Matt Center

The New England Ego

2009-09-14T22:30:00.004-04:00

Well, the New England Patriots "came back" against the Buffalo Bills, who were without defensive player Paul Posluszny, 25-24. The Bills dominated the first three quarters by holding Brady's Patriots to only 13 points.

However, the crucial turning point came after the Pats narrowed it down from 24-13, to 24-19. Leodis McKelvin returned the kick from the end zone, when he could have downed it for a touchback.

Big mistake.

McKelvin ended up fumbling the ball at around the 25 yard line with New England recovering, and eventually scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 50 seconds left. Brady's pass was deep in the end zone, when tight end Ben Watson made the grab.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Bills tried to go ahead, but to no avail. The Pats won, and everyone in New England - at least in my area - is buzzing about the comeback led by Brady.

But is it really a comeback when the other team gives you so many opportunities to win it late? Dick Jauron and the Bills demonstrated poor clock management, misusing their timeouts during their final drive. Precious seconds ticked away after the play when they could have called a timeout immediately.

Plus, is it really a comeback when McKelvin gave the ball away? He could have easily downed the ball in the end zone for a touchback, giving the Buffalo offense the ball at their own 20. Instead, he carelessly chose to take it out and, ironically enough, fumbled it.

Yes, it was an impressive end of the game for New England, but it certainly should not be considered a comeback. The Bills choked in this game, like they have done in many years past. Wide right. Motor City Miracle. So many late, close losses last season. The list goes on...

Buffalo's choke not only gives them a long trip back home, but gives Tom Brady, the rest of the Patriots, and their fans a large ego; large enough to bring back "undefeated" talks.

Next week the Pats will play the rival New York Jets at the Meadowlands. Defensive-minded head coach Rex Ryan impressed Jet fans by pounding the quarterback, and Brady struggled when pressure was put on him. Plus, the Jets beat Houston without defensive end Shaun Ellis due to suspension.

If the Jets can put pressure on Brady, and Bart Scott and David Harris can pound him, it will be a much needed kick in the face, and a blast to the New England ego.

Take it Easy

2009-08-29T17:06:00.001-04:00

Nearly every Yankees fan on the planet knows the Yankees are in very good shape to make the postseason and are poised to make a playoff run. But, one thing to remember: IT IS STILL ONLY AUGUST!

Anything can happen during the last few weeks of the season. With two weeks to go in the 2007 season, no one thought the Colorado Rockies had a shot at the playoffs. No one thought the Mets would relinquish their lead in the NL East. But what happened? The Rockies made it to game 163 and won the NL wild card while the Phillies took the NL East division.

The key for the Yankees – and their fans – is to take it slow. Do not overlook any series. If the Yankees overlook a series with low importance, they might falter and wind up losing a few games, when a team like the Red Sox starts to be seen from the rear view mirror. The regular season is still going on, and every game counts, but some more than others.

Yankee fans learned their lesson in 2007, when they were matched up against the Cleveland Indians in the 2007 ALDS. The common thought was that the Yankees were 6-0 against the Tribe entering the ALDS and the Yankees would head into the ALCS smoothly.

Well, what happened? The Yankees lost the first two games in Cleveland and ended up losing the series in four games.

The key to success for the Yankees is to take things slowly and not assure anything. Come playoff time, fans everywhere make playoff predictions by simulating each series up until the World Series. The Yankees, if they do in fact make the playoffs, need to focus on the series they play first and foremost and not look ahead. If they look ahead too soon, it will be a distraction to the current series and they might lose focus.

For instance, if the Yankees were in the ALDS and supposedly face a game 5. Do they use their ace or try to save him for game 1 of the ALCS? The smart thing to do would be to start him in the must-win game 5 to even think about having him pitch in the ALCS.

I have heard fans already penciling in some teams for the World Series, when those teams may not even make it to the playoffs in the first place. I have even heard of some people projecting the 2010 roster for their favorite team when their favorite team is in the midst of the 2009 pennant race. It’s absurd.

C’mon people, you should know better than that. Wait until the season is over to make those predictions.

Jeter Being Jeter

2009-08-27T12:57:00.001-04:00

Yankees’ shortstop Derek Jeter is quietly having one of his best seasons in his career, and it is not all benefit to the supposed jet stream of the new Yankee Stadium.

Let’s start with the batting average. He is currently hitting .333 with 169 hits on the season, which leaves him on pace to end the season with 220 hits, according to ESPN.com projections. His .333 average is his personal best since his MVP-caliber 2006 season, when he hit .343. As most of you may recall, Jeter fell a few votes shy of winning the 2006 AL MVP award to Twins’ 1B Justin Morneau.

Jeter’s power has gone up significantly, as he has hit 16 homeruns this season, the most since he hit 19 homers in 2005. 11 of his 16 dingers have been at the new Yankee Stadium, but he has taken advantage. Jeter’s .479 slugging percentage is his highest since 2006 (.483).

Mr. November has been finding numerous ways to reach base. His on-base percentage currently lies at .398, his highest since 2006 (.417). Jeter has drawn 53 total walks this season (three intentional) and has taken one for the team four times too.

According to FanGraphs.com, Jeter’s wOBA (weighted on-base average) is .388, his highest since 2006 (.399). Jeter’s speed score this season is 5.0, which is better than what it was in 2007 (4.8) and in 2008 (4.6), according to FanGraphs.com. As stated by Baseball-Reference, Jeter has an OPS+ of 129, his highest since 2006 (132).

Jeter’s BB/K ratio is relatively low (.77), but his highest since 1999 (.78). Jeter’s strikeout percentage has also dropped significantly. His current strikeout percentage is 12.9%, a career low for him. To put it into comparison, Jeter’s next-lowest percentage was last season, when hit was 14.3%.

Jeter’s defense has been superb this season when put into comparison. Jeter made 30 errors in his last two seasons (18 in 2007, 12 in 2008), but has cut that total down to only 6 this season. His .987 fielding percentage is currently a career best for the perennial all-star.

FanGraphs.com says Jeter’s range has been tremendous. His range runs above average is 5.2, which is 8 points higher than it was last year and over 21 points higher than it was in 2007. Jeter’s UZR (ultimate zone rating) is a career-best 7.0, 22.3 points higher than it was in 2007. ESPN.com also says Jeter’s RF (range factor) is 4.06, his highest since 2006 (4.14).

What are the keys to Jeter’s success? Offensively, it is the switch in roles to leadoff hitter. Manager Joe Girardi decided to flip-flop Jeter and Johnny Damon in the batting order because of Jeter’s high GIDP total (24 in 2008, 21 in 2007). This season, Jeter has only grounded into 13 double plays. Jeter is hitting over .330 when he bats leadoff in the batting order this season.

What else makes Jeter the great hitter he is this season? Let’s examine the splits.

Jeter absolutely dominates against left-handed pitching with a .424 batting average and 1.077 OPS. Jeter’s power numbers are exceptionally high at home (11 HR, .502 SLG), but on the road, he is a .343 hitter with an OBP of .396.

Of late, Jeter has been on fire. He has a .360 batting average after the all-star break and is hitting .382 so far in the month of August.

And he is doing all of this at the age of 35, well past his prime, but he is still performing at a high level. It has nothing to do with him trying to earn a contract; it is simply Jeter being Jeter.

What seems to be lost in Jeter’s miraculous season is him climbing up the all-time list for Yankees milestones. He is 17 hits shy of tying Lou Gehrig for most hits in franchise history (2721) and 30 stolen bases shy of tying Ricky Henderson’s franchise mark of 326 stolen bases.

If Jeter can stay a Yankee for the rest of his career (he is eligible to hit the free agent market after next season) and stay healthy, he can break Mickey Mantle’s all-time game’s record (2401) in 2011. He already owns the all-time at-bats record (8532) and ranks tenth on the franchise homerun mark with 222 homers, tied with fellow Yankee great Don Mattingly.

In the mind of Derek Jeter, he knows he is near those milestones. He knows where he stands amongst the all-time Yankees. But the thing that makes Derek Jeter so great is that he doesn’t get overly focused regarding the feats. He doesn’t consider each hit to be “one step closer to Gehrig.” He thinks of each hit as “just another hit.” And that is what makes him Derek Jeter.

The Cause of Joba's Problems

2009-08-26T12:45:00.002-04:00

Last night, the Yankees decided to pitch Joba Chamberlain on eight days rest. EIGHT days rest. That is to conserve his innings limit for the season, which is now around 165 innings.

Chamberlain was drafted as a starting pitcher out of Nebraska and was developed as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues. But in the midst of the 2007 pennant race, the Yankees needed immediate help, so they called up Chamberlain – but not for the rotation.

No, the Yankees needed help getting the ball to closer Mariano Rivera. The bridge to Mo was incredibly shaky in 2007 with Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth, and Brian Bruney as the set up men beforehand.

Chamberlain succeeded in the role, allowing two runs (one earned) in 24 innings from the ‘pen. But after the season, there were questions regarding his role on the 2008 roster.

In 2008, Joba started the season as a reliever, but manager Joe Girardi stretched him out into a starter. He was a reliever for the first two months of the season and his first start came on June 3rd against the Blue Jays. He only threw 2 1/3 innings that day due to pitch count (62), but that was the beginning of what would become a successful future.

Joba would start 12 games for the Yankees before being placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. He threw 65 1/3 innings as a starter, striking out 74 batters in the process. As a starter, his era was 2.76. When he returned from the DL, he came back as a relief pitcher to conserve his innings, as the Yankees’ front office wanted to be extra cautious with such a young stud.

Entering this season, the question arose again: Should Joba Chamberlain be a starter or a reliever?

Advocates on him being a reliever say he is a five-inning pitcher. 12 of his 23 starts this season have gone longer than six innings; seven of his 12 starts last year have gone at least six innings; he has had five starts in which he has gone seven complete innings (allowed a total of four runs in those five starts).

After his latest performance, people are all over him like the midges were in the ’07 ALDS. He has pitched 20 innings in his last four starts and allowed 27 hits and walked 15 batters in those, not to mention the 19 earned runs.

Everyone knows his potential as a starting pitcher. He was a starter in the minors and was forced to convert to a set-up man in short time only for six weeks of the 2007 season. You cannot let a pitcher with four plus pitches (two plus plus pitches) only use two pitches from the bullpen; you need to have him use all of those pitches and give him a chance.

On to last night’s outing. Eight days of rest for an uninjured starting pitcher is inexcusable, regardless of how good you are. Starters have a different mindset than a reliever; starters pitch once every four days whereas relievers can be used in any game. Joba’s mentality was shaken up with the extra rest, and it is evidently seen.

The problems Joba has been undergoing are a combination of confidence and the rules the Yankees are giving him. Joba has been pitching behind hitters, which causes him to get behind in counts, which forces him to throw a strike down the middle of the plate for the hitter to crush. According to FanGraphs.com, opponents have swung at 22.5% of balls out of the strike zone this season, nearly 4% lower than all of last and almost 13% lower than it was in 2007. FanGraphs.com also says that Joba throws first-pitch strikes to only 55.2% of hitters, 5% lower than all of last season. Lastly, when Joba throws pitches inside the strike zone, hitters make contact 91.6% of the time, 6% higher than in 2008 and over 10% higher than in 2007.

The solution for that is to get ahead of hitters. Joba is losing confidence when he falls behind in the count and when he falls behind, he either walks a lot of hitters or gives hitters a chance to hit the ball out of the park.

As for the Joba rules, that needs to go too. Yankee management has been cautious with him, but the Yankees are too cautious now. They need to treat him like a regular starting pitcher and throw him every four days. If they want to give him rest, skip his start and use someone else. It is wrong to have him pitch once every seven days, as that will not only affect his mentality as a starter, but affect his confidence as the potential starting pitcher of the future.

Take away the Joba rules and give Joba some reassurance. That is the key to have him succeed at the major league level. Babying him for the first three seasons of his big league career may affect how he pitches in the long run.

A Rose in Cooperstown

2009-08-25T21:02:00.003-04:00

Pete Rose should be reinstated into baseball and be apart of the baseball hall of fame. When players and coaches are up for the hall of fame, the voters look for how important that person was in the era he played in and how much of an impact he made toward the game.

He had 4256 hits in the regular season, the most of anyone all-time. He leads all players in games played, plate appearances, and at-bats. He was apart of an unprecedented 17 all-star games in his illustrious career. He won one MVP award, one Silver Slugger, two Gold Glove awards, a ROY award, and the Roberto Clemente award in 1976.

According to Baseball-Reference, Rose is clearly deserving of having a monument of his in Cooperstown. He ranks 15th in black ink (64 compared to the HOF average of 27), 24th in gray ink (239 compared to the HOF average of 144), 13th in the HOF monitor (308 compared to the ideal HOF number of 100), and 52nd in HOF standards (54 compared to the HOF average of 50).

Rose was even a great postseason player. He hit .321 in 67 career playoff games with an OBP of .388. He won three WS rings as a player. Many people criticize players for not winning World Series rings, as they are a key part in determining how successful they were on successful teams.

Yes, he bet on baseball; he cheated the game. But is that method of cheating any worse than what the players in today's era are doing? The players playing today are trying go gain a better competitive edge to compete and stay in baseball to help their teams and earn a better salary. Rose admitted to his wrongdoings and some of the game's legendary players have lied and not admitted to what they have done.

The 1919 Black Sox threw the World Series for money, but how do we know Rose was intentionally betting on other teams to win? How do we know he wasn't betting on his team to win? The fact of the matter is, we may never know all the bets he placed, but we do know that he did it. It was proven the Black Sox intentionally threw the World Series, but it is not proven that Rose intentionally threw games he was apart of.

Rose's credentials overshadow the negative things he has done toward the game. Pete Rose paid the price and has suffered, but he should not suffer forever.

Bombers Sweep Sox out of Bronx

2009-08-10T01:13:00.005-04:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, I have been busy. I have kept writing articles, but did not post them onto this blog, and they are too outdated to be posted. I have, however, kept up with photography and maintained doing both sports picture taking and sportswriting. Hopefully I can update this some more.
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This was a tremendous series for the Yankees. Winning the series is one thing, sweeping it is an entirely different thing. The Yanks hit in the clutch and this series showed that the Yankees' pitching (Joba's outing on Thursday excluded) will be a strength. Burnett was dominant (albeit, 6 walks), CC was lights out for the first few innings and still managed to keep the Red Sox hitters scoreless, and Pettitte proved that he is a true second half pitcher who can go up against a strong #2 starters in the majors.

