suns training staff works more wonders.
Cons: By waiting, the Cleveland deal is now off the table (they want help for LeBron right now!), and you’re left dealing with teams mainly in the West, with the main return being Eric friggin’ Dampier.

Speaking of buying and selling, how about the Arizona Diamondbacks?

First, though, a distinction with a difference in regards to the D-backs: The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team of young, talented players.

Or: The Arizona Diamondbacks are young, talented players on a team. Burnsy agrees with the latter, and the later we get into the 09′ season, the easier it is to realize that “young and talented” just isn’t going to cut it, as the D-backs prepare to cut loose what movable assets they have before the trading deadline. The deadline for the D-backs official post-season elimination is what, though? Last year for Cleveland, another young team, the deadline was set at July 7th , when they dealt C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Indians were 37-51 at the time, 13.5 games out of first in the AL Central, and had lost 8 straight at that point in their season. The D-backs are right about the same pace, with a .002 difference in winning percentage, and are 15 in back of the Dodgers. But if a sell-off commences, who stays, who goes, and, where? Burnsy has some ideas:

Who: Chad Qualls – will be 31 in August, makes 2.5 mill this year, and is arbitration eligible for one more. Probably not part of the D-backs long term plans at closer or in the bullpen. Could draw interest from teams with closer issues: Tampa Bay, Chicago Cubs, LA Angels, and Philadelphia. Teams always need help in the bullpen, so NYY and others would surely be involved as well.

Felipe Lopez – is 29 (turned just 3 days before me…he’s old!!), makes 3.5 mill this year, and will be a free-agent next year, not likely to be classified as Type B, meaning compensation would be minimal. Teams with poor production from 2B could be interested, including LAA, Tampa Bay (they lost Iwamura), Chicago Cubs, etc.

Doug Davis – is 33, makes 8.7 mill this year, but is a free-agent this offseason, likely Type B classification (this means a decent pick coming back if he doesn’t). Phillies are interested in acquiring another starter and may be interested. The Cardinals and Brewers do not have a lefty in their rotation, and the Mets starting pitching is iffy. The White Sox already tried to trade for Jake Peavy, while the Tigers only lefty starter is Dontrelle Willis… And Texas always needs starting pitching!

Jon Garland – is 29, makes 6.2 mill this year, free agent at year’s end, and could be a type B class. Phillies, Mets, Tigers, and (you guessed it) Texas could be very interested.