It also proved how strong the Yankees' bullpen can be at times. Not bringing in Hughes in the eighth was a mistake in my books, but the rest of the bullpen stepped up, especially in the 15-inning game. Aceves, Bruney, and Coke all came up big for the Yankees in innings 10-15. Hughes, though only facing two batters, still kept nerves from overcoming him. Melancon started the fire in the first game of the series, and though he was demoted before Saturday's game, can still throw at a major league level. Robertson, too, can pitch in a crucial game like this.

I predicted a series split, but if they were to win 3 of 4, Burnett would have outdueled Beckett. Well, he didn't outduel him, but he matched up extremely well against him and kept the Sox hitters at bay.

Also, for the record, the only way this sweep is better than the 2006 5-game-road sweep is because of the games they played and the background entering the series.

In the 5-game series, the Yankees were ahead by 1 1/2 games entering. The season series beforehand was not as decicive as the one this year (Boston up 8-0). This year, the Yankees were up 2.5 games, but they needed to prove they could match up against the Sox and that they can face a first place team and not falter.

In the 5-game series, there were some games with tons of offensive support, but for both sides. There were no classics like the 15-inning marathon, or the clutch late hitting of Damon/Teixeira.

To simply put it, this series was meaningful. The Yankees will head into the dog days of August with a lot of momentum, proving they can fare well against some of the top pitchers in the AL. Mark Buerhle, who was hot entering last Sunday's game, struggled against the Yankees; the same game Melky hit for the cycle. They faced Halladay and hit a few homers off him, albeit late in the game, but a run is a run. They faced Beckett and got a stellar pitching effort to match up against him. They faced Lester and got another stellar effort from Pettitte too.

As for the Red Sox, this series could be a sign of things to come, for a pessimistic side. They face a tough schedule with a lot of road games and top-tier teams. The Tigers, Rangers, Blue Jays (Halladay, Rzepczynski, Romero), Yankees, and White Sox are some of the notable opponents who they play in the coming weeks. Boston has lost 6 in a row and are 8-14 since the break. Take away the games against the Orioles, and they are 3-13. They are in huge trouble if they do not find a key to success.

Day 2 Draft Notes

2009-04-27T20:51:00.004-04:00

Well, the 2009 NFL Draft is in the books...

The Jets' butchered their day two draft with the Shonn Greene trade. They gave up their 3rd (12th pick in the round), 4th, and 7th round picks to the Lions for their 3rd round pick (1st pick in the round). They also missed out on a wide receiver, which is brutal.
Brandon Tate was an interesting pick for the Pats; he was caught smoking marijuana during the combine and also had several injuries. They might not put him in immediately, but he may be a pick that other teams will fear in the future.
The Cowboys also had a bad draft; no picks in day one and a lot of their picks were questionable. Kicker David Buehler, despite the combine workout, was chosen in the 5th round when the Cowboys still have Nick Folk.
Chicago stole Juaquin Iglesias from other teams. He will be one of the hidden gems on day 2. He has the skills to be a good NFL wide receiver and will help Jay Cutler in Chicago.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had OLB Kaluka Maiavia in his top 10 for players in day 2; he was the 4th pick in the 4th round, falling out of the 3rd round. He could end up being a quality linebacker in time.
Buffalo addressed its defense with a late-round pick of Nic Harris, the former safety from Oklahoma. Harris was a star on Oklahoma, but he transformed into a linebacker due to his size. With his experience in the secondary, he could become a quality linebacker (with some time) in the future with a lot of range.
If San Francisco runs into a block with their QB situation, Nate Davis from Ball State may be able to help. He has a strong arm and accuracy.
Michigan State RB Javon Ringer had tremendous skill in college, but fell to the end of the 5th round to Tennessee. Though he will see little playing time with Chris Johnson and LenDale White, it is hopeful that he shows upside to impress coaches.
I believe Mike Teel (Rutgers) can be this year's "Tom Brady." A 6th round choice with a lot of arm strength and upside can go far. If the right opportunity arises, he may be able to prove himself NFL-worthy.
I was surprised Texas WR Quan Cosby went undrafted. Though he does not posses the ideal height of a wide receiver, he can control the ball well and can fake out defensive backs.

Day 1 Draft Notes

2009-04-26T09:06:00.004-04:00

One day down, one day to go. The NFL Draft yesterday was very exciting to watch. A lot of cheers and a lot of boos.

The Seahawks took Aaron Curry because he was the best available player. They did not think he would fall to them, but because he did, he was taken.
The Jets did NOT give up too much in the Mark Sanchez trade. Brett Ratliff is a backup, Abram Elam was replaced over the off-season, and Kenyon Coleman can be replaced via the draft. While the Jets did not take a WR in round one, there is still a Brandon Tate or a Juaquin Iglesias in the later rounds.
The Raiders will regret picking Darrius Heyward-Bey over Jeremy Maclin AND Michael Crabtree. Heyward-Bey impressed the Raiders with his 4.3 40-time, but that is it. He is fast, but does not have all the skills necessary to become an elite WR like Crabtree or Maclin.
The Bills had one of the best drafts in the first round. Aaron Maybin is a great defensive end and they help solidify their offensive line with Eric Wood and Andrew Levitre.
The Broncos missed out in the first round for their franchise QB - twice. They could have easily traded up for Sanchez, but chose not to and he ended up going to the Jets. After picking Knowshon Moreno #12, they still had the #18 pick, but Tampa Bay traded up two slots to steal Josh Freeman from the Broncos.
The Eagles stole Jeremy Maclin from everyone. No one thought he would fall that low and even though they picked DeSean Jackson (Cal) last year, they still need help at WR. Plus, Maclin was the best player taken in that situation.
The Lions answered their QB needs, but they did not help their offensive line or defense. Brandon Pettigrew is a receiving tight end, not a blocking one. Detroit also made the mistake of taking safety Louis Delmas (Western Michigan) over Patrick Chung (Oregon) and William Moore (Missouri). Those picks may come back to haunt them.
Even though the Browns were smart by trading down, and down, and down, their first pick (Alex Mack) was not such a smart one. He is good, but they could have taken a different, more talented player (Michael Oher).
I like the first round picks by the Dolphins (Vontae Davis/CB/Illinois) and the Giants (Hakeem Nicks/WR/UNC). Both can make any play explosive and are both highly touted draft prospects. Davis will help Miami's secondary and Nicks will help the Giants recover from the whole Plaxico Burress fiasco.
Every Patriots fan is disappointed with their day-one draft, but I do not understand why. Patrick Chung is one of the best safeties in the draft and will help their secondary. He and Brandon Merriweather will frighten the opposing teams' passing games. They also drafted cornerback Darius Butler (Connecticut), who will also help their secondary. Butler and Ellis Hobbs can make a good duo at the cornerback position. New England had a surprising, underrated draft.
With Cleveland taking Brian Robiskie (Ohio State) and Mohamed Massaquoi (Georgia) in the second round, that may be an indirect sign of what Cleveland will do with Braylon Edwards. Edwards wants a new team and now the Browns have two young wide receivers who can both suffice.
James Laurinaitis (Ohio State) and Ray Maualuga must be regretting not entering the draft last year. Both of them were shoe-ins for being in the top-10, but neither one of them declared. Now, Laurinaitis was the 35th overall pick (St. Louis) and Maualuga the 38th overall pick (Cincinnati). Those are good picks for both teams, but as for contracts, it can only be a dream for Laurinatis and Maualuga.
Miami surprised many by taking QB/WR Pat White (West Virginia) with the 44th overall pick. White can help with the wildcat offense and while he could have slid down more, he was actually a fairly decent pick.
Oakland's other mistake was taking Michael Mitchell (Ohio) in the SECOND round. He could have slid down to the later rounds of the draft, but they took him in the SECOND! William Moore from Missouri, one of the best safeties in this draft class, was still available and they still passed on him. Unbelievable.
The Cowboys had the worst draft - they took no one. They gave up their first round pick (#20 overall) to the Lions in the Roy Williams and sat at #51. They traded that pick away to the Bills for a few picks on day two. Cowboys' fans must hate Jerry Jones right now, as he has not helped their future at all.
Picks 53-55 (LeSean McCoy - Philadelphia, Phil Loadholt - Minnesota, William Moore - Atlanta) are all great picks that fill voids and accomplish needs. Moore was probably the most surprising name to see down there, as he could have easily been taken #33 overall.

Day 2 may not be as exciting as day 1, but there is still a lot of intrigue with it. Day 2 begins in a few hours from now, so let's get ready.

My 2009 NFL Mock Draft

2009-04-24T23:45:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, I have been fairly busy of late. I will be sure to keep this updated.

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1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford/QB/Georgia
The Lions desperately need a quarterback and Stafford is the guy. He can be a franchise-type player and will help his team around him, especially Calvin Johnson. Stafford is young and is the best quarterback in the draft. Plus, it is a given since they did sign him to an enormous deal.

2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith/OT/Baylor
Smith will help out the Rams' offensive line and will give QB Marc Bulger more protection. He is a great pass protector and is worth being drafted number two overall.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry/LB/Wake Forest
Curry is one of, if not the best player in the draft. He impressed a lot of scouts in the combine and his stock has risen so much throughout. The Chiefs have to pick the best player available with this pick.

4. Seattle Seahawks: Eugene Monroe/OT/Virginia
Seattle needs help at a lot of positions, but the offensive line is one of their biggest needs. Monroe helps their pass blocking makes their offensive line a strength. Though they could pick Mark Sanchez, they still have Matt Hasselbeck.

5. Cleveland Browns: Tyson Jackson/DE/LSU
Jackson is the best defensive end in the draft and he can help stop the run. Cleveland allowed 151.9 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked 28th in the league. Jackson would be a very good pick here.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith/OT/Alabama
The Bengals adding a troubled player, what are the odds? But seriously, the Bengals need help on their offensive line. The Bengals struggled without a strong passing game last year, and their weak offensive line did not help.

7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin/WR/Missouri
Oakland could select Michael Crabtree, but with his draft stock plummeting, Maclin is a better fit. He is versatile, fast, and is just what Al Davis wants.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: B.J. Raji/DT/Boston College
Ever since the Jags lost Marcus Stroud, their defense has not been the same. Raji could be the next Stroud for Jacksonville as he is strong and helps against the run.

9. Green Bay Packers: Brian Orakpo/DE/Texas
Green Bay needs a pass-rushing defensive end (or OLB) and Orakpo is that player; he is a pass-rushing expert and an explosive defensive player who any team would covet.

10. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree/WR/Texas Tech
Brandon Jones and Isaac Bruce are currently San Francisco's top two wide receivers...really? Though Crabtree has fallen due to injury, he is too tough to pass up at the number ten spot.

11. Buffalo Bills: Michael Oher/OT/Ole Miss
After the Bills traded OL Jason Peters, a void was created in the offensive line. Oher is one of the top offensive linemen in the draft and will help Buffalo's offense in bettering the run and the pass.

12. Denver Broncos: Mark Sanchez/QB/USC
Trading away Jay Cutler gave the Broncos a definitive player to look for in the draft. Kyle Orton is not suit to be a quarterback, whereas Sanchez is young and can play in the Broncos' system.

13. Washington Redskins: Brian Cushing/OLB/USC
Washington needs improvement on their defense and Cushing can help. He is a hard hitter and is strong enough to make an immediate impact for Washington.

14. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins/CB/OSU
The Saints were in the bottom tier for pass defense last season and need help in their secondary. Adding Jenkins will fulfill their needs.

15. Houston Texans: Robert Ayers/DE/Tennessee
Houston's pass defense was above average last year, but their run defense was not. Ayers could play opposite Mario Williams and help stop the run.

16. San Diego Chargers: Aaron Maybin/DE/Penn State
Maybin, who could play alongside Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips, would only make San Diego's linebacker core even stronger. Maybin led the Big Ten in sacks last year and is explosive enough to make a strong presence for San Diego.

17. New York Jets: Percy Harvin/WR/Florida
Personally, I believe the Jets should trade down, but assuming they stay at #17, Harvin is the wide receiver they will go to. He is fast and versatile and can play the wide receiver position well enough to suffice.

18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago): Chris Wells/RB/OSU
Even though the Broncos are known for constantly picking running backs, Beanie Wells can be the one who will last the longest and be the franchise back. He knows where to find the open hole and can make a big play at any time.

19. Tampa Bay Buccanears: Josh Freeman/QB/Kansas State
The Bucs need a quarterback and Freeman can be the young quarterback they need. Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown are not good enough to be starters in the NFL anymore. Freeman is a fresh arm and a lot of scouts and analysts are high on him.

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas): Vontae Davis/CB/Illinois
The Lions desperately need help in their secondary and Vontae Davis is the cornerback who can help. He times his jumps well and is a strong open-field tackler.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Knowshon Moreno/RB/Georgia
With Brian Westbrook aging and Donovan McNabb's impatience, the Eagles will need a strong running game again. Moreno is a quick running back and can make big plays at all times.

22. Minnesota Vikings: Darrius Heyward-Bey/WR/Maryland
The Vikings are in need of a wide receiver and Heyward-Bey will be available to them at number 22. Heyward-Bey is extremely fast and can be a threat when next to Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian.

23. New England Patriots: Clay Matthews/OLB/USC
The Patriots' linebackers are not getting any younger and Matthews is a young, powerful linebacker who will be available. Matthews can replace an aging Tedy Bruschi full-time and become an intimidating presence in their defense.

24. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Pettigrew/TE/Oklahoma State
Pettigrew is the best tight end in the draft and the Falcons have been eyeing him. He can block and he can catch, which is perfect for the Falcons and Matt Ryan.

25. Miami Dolphins: Hakeem Nicks/WR/North Carolina
Nicks is an explosive wide receiver with great hands. If he had a better workout at the combine, he could have gone higher in the draft. He is big and has tremendous hands.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Darius Butler/CB/Connecticut
Rex Ryan "stole" some of Baltimore's secondary when he went to the Jets. Dominique Foxworth and Fabian Washington are decent corners, but Butler is the young corner who can intercept passes at the NFL level quickly.

27. Indianapolis Colts: Peria Jerry/DT/Mississippi
The Colts need another strong player for their defensive line alongside Dwight Freeney and Jerry is that. Peria Jerry can stop the run, which is something the Colts are not known for.

28. Buffalo Bills (from Philadelphia): Ray Maualuga/LB/USC
Maualuga is an agile linebacker who can make his presence well known. He is a great pass-rusher and can handle the man-to-man in the NFL.

29. New York Giants: Kenny Britt/WR/Rutgers
Britt is a hometown boy who will fit in right with the Giants. He is a great route runner and will help ease the pain left by Plaxico Burress. Though he is known for dropping the ball at times, he has the ability to get open as a receiver and make key plays.

30. Tennessee Titans: James Laurinaitis/LB/OSU
Though Tennessee may not need Laurinaitis to fill a need, he is the best player at this point and it will be too tough to resist passing him up.

31. Arizona Cardinals: Donald Brown/RB/Connecticut
The duo of Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower worked at times last year, but neither one of them did extremely well. Brown is a talented, young back and can help Arizona's offense.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Unger/C/Oregon
The minor flaw in Pittsburgh's offensive line is at the center position, with Justin Hartwig. Unger is an improvement and also helps bolster their offensive line.

March Madness Predictions

2009-03-19T14:49:00.002-04:00

Everyone has filled out a bracket, so why not me?

Elite Eight:
(1) Louisville
(3) Kansas
(1) Connecticut
(6) Marquette
(1) Pittsburgh
(3) Villanova
(1) North Carolina
(3) Syracuse

Final Four:
(3) Kansas
(1) Connecticut
(3) Villanova
(1) North Carolina

Ntl. Championship:
(1) Connecticut over (1) North Carolina

2009 Season Preview: Cleveland Indians

2009-03-11T23:01:00.002-04:00

In relation to 2007, the Cleveland Indians had a disappointing 2008 season, finishing 3rd with an 81-81 record.

Cleveland's off season consisted of several minor transactions. The Indians signed pitchers Kerry Wood and Carl Pavano to short term contracts. The Tribe also signed Tomo Okha to a minor league contract.

Continuing with pitching, the Indians were apart of a three-team deal that involved the Mariners and the Mets. Seattle's JJ Putz was sent to the Mets and the Indians acquired reliever Joe Smith from the Mets.

To fix a void at second base, the Indians traded for Cubs' infielder Mark DeRosa for three pitching prospects.

With all the acquisitions, the Indians still have some things to focus on. How will their rotation fare without CC Sabathia? How underrated is the bullpen? Will Travis Hafner rebound? And can Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez carry the Indians to another playoff berth?

As of now, Cleveland's rotation is: Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Jeremy Sowers, Anthony Reyes, Carl Pavano. Lee and Carmona each have a ton of potential and Reyes has a lot of upside, but Sowers and Pavano are both downers. If the Indians want to contend, they need to hope Sowers has a breakout season and/or trade for a qualified pitcher.

Last year for middle relievers, the only ones with earned run averages under 4.00 were Jensen Lewis and Rafael Perez. That is something to worry about coming into the 2009 season. Some people say the Indians' bullpen is underrated, but those people are just saying that to stay optimistic.

2006 was a career year for Travis Hafner, hitting above .300 with an OPS over 1.000 and 42 homeruns. Ever since, Hafner has been declining tremendously. In 57 games last year, Hafner hit below the Mendoza line with an OPS just over .600. Hafner is optimistic he will rebound, but the majority of the people believe he will not.

The rest of Cleveland's offense consists of Kelly Shoppach, Shin-Soo Choo, Ben Francisco, and Asdrubal Cabrera. If the Indians want to win the American League Central, they need Victor Martinez, who was injured for most of last year, and Grady Sizemore to come up big.

Though the Indians hope to finish above .500 and make the playoffs, I predict them to finish 78-84 and in fourth place. There are too many holes in their lineup and bullpen for them to make a serious run at the playoffs.
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Tomorrow's article will preview the upcoming season for the Colorado Rockies.

2009 Season Preview: Cincinnati Reds

2009-03-10T14:45:00.004-04:00

The Cincinnati Reds seek improvement from a mediocre 74-88 record in 2008. They may improve a little, but not dramatically.

The Reds lost Adam Dunn to the Washington Nationals through free agency during the off season. Dunn's presence in the lineup will be missed as he led the Reds with 32 homeruns last season.

On the bright side, the Reds signed the fast outfielder Willy Taveras to a two-year contract and also agreed with pitchers Arthur Rhodes and David Weathers. Cincinnati also traded for pitcher (and hitter) Micah Owings last September to bolster their rotation. The Reds also traded for catcher Ramon Hernandez, but gave up Ryan Freel and two other prospects in that trade.

Overall, the Reds' acquisitions helped them, but they still have voids to fill and questions to ask.

Is the Cincinnati outfield for real? Their current outfield consists of Norris Hopper, Willy Taveras, and Jay Bruce. They used to have Ken Griffey Jr., but the aged outfielder was well past his prime and did not perform at a superb level.

Can the Reds' bullpen be good enough for the season? The newly acquired Weathers will help build a way to closer Francisco Cordero, but the rest of their bullpen is not stable. Arthur Rhodes is an inconsistent pitcher and is mainly a lefty specialist. Francisco Cordero was 34/40 in saves last year, a decent percentage but not spectacular. The rest of the Reds' bullpen is solid with Jared Burton and Bill Bray.

The Reds have a great infield to lessen the pressure of their outfield. Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and Edwin Encarnacion each have enough power to combine for at least seventy homeruns and, quite possibly, three hundred runs batted in.

Cincinnati's rotation can also take a little pressure off the bullpen. Aaron Harang and Edinson Volquez combine for a solid 1-2 duo in the top of the rotation. Bronson Arroyo is also a decent pitcher who eats a lot of innings. The young Johnny Cueto can be a valuable asset towards the bottom of their rotation as he can strike people out. The only problem with Cueto is his inconsistency; he recorded a 2.77 ERA in August but a 6.16 ERA in September.

I believe the Reds will improve by four wins, a 78-84 record. It is a small improvement, but this season's goal may not be leading the team to the playoffs. Developing Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, and Johnny Cueto is a big step for the future. Their bullpen may have a lot of problems, but their lineup can last.
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Tomorrow's article will preview the upcoming season for the Cleveland Indians.

2009 Season Preview: Chicago White Sox

2009-03-09T14:53:00.003-04:00

The Chicago White Sox advanced to the playoffs on game 163 in the regular season, but lost in the ALDS to the Tampa Bay Rays in four games. They won 89 games (including the one-game playoff), but that may not continue in 2009.

The ChiSox lost pitcher Javy Vazquez to the Braves via free agency and outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. left the team. The White Sox also traded away 1B/DH Nick Swisher to the Yankees for utility player Wilson Betemit and two minor league pitchers.

On the bright side, the White Sox signed the highly touted Cuban 3B Dayan Viciedo to a four-year contract. Viciedo, 19, hit 32 homeruns and 123 RBI in 233 games in the Cuban leagues. With the addition of Viciedo, the White Sox have a lot of depth at third base with him and Josh Fields.

But the White Sox are faced with many problems. How will Alexei Ramirez adjust to the short stop position after playing second base in 2008? What about the new vacancy at the second base position? Who will win the starting job in CF in 2009? Will their rotation succeed?

Alexei Ramirez played most of his time at 2B last year for the White Sox. The Cuban infielder recorded a .981 fielding percentage for the White Sox at 2B and was apart of 71 double plays. However, because the White Sox lost Orlando Cabrera to free agency, Ramirez has to shift to short stop for the time being.

With Ramirez shifting to SS, the White Sox have a few options to replace the hole at second base. 25-year old Chris Getz is one of the options. Getz had a .814 OPS in the minor leagues and with his speed, could make the roster as a starter. Wilson Betemit can be the other option. The switch hitter has been subject to little playing time over the years, but if he plays more than he could be one of those players related to the Jeremy Giambi Effect (more playing time means more success).

Brian Anderson, Jerry Owens, and Dewayne Wise will all be competing for the center field job in 2009. Anderson did not play well in 2008 with a low batting average, but his fielding in center is much better than that of the corner outfield spots. The second choice is Jerry Owens, who stole 32 bases back in 2007. Owens is very fast and is better suited to the lead off role. Dewayne Wise is their third option for the starting job. Wise hit six homeruns in 57 games last year and stole nine bases in nine attempts. The only problem with Wise is his extremely low career batting average (.214).

With the loss of Javier Vazquez, the White Sox rotation only consists of Mark Buerhle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Clayton Richard, and Bartolo Colon. Vazquez would have made a direct impact toward the Chicago rotation, but instead it seems less harmful. Without Vazquez, the back end of their rotation is less dominating.

I believe the White Sox will finish with 84 wins and a second place finish in the American League Central division. Their offense has little to be worried about with Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez, Jermaine Dye, and Jim Thome, but it is the pitching that is the cause for concern. The Chicago rotation may not be enough to make the playoffs again.
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Tomorrow's article will be predicting the upcoming season for the Cincinnati Reds.

2009 Season Preview: Chicago Cubs

2009-03-08T12:11:00.001-04:00

Last year, the Cubs had hopes to end a century-long World Series drought after winning the NL Central by seven and a half games over the Brewers. Unfortunately for them, they were ousted in the divisional round against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

One of the Cubs’ major problems came in right field. Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome slumped big time in 2008 and manager Lou Piniella benched him on several occasions. In the off season, they signed outfielder Milton Bradley, the American League leader in OPS in 2008. Bradley is certainly an upgrade over Fukudome as he has more experience and power, but the problem with him is durability. Bradley has not played 142 games in a season in his eight year career. He played in 100 games in a season only three times.

The Cubs lost one of their franchise players in Kerry Wood during the off season to the Cleveland Indians. Wood has been with the Cubs since 1998 and recorded 34 saves last season. On the bright side, flame thrower Carlos Marmol can replace Wood with succession. Marmol, 26, saved seven games and held 30 games last year. Marmol’s K/9 rate was superb (11.75) and a great WHIP rate (0.93).

The Cubs can replace Marmol in the set up role with either Jeff Samardzija or Kevin Gregg. Samardzija impressed the Cubs last season with a 2.28 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 27.2 innings pitched. Gregg was the closer for the Florida Marlins in 2008 and saved 29 games in 33 chances.

But the Cubs still have some questions to answer.

Can the Cubs’ rotation last the whole season? Ace Carlos Zambrano was fatigued toward the end of the 2008 season. Fellow pitcher Rich Harden also has a history of injuries and that may continue.

What about the Chicago offense? Five players hit at least 20 homeruns in 2008 and Jim Edmonds had 19. Will they be able to continue hitting for that much power?

I believe the Cubs can suffice with their rotation. Ryan Dempster pitched excellent at Wrigley Field last year and that can happen again. If the Cubs can rest Zambrano for an extra day once in a while, he can be very effective in 2009.

The Cubs’ offense has no reason to slow down. Alfonso Soriano hit 29 homeruns in only 109 games in 2008 due to injury. If Soriano can stay healthy, he may be in line for a 20/20 or quite possibly a 30/30 season. Though the Cubs lost Mark DeRosa, players like Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez can pick up the pace.

I expect the Cubs to win the NL Central again, but with only 91 wins. Their bullpen still has some question marks with Aaron Heilman and Luis Vizcaino, but Samardzija, Gregg, and Marmol are the three stable pitchers in the ‘pen.
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Tomorrow's article will be predicting the upcoming article for the Chicago White Sox.

2009 Season Preview: Boston Red Sox

2009-03-07T09:27:00.005-05:00

The 2008 season for the Boston Red Sox ended on a sour note, losing 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays in game seven of the American League Championship Series. Though they could not repeat as World Series champions from 2007, they won an amazing 95 games in the regular season but ended up in second place to the Rays.

So will the 2009 Red Sox end up like 2008? Will they fare better? Let’s examine…

The Red Sox offseason began with the trade of outfielder Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals for relief pitcher Ramon Ramirez. Crisp was not the starting center fielder in the foreseeable future due to the emergence of the young and talented Jacoby Ellsbury. Ramirez will fit in with the rest of the Red Sox bullpen, along with Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and Javier Lopez.

The Red Sox later signed MVP second baseman Dustin Pedroia to a brand new six-year extension. With the signing, the Red Sox avoided salary arbitration for the next few years and established Pedroia as the franchise second baseman for years to come. Boston also signed Kevin Youkilis to a four-year contract extension to evade arbitration with him too.

After Pedroia’s signing, the Sox went across the Pacific Ocean to make a deal by signing Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa. Tazawa, 22, will likely start off the 2009 season in the low-level minor leagues as a starting pitcher, but may change to a reliever as he advances through the system.

The Red Sox were in talks with the highly touted first baseman Mark Teixeira. Teixeira, young and powerful, deserved an enormous contract, but the Sox refused to negotiate with his agent, Scott Boras. Coincidentally, Teixeira ended up signing an eight year deal with the rival New York Yankees.

The rest of the Red Sox offseason was filled with a bunch of minor signings, mostly old veteran players, past their primes, to short contracts. Such players include outfielder Rocco Baldelli and pitchers Brad Penny, Takashi Saito, and John Smoltz. A lot of these are low-risk, high-reward contracts that may pay off in the long run.

Their offseason additions leave the roster full, but still some questions to ask.

Can team captain Jason Varitek improve at all? Varitek’s batting average was an abysmal .220, a career low. In fact, Varitek failed to hit above .260 in the past three years, topping out at .255. There is room to improve, especially since it is tough not to improve, but for the thirty-six year-old, it will be very challenging. Currently, the only replacement for Varitek would be Josh Bard, who hit .202 last season.

Can players like Mike Lowell and David Ortiz rebound from injury-plagued seasons in 2008? Lowell endured hip and back injuries throughout the 2008 season and when combined with his old age of 34, his downfall is inevitable. Lowell was not the player he used to be. He was playing for a new contract in 2007 and hit .324 in that season. In his 2008 campaign, Lowell’s batting average dropped .50 points, to .274.

David Ortiz, on the other hand, suffered a wrist injury early on during the season and it cost him valuable playing time and a diminished impact towards the Red Sox lineup. Ortiz’s wrist injury caused him to hit .264, his lowest batting average since his appalling days with the Minnesota Twins. The same goes for his slugging percentage (.507) and his on-base plus slugging percentage (.876). If Ortiz cannot rebound from his wrist injury, his glory days in Red Sox Nation may be long gone.

Now, let’s move on to the starting rotation. Josh Beckett still has the stuff, but it is now shown through his stats. His mediocre 4.03 ERA was his worst since he first pitched in the American League (5.01 in 2006) and still allows more fly balls than ground balls. Beckett no longer has to tolerate the pressure of being the ace of the staff with lefty Jon Lester, so that helps lessen stress.

But one of the real question marks in the Red Sox rotation is on Daisuke Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka has shown tremendous success in Japan before he came to the US. In the US, his stuff has not translated well.

Matsuzaka’s ERA was 4.40 in his rookie season; awfully high for someone who was said to be “the next Messiah” when he came to the US. “Dice-K” also allowed a large amount of homeruns (25) and walks (80) in his 2007 rookie season. In 2008, his ERA dropped to 2.90 and his homerun total went down by more than half (12). The main problem was Matsuzaka’s walk rate. In thirty seven fewer innings, Matsuzaka allowed 14 more walks, which meant his walks-per-nine rate went from 3.52 to 5.05, an appalling number.

Few questions need to be asked about the Boston bullpen. Closer Jon Papelbon has been dominating over the past few years with the occasional rough outing, but has been lights out. Hideki Okajima has also been a stable for the Sox, shutting down opposing hitters as they only bat .212 against him in 2008 (and .202 in 2007). Reliever Manny Delcarmen recorded eighteen holds in 2008 compared to the 11 in 2007.

With all of that said, how will the Boston Red Sox 2009 season fare? Some predictions may say first place; others may say third, but this prediction says the Red Sox will have a season eerily similar to that of 2008.

I predict the Red Sox to record 94 wins and a second place finish, but this time to the New York Yankees. Dustin Pedroia will not have an MVP-caliber season like 2008, but he will still put up quality numbers. Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, and J.D. Drew are also stables in the Red Sox lineup as they can fill voids left by other key players like Mike Lowell and David Ortiz.

Jon Lester will not have a season like last year (16-6, 3.21 ERA), but again, that is not putting him down. Lester will still pitch like a number one or a number two pitcher, but it was evidently seen that Lester was fatigued down the stretch last year with his 4.09 ERA. Lester’s inning total in 2008 (210.3) was nearly three-and-a-half times more than his inning total in 2007 (63).

The main focus for Boston would be the health of key players and to see whether or not players could rebound from shameful 2008 seasons.
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Tomorrow's article will be predicting the upcoming season for the Chicago Cubs.

2009 Season Preview: Baltimore Orioles

2009-03-06T06:01:00.003-05:00

Coming off a 68-93 season, the Baltimore Orioles look to improve. In all likelihood, they will not win the American League East division, but that is not the focus of the Orioles right now; they want to build a future and are doing so quickly.

Losing Daniel Cabrera has been one sign of the rebuilding mode the O’s are in. There have been constant rumors over the past few years about the Orioles trading second baseman Brian Roberts, but nothing has happened yet, nor does a trade seem imminent. The Cubs, supposed suitors of Roberts, made a different trade during the offseason by sending pitcher Rich Hill to Baltimore in exchange for a player to be named later.

The Orioles will enter the season with a talented offense that included Roberts, Luke Scott, Nick Markakis, Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora, and now Matt Wieters, a rookie catcher. There is little the O’s can change to improve their offense (maybe left field, but that is minor).

But the real problems the Orioles face are at pitcher. They have a lot of talent in the minor leagues at pitcher with Charles Tillman, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, and Troy Patton. But for now, they are stashed away for the future.

Instead of rushing them to the show, the O’s will have to settle with Jeremy Guthrie, Koji Uehara (from Japan), Chris Waters, Rich Hill, and Radhames Liz. None of those pitchers have an earned run average below 3.60.

The Baltimore bullpen may also struggle a lot as well. Closer George Sherrill had injury problems toward the end of 2008 and had to be placed on the disabled list for a time. Jamie Walker’s 6.87 ERA and Dennis Sarfate’s 62 walks will keep the opponents on the base paths.

Last season, I predicted the Orioles to have an appalling season, but I was wrong. This year, I believe their win total will go down, but not drastically. A 65-97 record seems likely for the O’s in 2009, especially with how talented the rest of the American League East is.
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Tomorrow's article will be predicting the upcoming season for the Boston Red Sox.

2009 Season Preview: Atlanta Braves

2009-03-05T15:33:00.002-05:00

The Atlanta Braves did not have much to marvel about in 2008. Chipper Jones’ quest for a .400 batting average had the media centered on him for much of the season. Jair Jurrjens’ was another player who impacted the Braves, but aside from those two players, that was it. Atlanta’s 72-90 record landed them in 4th place, 20 games behind the first-place Phillies.

The Braves answered their pitching problems with the acquisitions of Javier Vazquez and Derek Lowe. Vazquez was involved in a six-player trade from the White Sox to the Braves in mid-November. Lowe was signed to a four-year, $60 million contract thanks to the help of his agent Scott Boras.

One downer of the Braves’ offseason was the loss of franchise player John Smoltz. Though he was injured for the majority of the 2008 season, the Boston Red Sox signed Smoltz to a one-year contract. Smoltz, 41, has been a member of the Braves since 1988.

If the Braves want to contend with the rest of the National League East division, they will need some more offensive power. They traded away first baseman Mark Teixeira in the middle of the 2008 season. Catcher Brian McCann and third baseman Chipper Jones combined for 45 homeruns in 2008; the rest of the Braves’ roster (including Teixeira) hit 105 homeruns. Jeff Francoeur’s .239 batting average is hardly impressive and it seems like the numbers he put up in 2006 and 2007 are long gone.

The Braves’ pitching has certainly improved with the aforementioned Vazquez and Lowe. Their starting rotation should be more than adequate now. Jorge Campillo, Tim Hudson, and Jair Jurrjens all had ERAs under 3.00 in 2008 and if they can continue to put up such statistics, they can be taken seriously.

However, the one downside to their pitching staff is their bullpen. In 2008, their team leader in saves was Mike Gonzalez, with 14. Will Ohman, the team leader in holds, departed the team via free agency during the offseason.

But do the Braves truly have enough to make a playoff run? With the unexpected Rays’ turnaround in 2008, anything is possible, but it is extremely doubtful for this team. They play over 50 games against the Mets, Phillies, and Marlins, which is very tough for this team. Their offense just does not have enough power to last. But they will fare better then in 2008. Last season, their record in one-run games was pitiful, so they kept it close through much of the games played. I predict the Braves to finish with a record of 82-80, which would tie them for third place in the NL East (with the Marlins).
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Tomorrow's article will be predicting the 2009 season for the Baltimore Orioles.

2009 Season Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks

2009-03-04T15:06:00.001-05:00

The Diamondbacks came within two games of winning the National League West division in 2008, but fell short to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brandon Webb and Dan Haren combined for two magnificent seasons on the mound.

Arizona’s offseason was extremely quiet; their only major signing was pitcher Jon Garland, and that was to a one-year deal. The main reasons for the silence are the recession the economy is in and the front-office changes the D-Backs underwent.

The Diamondbacks lost two prominent pitchers from their staff in 2008. Closer Brandon Lyons signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers and #3 starter Randy Johnson reached a deal with the San Francisco Giants. They are close to losing Adam Dunn through free agency as well. Dunn was acquired by the Diamondbacks via trade with the Reds.

If Arizona wants to contend with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2009 season, they surely need more production out of their offense. Only two hitters recorded batting averages above .300: Orlando Hudson and Conor Jackson; everyone else on the team hit in the .200s. Mark Reynolds, the team leader in homeruns (28), only had a .239 batting average in 2008. Highly touted prospect Justin Upton, brother of Rays’ outfielder BJ Upton, hit a measly .250 in over 100 games played in his rookie year.

Though many would say outfielder Chris Young’s 2008 season was worse than his 2007 season due to his homerun production, his on-base percentage was 20 points higher and he drove in more runs too. Plus, his batting average went up from .237 to .248. Plus Young hit seven more XBH in 2008 than in 2007.

Arizona’s rotation still has a dominant 1-2 combination with Webb and Haren, but the rest of it is depleted. Jon Garland is more of an innings-eater with a high ERA. With Randy Johnson gone and Micah Owings on the Reds (from the Dunn trade), they will have to use Max Scherzer and Doug Davis in the final two rotation spots.

The closer role will be filled by either Jon Rauch or Chad Qualls, with Qualls receiving a slight edge. Rauch pitched horribly down the stretch in 2008 while Qualls was most impressive in August and September (1.01 ERA).

The addition of Scott Schoeneweis makes the Diamondback bullpen a little shaky, but if Qualls and Tony Pena can have brilliant seasons, their bullpen may be a little less irritating.

Overall, I predict the Diamondbacks to finish with an 81-81 record in 2009, good for second place in the west. Their offense is too weak to contend with that of the Dodgers. They need to hope Webb and Haren can both pitch like Cy Young award contenders to stand a chance.
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Tomorrow's article will be predicting the 2009 season for the Atlanta Braves.

Blog Update

2009-03-03T18:12:00.002-05:00

Starting tomorrow, I will start a baseball preview for all thirty teams, writing about one team per day. It will conclude before the regular season begins. During this spree, I will still write about the World Baseball Classic (begins Thursday) and other miscellaneous items.

Tomorrow's article will be about the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Jets' Moves After Day 2

2009-02-28T17:29:00.003-05:00

First, the New York Jets signed linebacker Bart Scott to a six-year, $48 million deal. Scott and Rex Ryan will be reunited.

Scott's presence in any defense is well-known. Him in Rex Ryan's defense makes him an even more prominent player. Scott will replace Eric Barton at the inside linebacker position, who is a free agent. Scott will also play alongside David Harris, the Jets' 2007 second round pick.

Also, the Jets traded a fifth round draft choice in 2010 and another conditional draft pick in 2011 to the Eagles for veteran cornerback Lito Sheppard.

Sheppard faced limited playing time last season with the arrival of Asante Samuel and the concerning money he was receiving. Mid-way through the season, Joselio Hanson replaced him and Sheppard sat on the bench.

Sheppard will play opposite pro-bowler Darrelle Revis and will compete with last year's fourth round pick, Dwight Lowery, for the starting job at cornerback, unless the Jets decide to draft someone.

Sheppard fills the void at cornerback for the draft, but does not satisfy the needs in the secondary. The Jets still have a hole at strong safety, but Sheppard will help the cornerback position. Lowery blew many coverages last season and Sheppard may be able to play better and/or mentor Lowery.

Also, the Jets released wide receiver Laveranues Coles earlier this week due to salary issues. Coles was making roughly $6 million and the Jets needed more salary cap room.

The Jets did say they were open to resigning Coles, but for less money.

With the recent moves, the Jets made their focus in the draft more clear than it was. They could have drafted a number of players with their #17 pick, between cornerbacks, wide receivers, and possibly even a quarterback. Trading for Sheppard and releasing Coles makes the Jets more likely to pick a wide receiver rather than a cornerback, but nothing is for sure until draft day.

Official WBC Rosters

2009-02-24T23:04:00.002-05:00

Before, I posted the preliminary rosters for the 2009 World Baseball Classic in March. Here are some notable players on each country for the final rosters:

United States: Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt, Joe Nathan, BJ Ryan, JJ Putz, Brian McCann, Dustin Pedroia, Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, David Wright, Jimmy Rollins, Kevin Youkilis, Ryan Braun, Grady Sizemore

Canada: Russell Martin, Justin Morneau, Joey Votto, Jason Bay, Matt Stairs, Mark Teahen

Cuba: Yulieski Gonzalez, Yulieski Gourriel, Ariel Prestano

Dominican Republic: Pedro Martinez, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, Ubaldo Jimenez, Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, Willy Aybar, Adrian Beltre, Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes, Miguel Tejada, David Ortiz

Japan: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Yu Darvish, Shunsuke Watanabe, Kenji Johjima, Akinori Iwamura, Ichiro Suzuki, Kosuke Fukudome

Mexico: Oliver Perez, Joakim Soria, Jorge Cantu, Alfredo Amezaga

Puerto Rico: Jonathan Sanchez, Javier Vazquez, Yadier Molina, Ivan Rodriguez, Geovany Soto, Mike Aviles, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rios, Bernie Williams

Venezuela: Felix Hernandez, Carlos Zambrano, Carlos Silva, Francisco Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez

Misc.: Frank Catalanotto (Italy), Nick Punto (Italy), Shin-Soo Choo (Korea), Sidney Ponson (Netherlands)
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-The US still has the most well-rounded team out there, I believe. They have pitching, hitting, defense, and speed. It all combines for a nice team.

-The Dominican Republic still has the best offense imaginable. Though Albert Pujols declined due to the lack of insurance, A-Rod, Hanley, Reyes, and Ortiz is a scary lineup.

-Venezuela's pitching is still top-of-the-line, despite losing Johan Santana. K-Rod should pitch often late and Zambrano can pitchoften too.

-The Bernie Williams headline is a nice story to focus on. The former Yankee was mistreated by the Yankees' front office, but went back to college to focus on his music career. Williams has still been playing baseball and has still openly said he would be willing to join a team during the season.

-Don't overrate Puerto Rico. Quietly, they put together a solid lineup with Beltran, Delgado, Rios, and Pudge.

-Japan and Cuba, like always, will have stellar teams, despite not having big-name players on their rosters.

The World Baseball Classic begins play March 5th and ends on the 23rd.

The Cousin is Real

2009-02-19T11:03:00.002-05:00

ESPN Deportes reports the cousin Alex Rodriguez said in his press conference Tuesday is real. His name is Yuri Sucart.

When ESPN Deportes called Sucart's residence in Florida, his wife picked up and did not deny the allegations.

"My husband has nothing to say," she said. "What A-Rod said at the press conference is what happened and that is all."

This proves that Rodriguez was telling the truth about his cousin supplying him with "boli" from the Dominican Republic from 2001-03.

According to Amy Nelson of ESPN, a friend close to Rodriguez says he and his cousin were very close to eachother.

"He did what Alex told him to. He was only looking out for Alex," his friend said. "He is not a guy who would take the initiative to go out and buy drugs. Alex said during the press conference that his cousin just did what was asked."

Alex Rodriguez Press Conference (live blogging)

2009-02-17T13:58:00.008-05:00

Sorry that it is a bit late, but here is my live blog of the Alex Rodriguez press conference

Update 2:00 pm- That was a question a lot of people would ask steroid users; everyone linked to steroids should be asked that.

Update 2:01 pm- Again, another interesting question. Coming to NY would certainly add pressure, but he stopped because they (the league) initiated a steroid policy

Update 2:03 pm- Apparently Alex believes in the 'placebo affect' with his water example.

Update 2:03 pm- It seems like Rodriguez has been dodging bullets. He has said "it is not up for me to determine" a few times now.

Update 2:06 pm- Ever since his interview with Gammons, A-Rod has been trying to tell children across the globe to not take steroids. Yes, he's trying to be an inspiration, but it is as if he wants to avoid some of the bigger questions.

Update 2:08 pm- He said he was unaware that they were steroids, a little bit like Barry Bonds (unknowingly took them)...

Update 2:09 pm- Very good question, asking about "why not do some research about the substances."

Update 2:09 pm- Mark Feinsand asked another great question regarding the homerun record.

Update 2:10 pm- Hannah Storm asked a great question about HGH and amphetamines. A-Rod denied HGH but did not fully deny amphetamine use.

Update 2:11 pm- "It will be the best season of our lives." - Alex Rodriguez

Update 2:15 pm- I'm glad I take Spanish in school, but the other reporters must be baffled by what she asked.

Update 2:18 pm- Joel Sherman questioned Alex's knowledge about the drug and his reasoning for his use; another great question

Update 2:19 pm- Alex (again) blames his young age and being naive about the situation for taking it and then stopping.

Update 2:25 pm- Another "that's not for me to decide" response to a question by Rodriguez...

Update 2:27 pm- Looks like A-Rod's portion of the news conference is finished. Time for Girardi and Cashman.

Overall, A-Rod's answers were a bit disappointing. He dodged a lot of questions and did not answer some of them to the fullest. He did not tell the "complete truth" on some of them by saying "I haven't given much thought about it" or "that's not up for me to decide."

2009 New York Yankees' Roster (as of now)

2009-02-13T15:04:00.003-05:00

Projected Roster:
C: Jorge Posada
1B: Mark Teixeira
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Alex Rodriguez
SS: Derek Jeter
LF: Johnny Damon
CF: Melky Cabrera
RF: Xavier Nady
DH: Hideki Matsui

Bench:
Jose Molina
Nick Swisher
Brett Gardner
Angel Berroa

Rotation:
CC Sabathia
Chien-Ming Wang
A.J. Burnett
Joba Chamberlain
Andy Pettitte

Bullpen:
Mariano Rivera
Damaso Marte
Brian Bruney
Phil Coke
Edwar Ramirez
Jose Veras
Alfredo Aceves/Jon Albaladejo

Minor Leaguers who may make an impact:
Phil Hughes
Austin Jackson (OF)
Humberto Sanchez
David Robertson
Mark Melancon
Jon Albaladejo/Alfredo Aceves

Selig Might Punish Rodriguez

2009-02-12T05:53:00.002-05:00

An ESPN report states that baseball commissioner Bud Selig might consider punishing Yankees' 3B Alex Rodriguez for his prior steroid use.

"It was against the law, so I would have to think about that. It's very hard. I've got to think about all that kind of stuff," Selig told the USA Today.

This would just be an immoral thing to do if Selig does punish Rodriguez. For one, the steroids were not illegal at the time and if caught, a player would not be subject to any penalties whatsoever.

Second, it was only in the past and he has not failed a drug test since 2004 (allegedly). If he failed a test and that was reported, Rodriguez would be suspended fifty games.

Also, if Rodriguez is punished for his prior drug abuse, what about all the players named in the Mitchell Report? What about the other 103 players who failed drug tests in 2003? Would they face suspensions as well for taking performance-enhancing drugs? It would not be right for Selig to suspend the one player whose name was leaked out.

Rodriguez should not be suspended for his prior usage of performance-enhancing drugs. If he is, Selig will be criticized even more than he is already. Selig let an All-Star Game end in a tie in 2002 when there were no more bench players. That decision haunted him in the 2008 All-Star Game when the fans and the broadcasters wondered if that game would too end in a tie.

If Alex Rodriguez was suspended, it would be completely wrong for baseball.

Favre set to Retire

2009-02-11T15:43:00.002-05:00

For the second time in as many years, Brett Favre will retire. This one, though, could be for good.

Favre informed the Jets that his time was up. "My time with the Jets was short, but I was honored to be given that chance," Favre said.

This will be the end to a glorious career for one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

In Favre's eighteen year career, he threw 464 touchdowns, the most in NFL history. He won Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers over the New England Patriots, his only Super Bowl win.

For the Jets, they will have some freed up salary cap space to sign some draft picks and/or other free agents. There have been rumors that linebacker Ray Lewis might head to the Jets when he can, but that is up to the organization.

The Jets have a few options at quarterback: stick with Kellen Clemens, sign an experienced quarterback, or draft someone.

Kellen Clemens was the Jets' quarterback in 2007 after Chad Pennington flopped. Clemens has not played much since, but he did sit back and learn from Brett Favre. Clemens was subject to some poor offensive line support in 2007 when the Jets did not have Alan Faneca or Damien Woody. Wide receiver Justin McCareins also dropped a lot of Clemens' passes when they were on the same team.

If the Jets decide to dig through the free agent pool, there is always Kurt Warner. Warner led the Arizona Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII, but he is 38 years old and has contemplated retirement. Kerry Collins could be another option. Collins led the Tennessee Titans to the best regular season record in the NFL in 2008, without premier wide receivers. The downside with Collins is he is also an old veteran QB and did not throw as much passes because of Tennessee's stellar running game.

Then, there is the draft. Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez are extremely doubtful to fall to the Jets at the #17 slot in the draft, but the Jets could sign someone in the second round. Former Ball State quarterback Nate Davis could be the answer. He is ranked as the fourth best QB in the 2009 draft class behind Stafford, Sanchez, and Josh Freeman. Davis has an above average arm and he projects to be a solid quarterback.

Will he be Forgiven?

2009-02-10T05:50:00.004-05:00

We saw how Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi apologized to the media about their previous steroid use. We also saw how they were treated afterwards.

Pettitte let the situation drag on for the beginning of the season, but by June of last year the situation went away and it seemed as though he was forgiven.

Jason Giambi also let the situation drag on for a while, but it took him some time for forgiveness. The fans and the media did not forgive and forget about Giambi's steroid use. But when we look at today, it seems like his name has been cleared, despite the fact that we all know his abuse.

Alex Rodriguez is a different story though. He grabs much more media attention than both players. He signed the two largest contracts in Major League Baseball history. He is approaching one of the biggest milestones in the world of sports.

People choose to react differently to similar situations because of the player. Since the player in this situation has been in so much trouble, it is undecided whether he will be forgiven.

Many fans across the globe will continue to view Alex in a negative light, mainly because of his previous reputation, which is downright wrong.

Alex Rodriguez deserves at least a little praise for admitting what he did was wrong.

I have previously commended A-Rod for coming out and admitting his prior use before the situation dragged on too long. His apology was honorable and he deserves respect for it.

A-Rod Admits

2009-02-09T15:41:00.003-05:00

Today, Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance enhancing drugs from 2001 until 2003, while he was with the Texas Rangers. ESPN has the news.

In 2001, he said there was an "enormous amount of pressure" to perform with such high standards. Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $252 million contract after the 2000 season, so it is no wonder why A-Rod would feel the heat.

"I had just signed this enormous contract I felt like I needed something, a push, without over-investigating what I was taking, to get me to the next level."

Rodriguez told ESPN's Peter Gammons about his prior steroid abuse.

"I did take a banned substance. For that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful," Rodriguez said to Gammons.

Additionally, Rodriguez states that in the five seasons with the Yankees, they "have been clean."

I congratulate Alex Rodriguez for coming out and admitting his usage. He took the honorable path and apologized for his wrongdoings.

This still will affect the way people see him, but what people should see is his honor and honesty. He did not lie to anyone (except Katie Couric) but he said what he did was wrong.

A New Thought on A-Rod's Scandal

2009-02-08T20:11:00.005-05:00

Yes, Alex Rodriguez was wrong by taking steroids. Yes, he was wrong by lying to Katie Couric on "60 Minutes." But, could the reason for his abuse of steroids be from his agent, Scott Boras?

Scott Boras is a knifing sports agent who wants his clients to get top dollar. He will do whatever he can to make more money for the players he represents. Sometimes, when a player performs at his best, it still is not enough.

And that is where Scott Boras fits in. Boras could be someone who instigated Alex to take the drugs to increase performance. It may not just be Alex too...

Kevin Brown hired Scott Boras as his agent when he still played. Brown was also one of the players named in the Mitchell Report back in 2007. The Mitchell Report says steroid dealer Kirk Radomski sent performance enhancing drugs to Scott Boras' house in order for Brown to use. Boras must have known about that since Brown was once a premier client.

Eric Gagne was also named in the Mitchell Report and also dealt with Scott Boras. Gagne bought human growth hormone (HGH) in 2004, during his historical consecutive saves streak. Boras wanted Gagne to succeed so he would earn a higher contract; Gagne earned a $10 million contract from the Milwaukee Brewers last off season just days before the Mitchell Report was released.

How about Scott Schoeneweis? Schoeneweis, another Boras client, purchased shipments of steroids and used them "as prescriptions." According to the Mitchell Report, the pharmacist who prescribed the steroids to athletes said players came to him "for the purpose of obtaining anabolic steroids."

It does not end there. Rick Ankiel, Ron Villone, Ivan Rodriguez, and Gary Sheffield are all linked to steroids and performance enhancing substances. All were once represented by Scott Boras.

And now Alex Rodriguez has been linked. Rodriguez was also a Boras client. Notice a correlation?

So, was the mastermind Boras responsible for encouraging players to take steroids? Though he will deny it and there is no clear evidence that proves him doing so, it is possible. It is certainly possible.

Who will be the True HR King?

2009-02-08T01:58:00.008-05:00

As of now, it is Barry Bonds. In the near future, it may be Alex Rodriguez. Both of them have been associated with performance enhancing substances and anabolic steroids. It is clear baseball fans want a clear name on top of one of the most prestigious sports milestones.

That said, who will be the true all-time homerun leader?

Will it still be Barry Bonds? If Alex Rodriguez suffers injuries or cannot keep up the pace he once reached, than Bonds may hold the record for a long time. Bonds would need help from other players as well.

Will it be Alex Rodriguez? He has put up monstrous numbers throughout his career and if he continues his current rate, he may end up with over 800 career homeruns. He is only 33 and has hit 553 homeruns so far.

What about Albert Pujols? Pujols is only 28 years old and recorded 319 homeruns so far in his career. He averages 42 homeruns per season and has yet to reach his prime. The only thing is, he would need to average 41 homeruns over the next eleven seasons to become the next homerun king. He would be 39 years old if he were to do so, but it is highly unlikely he would put up such numbers as he ages. Pujols' name has not yet been related to steroids and he could be a legitimate "clean" candidate to reach 763.

Why not Ryan Howard? Howard is the fastest player to hit 100 career homeruns and averaged 51 homeruns in the past three seasons. The only downside is Howard is 29 years old and still has not reached the 200-HR plateau. The reason for that is starting his career off slow. The only way Howard can come remotely close to Bonds' record is if he averages 45 homeruns for the next thirteen seasons. It is downright preposterous to believe Howard could hit 45 homeruns at age 42.

Can it be Ryan Braun? He is only 25 and through his two seasons in the bigs, he has hit 73 homeruns. But if Braun plays fifteen more years in the majors, he would need to average over 46 homeruns each season to approach the record. That is the best-case scenario for Braun, and it is extremely doubtful that could happen.

If not Braun, what about his teammate Prince Fielder? Fielder has a better shot than Braun, considering he has 40 more homeruns than him and is a year younger (note: Fielder has been playing in the majors than Braun). Fielder has the genes of a power hitter as his father is Cecil Fielder. But Fielder, a vegetarian, is seen as overweight, which could lead to problems down the road for him. If Fielder plays until he is 40, he needs to average 41 homeruns per season to break the record.

This may be one of the most unlikely names, but what about Manny Ramirez? He is a clubhouse cancer and still has not found a team for the 2009 season, but without a doubt, he is one of the greatest hitters in this era of baseball. Considering he has not been linked to steroids, he may be the best, just like how people consider Pedro Martinez the best pitcher of the steroid era. Ramirez has 527 homeruns as of now. Manny has been seeking a four-year contract, which would have him playing until he is 41 years old. He has shown he can still produce at this age by slugging over .600 and hitting 37 homeruns. The only problem regarding Ramirez is the fact that he has little time left in the majors. He has roughly two very good seasons left in him until he starts to decline. He needs to average 40 homeruns over the next six seasons to approach the record set by Bonds.

Barry Bonds currently holds the record. It is imminent that Alex Rodriguez will surpass the record. Right now, the fans don't want either of them on top of the most esteemed sports record. Sadly, the fans will have to live with that fact for a while.

New Perspectives

2009-02-08T01:49:00.008-05:00

Up until yesterday, Alex Rodriguez was viewed as a hero. He was going to be baseball's savior in just a matter of years if/when he passes Barry Bonds' homerun record. He would have erased the asterisk on one of the most glorious records in all of sports.

Now, that asterisk may still be there if/when Alex Rodriguez tops the record.

Baseball fans across the globe are not going to forgive him. Nicknames of "A-Roid" and "A-Fraud" have only begun to be heard.

As if the appalling playoff numbers, strip-club appearances, and Madonna links could not have been bad enough already, his positive steroid test makes it even worse.

There are going to be people saying that "the test was in 2003 and he has not failed a test in the past five years." While that may be true, then why are Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens being crucified by the media for their steroid allegations.

If you think Yankee fans are going to forgive him because he is currently a Yankee, you are incorrect. He was constantly booed in 2005 and 2006 due to poor performances in clutch situations. He is not what Yankee fans would call a "True Yankee."

This entire ordeal is just disappointing to the entire sport. It's frustrating to not only hear more names linked to performance enhancing substances and anabolic steroids, but a name as prominent as Alex Rodriguez. It's too tough to believe.

A-Rod's Options

2009-02-08T01:38:00.003-05:00

With the latest steroid allegations, Alex Rodriguez can handle the situation in several manners.

He can apologize for his wrongdoings, ala Jason Giambi. In Giambi's situation, people seemed to forget about his steroid usage as the years went on. Now, it is uncommon for steroids to be attached to his name like white on rice.

He can also admit to the allegations, the Andy Pettitte approach. Pettitte confessed his drug usage and why he did it. He came forward and rightfully admitted what he did. It seems as though people have forgiven Pettitte and can now see him as an "honorable" player even if he used performance enhancers.

A-Rod can also keep denying it, like Roger Clemens. We know how the Clemens situation has turned out thus far, and it is not working in his favor.

He can continue to blame the government for his problems. All steroid tests were supposed to be secret and held anonymous. Someone leaked his name out to the public and that could be Rodriguez's focus.

Alex can also continue to ignore the situation, which he started to do. If he avoids the situation, the media will only pressure him more.

Whatever he does, the way he will be looked at will never be the same.

SI: A-Rod Tested Positive for Steroids in 2003

2009-02-07T12:10:00.003-05:00

A Sports Illustrated Report claims All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003, while he was with the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez declined to comment, saying, "you'll have to talk to the union," about the subject. "I'm not saying anything."

A-Rod is one of 104 names on a list of players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003, Sports Illustrated also claims.

Before, Alex said he never took any type of performance enhancing substance in his career.

If this report is true, it drastically changes the way people will see him. He is already seen as a player who cannot perform in the clutch and with a lot of off-the-field issues with his wife and Madonna. People will call him a cheater.

Plus, with this report, if Rodriguez nears the all-time homerun record (in the US), there will still be an asterisk on the sport. Barry Bonds' scandal left an asterisk once he surpassed Hank Aaron's all-time record, but when Rodriguez comes close, there will still be constant talk.

This also affects his HOF-position. Before, he was a sure-thing, first-ballot Hall of Famer. Now, this steroid report leaves a huge mark on what was a successful career.

For the record, I would vote in Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens; both of them left baseball legacies that few people in today's game can reach. With the report, I would vote in Alex Rodriguez, but it is not up to me.

Rex and Ray Reunite?

2009-02-06T15:21:00.002-05:00

Jet fans expected Rex Ryan to recruit some of his former players when he signed with the Jets. No one expected them to look at Ray Lewis.

Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis will hit NFL free agency in a few weeks. He openly said to the media that there would be no hometown discount for the Ravens if they want to sign him, so it is all fair game in the NFL.

But Lewis said he was interested in joining either the Dallas Cowboys or the New York Jets; the Cowboys because they are America’s team and the T.O. effect; the Jets to be reunited with Rex Ryan.

The Jets are “a young… team that has a lot of talent across the board where if you [add] #52 in that equation, that team goes from being okay to 'Let's go win this.'” Lewis commented. “That scenario by itself is always attractive."

"It's like, wow, if something does happen where I'm not back in Baltimore, hmm, the Jets wouldn't be bad," he added.

Yes, Lewis would greatly impact the Jets’ defense and bring a nice leadership factor to the team. He is very intimidating and will make the defense more intense. However, this move may backfire.

Lewis is a 34-year old linebacker who is passed his prime. He is not as fast as he used to be, nor is he as strong as he used to be. He will need several million dollars for a contract to satisfy him, which would put the Jets very close to the cap limit.

The Jets spent millions of dollars in salary last season, acquiring Brett Favre, Calvin Pace, Kris Jenkins, and Alan Faneca. They do not need to sign Ray Lewis.

The Face of Baseball

2009-02-05T16:18:00.001-05:00

Many say the face of baseball is Babe Ruth for his legendary significance towards the game in the early 1900s. Many say the face of baseball is Barry Bonds for being the all-time Homeruns leader and the icon of the steroid scandal. Many say the face of baseball is Alex Rodriguez for his controversy on and off the field.

The face of baseball needs to have it all. He needs to bring attention to the sport. He needs to be skilled. He needs to be dedicated. He needs to play with pride. He needs to make smart decisions. He needs to be reliable. He needs to handle the media attention well.

That person is Derek Jeter.

Jeter has been playing since he was a kid. Even when he was in high school did he show enthusiasm towards the game. He won the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 1992, a very prestigious award for such a young athlete.

Jeter has always been known as a clutch player, but it all began in the 1996 ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles. Jeter hit the ball to deep right field. Orioles’ outfielder Tony Tarasco tried to catch the ball, but 12-year old Jeffery Maier caught it over the fence instead.

Jeter won the AL ROY award in 1996 with his .314 batting average and 78 RBI. In 2000, Jeter became the first player to win the All-Star Game MVP and the World Series MVP in the same season.

In 2001, his “flip play” became one of the most incredible plays of all-time. A’s player Jeremy Giambi was rounding 3rd base to try and score the game-tying run in the 7th inning. Shane Spencer’s throw missed the cut-off man, when Derek Jeter came out of nowhere, flipped the ball with his backhand to Jorge Posada, to tag Giambi at the plate.

Jeter has never been afraid to dive for a play. July 1, 2004 was one such example. In a critical extra-inning game against the Red Sox, a ball was hit into shallow left field, down the line. There were runners in scoring position and they would have scored had the ball dropped, but Jeter ran all the way from his position, to the line to make the catch. He dove into the stands to make the catch, risking injury, but saving the game for the Yankees.

Derek’s postseason numbers have always been outstanding. He hit .309 with 17 homeruns and an OPS of .846 in his playoff career.

Off the field, Jeter has been seen dating numerous celebrities. He dated Mariah Carey, Jordana Brewster, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba, Adriana Lima, and Minka Kelly for some notables. He and his girlfriends have been all over tabloids for years.

Also off the field, Jeter started his own charity in 1996, called the “Turn 2 Foundation.” His charity tries to help teenagers stay away from drug and alcohol problems.

Jeter’s face has been displayed everywhere, whether it be Nike commercials, Gatorade ads, Gillette Fusion commercials, video game covers, or other advertisements. Derek Jeter is the billboard for baseball.

The face of baseball is not Albert Pujols. Although he is the greatest active player in the game, he does not bring enough attention to the sport or himself.

Derek Jeter is baseball’s icon. He is dedicated to the sport, plays with pride, is clutch, handles the media attention extremely well, and brings attention to the sport. He simply is the face of baseball.

Holmes' Heroics give Steelers Sixth Super Bowl Ring

2009-02-01T23:30:00.009-05:00

In heroic fashion, Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers earned their sixth Super Bowl ring over the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23. With 35 seconds left, Roethlisberger threw a short bullet to Santonio Holmes by the edge of the end zone for a game-winning touchdown. Holmes' two feet barely stepped in bounds, but still tapped them down and maintained possession for the touchdown.

That was Big Ben's only passing touchdown of the game, and one of the biggest in his 5-year career thus far. Holmes won the Super Bowl MVP award with his 131-yard performance and his game-winning touchdown reception.

Towards the end of the first half, the Cardinals were deep inside Steeler territory, trying to take a 14-10 lead (or tie the game at 10). But Cardinal quarterback Kurt Warner threw a pass to Anquan Boldin that was intercepted by linebacker James Harrison, the NFL Defensive player of the year. Harrison ran the length of the field to not only stop the Cardinals from scoring, but also increase the Steeler lead to 10.

Harrison's pick-six was the longest play in Super Bowl history (100 yards). Desmond Howard's 99-yard kickoff-return in Super Bowl XXXI was the previous record that stood for 12 years.

The Cardinals fought hard, but penalties were very costly; 11 penalties for 106 yards were called. Offensive lineman Mike Gandy was called for three holding penalties when matched up against James Harrison.

Kurt Warner's game was incredible, especially facing a premier Pittsburgh defense. Warner threw for 377 yards, 3 touchdowns, and the 1 interception to James Harrison. This was the first time all year the Steelers allowed over 300 passing yards in a game.

Before Holmes' winning touchdown, the biggest play on the Cardinals' side came with 2:37 left in the 4th quarter. Warner threw a pass to Larry Fitzgerald down the middle of the field and escaped two defensive backs to score a 64-yard touchdown. Fitzgerald was shut down in the first half with only 1 reception for 12 yards, but ended up with 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Fellow wide receiver Anquan Boldin said he was fully healthy entering the game and caught 8 passes for 84 yards, but no TDs. Tight end Ben Patrick caught the Cardinals' first touchdown of the game, a 1-yard lob from Warner in the 2nd quarter.

Both teams' running backs did not have a big impact as only 91 rushing yards were recorded by both teams combined. Pittsburgh's Willie Parker ran for 53 yards while Arizona's Edgerrin James ran for 33 yards. Tim Hightower, James' teammate, only had 1 carry that was stopped for no gain.

Cardinals' Darnell Dockett and Steelers' LaMarr Woodley both sacked the opposing QB twice. All other defensive players did not record any sacks.

There have only been 3 head coaches in Pittsburgh Steeler history: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin. Noll won 4 titles (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) and Cowher won 1 (XL). Now, each of them has won at least one Super Bowl with the Steelers.

Super Bowl XLIII Preview

2009-01-31T23:33:00.003-05:00

Well, we are finally here; Super Bowl XLIII. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals will duel it out on the field to see who will bring home the Vince Lombardi trophy.

It will be a great game to watch. The Steelers have an elite defense and a decent offense; conversely, the Cardinals have an elite offense but a decent defense.

Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald have hooked up on key occasions in the playoffs, one reason why the Cards have been playing so well. Fitzgerald will keep the Pittsburgh defense on their toes with his speed and agility. Fitzgerald's hands are superb and his jumping ability may be overwhelming to the Steelers.

Another key to the game is Kurt Warner's ability to handle the pressure the Steel Curtain will throw at him. Warner has faced some tough defenses that like to blitz, but none like that of the Steelers. If the offensive line can fend off the Steeler defense, that will give Warner more time to make accurate throws. If the offensive line cannot hold the Steelers, than Warner will be hurried to throw the ball and may make errant passes.

If the Cardinals want to win this game, they need to utilize trick plays like they have been doing all postseason. The flea-flicker in the wild card round caught the Falcons off guard and resulted in a touchdown. The play in the NFC championship game also left the Eagles baffled as to what happened.

The Arizona defense also needs to shine in order to win. They forced twelve turnovers in the postseason and that trend needs to continue. Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are two defensive backs who need to stay with the wide receivers they cover (most likely Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes).

As for the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger needs to make accurate throws. The Arizona secondary flourished in the playoffs and if Roethlisberger makes poor decisions, the secondary will take advantage.

Big Ben also has to avoid aggravating his rib and back injuries. Those have affected his passing game and if aggravated, then his skill may be diminished.

Hines Ward will be one of the X-Factors in the Super Bowl. Ward has not been 100% healthy in months and recently suffered a leg injury. He needs to run his routes and catch passes thrown to him. One strategy Pittsburgh could use is just having him on the field as a threat, not as a "receiver" on most plays.

Ward's fellow receiver, Santonio Holmes, will be another key player. Not only does Holmes have the ability to catch the deep ball as a wide receiver, but his speed and agility make him a threat to return kicks and punts for touchdowns.

Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor, and Ryan Clark are three of the Steelers' defenders who will hit the Cardinals hard and will have an enormous impact on the game. The Cardinals have not faced a defense like Pittsburgh; they have not faced a team that hits as hard as they do.

With all that said, the Steelers will be the new champions of the NFL. Defense wins championships and their defense is too strong. I believe the Cardinals will keep it close throughout, but in the end the Steelers will be crowned champions.

Prediction:
Steelers over Cardinals, 23-17
*Ben Roethlisberger named Super Bowl MVP*

Sabermetrics

2009-01-28T14:13:00.001-05:00

Bill James, of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), is known as the founder of sabermetrics. James defined sabermetrics as “the search for objective knowledge about baseball.” In laymen’s terms, sabermetrics are a more complicated version of statistics that have more meaning.

But do sabermetrics really have more significance than regular statistics?

Let’s start off with double plays. The amount of double plays a batter has is very deceiving. Double-play opportunities (DP_OPPS) actually reveal more than just double plays themselves. These opportunities include at-bats with runner(s) on first, first and second, first and third, or first, second, and third. Double Play Percentage (DP %) is the sabremetric statistic that tells the amount of double play opportunities that were converted into double plays.

Let’s compare Padres’ first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and Royals’ designated hitter Billy Butler. Gonzalez grounded into 28 double plays in 2008 while Butler hit into 24. The typical person would say Gonzalez hit into double plays more often, but that person would be wrong. Gonzalez hit into double plays 16.3% of the time. Butler, on the other hand, hit into double plays 25.3% of the time.

Clearly, sabermetric statistics are an advantage over regular statistics, but how useful are sabermetrics when used on defense?

Errors and fielding percentage are pure black and white; they do not tell the whole side of one’s fielding ability. That is where sabermetrics step in.

Zone rating (ZR) is a little bit complicated. ZR divides the baseball field into “zones” (where balls are hit in play). The rating is the percentage of balls in play that a player fielded. This is a way of determining a player’s range on the field, but there is another way that involves zone rating.

Ultimate zone rating (UZR) is a statistic that compares one fielder to the league-average fielder at the position. The comparison is by how many runs a player prevented compared to that of a league-average player.

One of the best statistical ways to determine a fielder’s range by his fielding attempts is using range factor (RF). Adrian Gonzalez, 2008 gold glove winner, and Cardinals’ Albert Pujols will be evaluated for this. The first basemen had identical fielding percentages (.996), but Pujols’ range factor was listed at 10.61, leading all first basemen. Gonzalez’s RF was 9.12, fifteenth in baseball in 2008. By that statistic, it is a mystery why Gonzalez won the gold glove award.

Fielding runs above average (FRAA) and fielding runs above replacement (FRAR) both determine the number of runs a fielder has not permitted. FRAA compares one fielder to an average fielder whereas FRAR compares one fielder to a replacement player.

Sabermetrics can help determine a hitter’s true power numbers. The normal statistic is slugging percentage (SLG) and the sabermetic statistic is isolated power (ISO). The difference between SLG and ISO is ISO is made up by only extra-base hits (XBH) whereas SLG includes singles.

This time, Braves’ third baseman Chipper Jones and Phillies’ first baseman Ryan Howard will be evaluated. Chipper Jones was ranked fifth in baseball in SLG (.574) and Howard ranked seventeenth (.543). ISO ranks them much differently. Howard’s ISO was tied for fifth in baseball in 2008 (.292), a very high number for ISO. Chipper Jones was not ranked in the top 25, or the top 50 for that matter. Jones was tied for 74th in baseball in ISO (.210). Jones benefitted from a lot of singles. In contrast, Howard hit more homeruns (48) than Jones had XBH (47). Howard hit 78 XBH over the course of the season.

Runs batted in (RBI) are considered one of the most overrated statistics in sports. Others batted in (OBI) is very similar to RBI, except it does not include the batter driving himself in by a homerun. OBI is the sabermetric stat while RBI is the everyday stat.

Ryan Howard will be the test subject again, but this time he will go up against Twins’ first baseman Justin Morneau. Howard’s RBI total was 146 in 2008 and Morneau’s was 129. Their OBI total was closer. Howard totaled 98 OBI, but Morneau totaled 106. 67.1% of Howard’s RBI total was by OBI, meaning he drove himself in 32.9% of the time. Morneau drove himself in 17.8% of the time. In other words, 82.2% of Morneau’s RBI total was via OBI.

There is batting average (BA or AVG) and there is batting average on balls in play (BABIP). BABIP helps determine the amount of luck a pitcher has by his defense. For example, Orioles’ outfielder Nick Markakis suffered from bad luck in the 2008 season. Markakis’ batting average was .306, above average. However, his BABIP would have been .350, a significant difference.

An offensive stat to measure a player’s offensive value per out is called equivalent average (EqA). EqA is averaged out by the difficulty of the league, the park, the opposing pitching, hitting, and base running. EqA results are expressed using the “Stars and Scrubs Chart.” The chart labels each player by a category by their EqA. A player with an EqA less than .230 would be considered a scrub, between .250 and .280 a regular, between .280 and .300 a star, and anything above .300 a superstar. Granted, the chart does have flaws, but it gives a general idea of how the average hitter performed. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia would be ranked a star (.298 EqA) whereas teammates JD Drew and Kevin Youkilis would both be ranked superstars (.314 and .313 respectively).

Now, let’s do some pitching. Earned run average (ERA) is also a deceiving statistic. Thankfully, sabermetrics have multiple versions of ERA to help measure a pitcher’s skill.

Rays’ pitcher Matt Garza pitched a 3.70 ERA in the 2008 season. Now, that would be considered pretty good, but sabermetrics proves otherwise. Garza’s NRA (normalized runs allowed; runs allowed compared to the league-average pitcher) was listed at 4.00 (average is considered 4.50). Garza’s DERA (defense-adjusted ERA; defense-independent of NRA) was 4.38. Another statistic that does not favor Garza is his fielding-independent pitching (FIP). Garza’s FIP was approximately 4.17.

Diamondbacks’ pitcher Brandon Webb will be the next ERA example. Webb’s ERA in 2008 was 3.30. His QERA (Quik-ERA; ERA based on a pitcher’s groundball rate, walk rate, and strikeout rate) was 3.47. Not bad, but a little bit worse than his regular ERA. Brandon Webb’s component ERA (ERC or CERA) was lower than his regular ERA suggests. Webb’s ERC was 3.04, meaning he performed better than his ERA suggests.

But there are two other stats that are involved with sabermetrics that truly judge a player’s importance: Wins above replacement player (WARP) and value over replacement player (VORP).

WARP values a player’s importance to his team when compared to a replacement player by the amount of wins he is worth to his team. WARP’s values are combined with BRAR (batting runs over replacement), PRAR (pitching runs over replacement; for pitchers), and FRAR (fielding runs over replacement).

But VORP is the real stat that values a player’s individual performance. VORP usefulness is comparing a player’s runs contributed to a replacement player if they both played the same position and had the same amount of plate appearances.

Albert Pujols led all of baseball in VORP in 2008 with a value of 98.6. How good is that? The player with the second-highest VORP, Hanley Ramirez, had a VORP of 78.6.

Speaking of Hanley Ramirez, he finished 11th in the NL MVP voting in 2008. Playing on a small market team that was not in playoff contention did not help his chances at becoming MVP, but he should have been ranked much, much higher. Ramirez was 2nd in baseball in VORP. The real second-place finisher in the MVP race, Ryan Howard, finished 46th in VORP in 2008 (36.4). The voters only looked at Howard’s HR and RBI totals to say that he was MVP-worthy. Milwaukee Brewers’ third baseman, Ryan Braun, finished 3rd in the MVP voting. Braun’s candidacy was that he led the Brewers to the playoffs and that his 37 homeruns were impressive. However, Braun’s VORP was ranked 29th in baseball (15th in the NL).

Regular, everyday statistics are very deceiving. Sabermetrics help define a player’s true value and are an enhanced way of determining talent.

Formulas:
DP% (Double Play Percentage): DP/DP_OPPS
RF (Range Factor): (9*(PO + A))/Innings in field)
SLG (Slugging Percentage): TB/AB
ISO (Isolated Power): (2B + (3B*2) + (HR*3)) / AB
OBI (Others Batted In): RBI-HR
AVG (Batting Average): H/AB
BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play): (H-HR)/ (AB-HR-K+SF)
EqA (Equivalent Average): (H+TB+ (1.5*(BB+HBP)) +SB)/ (AB+BB+HBP+CS+ (SB/3))
ERA (Earned Run Average): (ER*9)/IP
FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching): ((HR*13+ (BB+HBP-IBB)*3-K*2)/IP) +3.2
ERC (Component ERA): (((H+BB+HBP)*(.89*(1.255*(H-HR) +4*HR) +.56*(BB+HBP-IBB)))/ (BFP*IP))*9-.56

Cinderella Stories

2009-01-20T12:39:00.002-05:00

Everyone loves Cinderella stories. Each one is miraculous, phenomenal, and wondrous. The Arizona Cardinals are the latest Cinderella story. However, recent Cinderella stories have not ended on a positive note.

The Tampa Bay Rays, last place in 2007, went to the World Series in 2008. An astonishing occurrence that no one saw coming. But the Rays could not finish it off; they lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies in 5 games.

The Davidson Wildcats, led by Stephen Curry, reached the Elite 8 in the 2008 NCAA Basketball tournament. 10th seeded Davidson emerged past Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin to advance, but they could not move on to the Final 4. The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Cinderella team by 2 points and moved on to win the National Title.

The Colorado Rockies won 14 of their final 15 regular season games in 2007, including a tiebreaker to advance to the playoffs. The Rockies swept the Phillies and Diamondbacks, stretching their streak to 21 out of 22. The Rockies could not complete the dream as they were swept in the World Series by the Boston Red Sox.

The George Mason Patriots, an 11th seed, made it to the Final 4 in the 2006 NCAA tournament. George Mason beat Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State, and Connecticut to advance, only to lose to the Florida Gators in the semifinals.

Those 4 examples do not help any Cinderella team. But, those 4 stories happened in baseball and college basketball only. There is a sport that is “immune” to Cinderella failure. That sport…is football.

The 1968 Jets, the 1999 Rams, the 2001 Patriots, and the 2007 Giants were all Cinderella teams. They all overcame adversity to win the Super Bowl.

No one gave the Jets much of a chance as they were 19-point underdogs entering Super Bowl III. But Joe Namath’s guarantee created much buzz about the game. Jim Turner’s 3 field goals and Matt Snell’s touchdown run ended the Cinderella story with the Jets emerging victorious, 16-7.

The St. Louis Rams came into the regular season with lost hope; they lost starting quarterback Trent Green in a preseason game. Kurt Warner took his job and performed remarkably. He and the Rams went 13-3 in the regular season and made it to the Super Bowl. The Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Titans 23-16 and surprised the world.

After Mo Lewis knocked out Drew Bledsoe in a week 2 game, Tom Brady stepped in for the New England Patriots. Brady shocked the globe and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record and an appearance at Super Bowl XXXVI. Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning field goal put the Pats on top 20-17.

The New York Giants, a #5 seed in the playoffs, struggled at the end of the regular season, but still made the playoffs. After being underdogs to the Buccaneers, Cowboys, and Packers, the Giants stunned everyone and made it to the Super Bowl. When they faced the undefeated Patriots, the media thought the Giants stood no shot. But, Eli Manning and the Giants left Bill Belichick’s Patriots dumbfounded as they upset the previously 18-0 Pats 17-14.

Nowadays, Cinderella stories in sports are not uncommon. For the Arizona Cardinals, their Cinderella story may work in their favor.

Preliminary Rosters for WBC Announced

2009-01-19T19:56:00.005-05:00

The 2nd World Baseball Classic will run from March 5th until March 23rd. In 2006, Japan won the first ever WBC against Cuba.

The provisional rosters were announced today. The official rosters will be cut to 25-men and will be announced in late February. Here are some of the notable players on each team.

United States: Roy Oswalt, Jake Peavy, John Lackey, Scott Kazmir, Justin Verlander, Cole Hamels, Scot Shields, Joe Nathan, JJ Putz, Brian McCann, Derek Jeter, David Wright, Chipper Jones, Jimmy Rollins, Kevin Youkilis, Evan Longoria, Derrek Lee, Carlos Quentin, Vernon Wells, Grady Sizemore, Ryan Braun

Dominican Republic: Pedro Martinez, Edinson Volquez, Fausto Carmona, Ervin Santana, Johnny Cueto, Francisco Liriano, Damaso Marte, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez, David Ortiz, Jose Reyes, Robinson Cano, Carlos Pena, Miguel Tejada, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Vladimir Guerrero

Panama: Manny Corpas, Carlos Lee

Venezuela: Johan Santana, Felix Hernandez, Carlos Zambrano, Francisco Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, Magglio Ordoñez

Cuba: Yadiel Pedroso, Yulieski Gourriel, Alexei Ramirez, Osmany Urrutia, Yoandy Garlobo

Japan: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Yu Darvish, Hideki Okajima, Kenji Johjima, Kosuke Fukudome, Ichiro

Canada: Rich Harden, Jeff Francis, Eric Gagne, Russell Martin, Justin Morneau, Joey Votto, Jason Bay, Matt Stairs

México: Oliver Perez, Matt Garza, Yovani Gallardo, Joakim Soria, Luis Ayala, Adrian Gonzalez, Jorge Cantu

Puerto Rico: Joel Piñeiro, Javier Vazquez, Pedro Feliciano, Geovany Soto, Pudge Rodriguez, Carlos Delgado, Mike Lowell, Alex Rios, Carlos Beltran, Bernie Williams

Other notables:
Jair Jurrjens and Sidney Ponson for the Netherlands; Mike Napoli for Italy; Grant Balfour for Australia
------------------------------------------------------
Venezuela's rotation is phenomenal. Johan, Felix, and Zambrano will dominate.

The Dominican roster is also stacked. Though these are only preliminary, a lineup with Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes, Alfonso Soriano, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Albert Pujols may be one of the best lineups in today's game.

Though there are not many players listed on Cuba's national team, their roster is always filled with highly talented players. The same goes for Japan. Expect both teams to play very tough baseball and make a serious run at the title.

The US may not have the team with the most stars, but they are the most well-rounded team. They have a lot of depth in the rotation, bullpen, and lineup.

From a Yankee standpoint, Robinson Cano playing is a great thing for them. Cano usually starts his seasons off slow and in slumps. Getting him to play some serious baseball early on can only help him avoid a slow start.

Rex Ryan Named Jets' Head Coach

2009-01-19T11:09:00.003-05:00

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports Rex Ryan and the Jets have agreed on a contract offer. The contract is believed to be worth $11.5 million spread out over 4 years, close to what Steve Spagnuolo, another candidate for the Jets, received for his arrival in St. Louis.

It is reported that the Jets sent Ryan a formal offer nearly an hour after the Ravens lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship game Sunday night.

Ryan's introduction news conference is scheduled for Wednesday.

I really like this move for the Jets. Ryan will help the Jets' defense in so many ways. He can bring in personnel to improve on the passing defense and still maintain a solid run defense.

Ryan can also help players like Vernon Gholston make an impact. Gholston's effect was minimal over the course of the season. He recorded just 5 solo tackles and 8 assisted tackles in his rookie season.

With Rex Ryan at the helm, the Jets can even try a shift from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3. That can help Gholston as he was a defensive end at Ohio State (4-3 defense), but the Jets may not change their defense. Their set of linebackers may be too good in order to change their defense. Bryan Thomas, Calvin Pace, and Gholston are 3 very good outside linebackers while Eric Barton, David Harris, and David Bowens are the inside linebackers.

Whatever he does, he will certainly be an improvement over Eric Mangini. Ryan can motivate a team and his coaching decisions are also a step up from Mangini's.

Rex Ryan, welcome to the Jets.

The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl!

2009-01-18T19:33:00.004-05:00

For the first time in 61 years, the Arizona Cardinals are going to the NFL Championship game.

That’s right; the team that won the weakest division in the NFL is making it to the Super Bowl. The team that allowed 103 points to the Jets and Patriots combined is making it to the Super Bowl. The team with no 600-yard rusher is going to the Super Bowl. The team that outscored opponents by 3 points (429-426) in the regular season is going to the Super Bowl.

No one thought they would make it to the postseason, let alone the Super Bowl. 16 ESPN analysts recorded their preseason NFL predictions in August of 2008. Only 2 of them (Len Pasquarelli and Matt Williamson) chose Arizona to win the division. The rest chose the Seattle Seahawks to win the NFC West division.

The Cardinals entered the playoffs on a slide, losing 4 of their final 6 games. In those games, they were outscored 198-138. The playoffs were a whole new story for Ken Whisenhunt’s team.

Kurt Warner led the Cardinals past the Atlanta Falcons at home in the NFC wild card round. Warner threw for 271 yards with 2 touchdowns in the 30-24 victory. Larry Fitzgerald caught one of Warner’s two touchdowns and also had 101 receiving yards.

Rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, brother of Chargers’ cornerback Antonio Cromartie, led the Cards with 10 tackles in the win. Rodgers-Cromartie also intercepted one of Matt Ryan’s passes in the game.

In the divisional round, the Cardinals faced a much tougher situation: on the road, facing the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals were 0-5 on the east coast during the regular season, but again, the playoffs change everything.

Larry Fitzgerald caught 166 of Kurt Warner’s 220 passing yards and another touchdown. Running backs Tim Hightower and Edgerrin James combined for 133 rushing yards and one touchdown.

But the real story was the Cardinal defense. Arizona’s defensive line hurried Jake Delhomme and forced him to make inaccurate throws. Five of his mistakes ended up as interceptions by the Cardinals. Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted his second pass of the playoffs in the game. Antrel Rolle also picked off one of Delhomme’s passes en route to a 33-13 victory over Carolina.

At home, the Cardinals faced the Philadelphia Eagles, who beat them Thanksgiving night 48-28. The Eagles also defeated the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants just to make it to the playoffs and to make it to the NFC Championship game.

Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner hooked up 9 times. Fitzgerald caught 152 yards and 3 touchdowns, but Kurt Warner shined with his other teammates too.

With Arizona losing 25-24 in the 4th quarter, the ball was in Kurt Warner’s hands and he needed to make plays. A crucial 4th and 2 play forced the Cardinals to decide on an important play. Warner handed the ball off to running back Tim Hightower and ran to the outside for a 1st down, saving the Cardinals’ season.

With 2:59 to go in the 4th quarter, Kurt Warner threw it to Hightower 8 yards into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. Warner and the Cards won the game 33-25 and are going to Super Bowl XLIII, the Cardinals’ first in team history.

Larry Fitzgerald made history in the playoffs, becoming the first player to record 3-100 receiving yard games in the same postseason. Fitzgerald was also the first player to score 3 touchdowns in the first half of an NFL conference championship game.

The Arizona Cardinals’ 61-year championship drought was the second-longest in sports history for teams in North America. Only the Chicago Cubs’ World Series drought that is over a century long stands now.

Former Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner improved to 3-0 in conference championship games. Warner is looking to go 2-1 in his Super Bowl appearances.

The Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on February 1 in Tampa, Florida.

Take 3

2009-01-16T16:57:00.000-05:00

Week 4: Steelers win 23-20 in overtime. Week 15: Steelers win 13-9 on a crucial touchdown call on 3rd and goal with 50 seconds to go. What does the AFC Championship game bring?

The Baltimore Ravens will enter the AFC Championship game on a 4-game win streak, beating the Cowboys, Jaguars, Dolphins, and Titans along the way. The Pittsburgh Steelers come in winning 7 of their last 8.

The Steelers are 2-0 against the Ravens this season, none by margins greater than 4. This game will be filled with intensity and 2 teams fighting hard for a Super Bowl berth, but who wins it?

For the Ravens, in their 4 game winning streak, they have outscored their opponents 100-50. That’s right, their defense allowed only 50 points total to the Cowboys, Jaguars, Dolphins, and Titans.

Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco isn’t playing like a rookie. Flacco has thrown for 742 yards in the past 4 games, not throwing an interception in any one of them.

The Ravens are a 7-3 team on the road, which is more than adequate, but the Steelers are 7-2 at home. Pittsburgh was the only team to win at home in the divisional round.

The Steelers’ defense has been excellent in their past 8 games, with a +8 turnover differential. If you take away the loss against Tennessee, their turnover differential goes to +12, an unheard of amount in a 7-game span.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for 1800 yards in the past 8 games too and his leadership is what gave the Steelers the extra boost down the stretch to make it this far.

This game will be a game of inches, either team can win. The Steelers are already 2-0 against the Ravens this season and need to go 3-0 to advance to the Super Bowl. I believe they will get that third victory, but it will be close. Both offenses will be facing intimidating defenses, so it comes down to whose defense can force more turnovers.

Prediction:
Steelers over Ravens, 16-10.

Battle of the Birds

2009-01-15T12:52:00.001-05:00

Who thought the Arizona Cardinals would beat the Atlanta Falcons in the wild card round? Who thought they would beat the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round? Who thought the Philadelphia Eagles would beat the New York Giants in the divisional round? Well, it wasn’t me.

The NFC playoff picture is now a “battle of the birds.” The Eagles against the Cardinals. Who has this game?

In week 13, the Eagles bashed the Cardinals in a 48-20 victory that would propel them to the playoffs. The Cardinals, playing in the weak NFC West division, found that game to have little impact on their season, but it was an embarrassing loss. Arizona allowed over 400 total yards, turned the ball over 4 times, and barely had more than 20 minutes of possession.

Both teams enter the NFC championship game on 3-game winning streaks. The Eagles have beaten Dallas, Minnesota, and now the Giants. The Cardinals defeated Seattle, Atlanta, and Carolina on their winning streak.

For the Cardinals sake, they are playing at home. Arizona is 7-2 at home (including the playoffs). The Eagles are barely a .500 team on the road, going 5-4-1 (including the playoffs) when they travel.

Also for Arizona, their defense has shined in the playoffs. They forced 3 turnovers against Atlanta and 6 against Carolina. 7 of the 9 turnovers have been interceptions. Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie and Ralph Brown both have 2 INT’s while Antrel Rolle, Gerald Hayes, and Roderick Hood each have 1.

The Arizona offense has only turned the ball over twice in the playoffs, once each game. The turnover differential is one success the Cardinals have.

The Cardinals rely on their offense having the ball. When they control the ball longer than their opponent, they are a 9-2 team. When they control the ball less than their opponent, they are 2-5.

However, the Eagles do not find trips to the west coast to be intimidating. Philly has gone 2-0 in their trips out west this season.

The Eagles’ defense has been outstanding over the past 3 weeks. Their D has forced 10 turnovers in their past 3 wins, 6 of which are fumbles. Their dazzling defense has 3 touchdowns too!

Donovan McNabb’s game is proficient in the playoffs. He threw for 517 yards with 2 touchdowns, but his 3 interceptions are forgettable. McNabb has also rushed for a touchdown.

Who has this game? I am going to say the Eagles, but it will be close. The Cardinals are a much better team at home than they are on the road and their secondary has shined, but that is what will keep them close.

The Eagles’ overall defense is much stronger than that of the Cardinals. They can pressure the quarterback and pick the ball off. The Eagles beat the Cardinals earlier and trounced all over them earlier. I expect this game to be much closer.

Prediction:
Eagles over Cardinals, 23-20.

I will have a preview of the Ravens/Steelers playoff game tomorrow.

Tradeable?

2009-01-10T17:24:00.002-05:00

The Yankees have supposedly been shopping around outfielders Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady. Some rumors include one of them being traded to the Reds for a pitcher, such as Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang. Why?

Nady and Swisher were both acquired via trade. Nady was traded in July of 2008 and Swisher only a few months ago. Nady was traded along with Damaso Marte for outfielder Jose Tabata (once a top prospect) and pitchers Dan McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf, and Jeff Karstens. Ohlendorf and Karstens have both pitched in the majors before the trades and had average performance. Tabata was a top prospect in the Yankees' organization for years before a down-season and troubles off the field. McCutchen pitched very well in the minors for the Yankees and was worth a call-up before traded.

Swisher was traded with a low-tier prospect for infielder Wilson Betemit and pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez. Betemit could be a regular player, but has a low batting average and strikes out often. Marquez was once regarded as a contender for a rotation spot a few years ago, but Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy earned it before him.

The Yankees essentially traded 7 players for the outfielders. They shouldn't give up on them, especially when Nady has only played 2 months for the Yankees and Swisher hasn't even played once.

Xavier Nady will be a free agent at the end of the year and is a Scott Boras client. The Yankees may consider resigning him at season's end, but no one knows for sure. Nady is in a contract year and studies show players in contract years peform better than they do in average years.

Swisher is locked up until 2011 and has a club option for 2012. Swisher is versatile and can play 1B (now played by Mark Teixeira) and all outfield positions. He is due $5.3 million in 2009, $6.75 million in 2010, and $9 million in 2011.

The Yankee outfield is (at the moment): Johnny Damon (LF), Melky Cabrera/Brett Gardner (CF), Xavier Nady (RF) and has Swisher riding the bench. Hideki Matsui will be the DH for the Yankees.

The Yankees should have Brett Gardner in AAA to start the season and Melky Cabrera on the bench. They should also have Damon play CF and Swisher play LF, or Damon play LF and Swisher play CF. That way Gardner can get more playing time and become more prepared for the majors. Gardner hit .228 in 42 games with the Yankees and had an OPS under .600. Melky Cabrera slumped in 2008 and he could be a late-inning, defensive replacement if needed.

Having Swisher and Nady in the same lineup would be a great idea and would only make the Yankees' lineup more fearful.

As of now, the Yankees' lineup is:
1. Johnny Damon (LF)
2. Derek Jeter (SS)
3. Mark Teixeira (1B)
4. Alex Rodriguez (3B)
5. Xavier Nady (RF)
6. Hideki Matsui (DH)
7. Jorge Posada (C)
8. Nick Swisher (CF)
9. Robinson Cano (2B)

Rex Ryan is the Man for the Job

2009-01-05T17:16:00.003-05:00

First, I would like to take the time to say goodbye to Eric Mangini, who ended his Jet tenure with a 23-26 record (including the postseason). “Mangenius” is not the name you deserved. Your coaching did not motivate the team when it mattered most and it cost the Jets some games too.

In the week 16 game against the Seattle Seahawks, you sent kicker Jay Feely out for a 45 yard attempt. It was good, but a delay of game penalty negated it. After the call, you decided to punt the ball away. Why? Before that game, Feely was 6/7 in field goal attempts over 40 yards. His field goal would have easily been good from 50, and possibly 55 yards away.

Also, when the team was only down by a touchdown, a crucial 4th and 4 call decided the fate of the game. There were three timeouts left and you decided to go for it. Why? The ball was placed deep inside Jet territory and failure to convert would have meant a clear Seattle victory. Trust your defense to make a stop!

Who is out there to replace Mangini? There is Steve Spagnuolo, Mike Shanahan, and Rex Ryan.

Personally, I wanted Bill Cowher to replace Mangini. Cowher has a great coaching background with the Steelers, including a Super Bowl win against the Seahawks. Cowher’s career winning percentage is .623 in the regular season and .574 in the postseason (12-9 record). The Jets need someone to motivate them and that is Bill Cowher. Sadly, he declined to interview and will continue broadcasting with CBS in 2009.

There is nothing wrong with Steve Spagnuolo though. Spagnuolo is a great defensive coordinator and has been coaching defenses since 1984, back when he was the defensive line coach on Lafayette College. Spagnuolo runs a 4-3 defense with the Giants and that is certainly what the Jets need, but it may be unlikely he will accept a job with the Jets. He has a nice job where he is and the Giants may make a bigger, better offer to keep Spagnuolo.

Mike Shanahan is different. He has been the head coach of the Denver Broncos for 15 years with a .616 winning percentage. Shanahan won two Super Bowl titles in his tenure with the Broncos and made it to the postseason 7 times. Though his career is impressive, he is not a head coach that focuses on defense. Plus, with the Broncos' recent collapse, who knows if the same thing will happen again with the Jets.

Rex Ryan should be the next head coach of the Jets. Ryan has been working with the Ravens’ outstanding defense since 1999 and is currently their defensive coordinator AND assistant head coach. Ryan would easily be an improvement over Mangini and he would establish the 4-3 defense. Ryan worked with the Ravens’ secondary and succeeded with it. If the Jets could improve on their secondary they would be a legitimate Super Bowl contender for 2009.

Rex Ryan brings change towards the Jets. He can fix the team's defense and help the pass defense. Changing the defense to a 4-3 would give Vernon Gholston, last year's first round pick, more of an impact and help the pass rush. Plus it solves their problem at the right defensive end. Rex Ryan should be the next head coach of the New York Jets.

New York 2009 Goals

2009-01-01T13:40:00.002-05:00

2008 is over, 2009 is here. In 2008, we saw the Yankees miss the playoffs, the Mets choke down the stretch, the Giants win the Super Bowl and clinch home-field advantage in the 2009 playoffs, and the Jets choke down the stretch. What are some reasonable expecations and goals for these teams to accomplish for the new year?

New York Yankees
Expectation: Make the postseason. After not making it last year, they desperately need to. They signed three top free agents over the off season (so far). With the rotation they have (CC Sabathia/Chien-Ming Wang/A.J. Burnett/Joba Chamberlain/Phil Hughes), their pitching staff should be much improved. Plus with a healthy lineup that includes two power hitters in their prime (Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira), there is no excuse for not making the playoffs.
Goals: Score over 850 runs and accumulate at least 930 innings from their starting rotation. In 2007, the Yankee offense scored over 968 runs. In 2008, the offense scored 789 runs. Hitting coach Kevin Long needs to get back to his 2007 form and teach the players how to hit. As for their pitching staff, Peter Abraham of LoHud Blogs found an interesting statistic. The playoff teams from 2008 had enormous innings pitched by their rotation. The Rays (973.1), Red Sox (966.2), White Sox (998.1) and Angels (1,012) all had great support. The Yankees only had a 898.1 innings pitched by their rotation. 40 innings by the rotation is a lot, they need all the help they can.

New York Mets
Expectations: Make the playoffs. The Mets choked down the stretch the past two years. 2007 was just a dreadful collapse and 2008 was just as bad. They need to prove they can finish a season without falling in the past month. The Mets need to make the playoffs so they can erase the harsh memories from 2007 and 2008.
Goals: A better bullpen for sure. The Mets' save percentage was 60%, tied for 4th worst in the National League and tied for 9th worst in baseball. They blew 29 saves, 3rd worst in baseball. They also allowed 58 homeruns, tied for 8th worst in baseball. And as for earned run average, the Mets' bullpen ranked 23rd (4.27). They desperately need bullpen help, desperately. They already got help from acquiring Francisco Rodriguez and JJ Putz and losing Scott Schoeneweis, Aaron Heilman, and Joe Smith.

New York Jets
Expectations: Make the playoffs. The Jets collapsed over their final 5 games, going 1-4. They were outcoached and outplayed over those games. No matter who the coach is, no matter who the quarterback is, they need to make the playoffs. They already faced a lot of criticism by the media for their offseason acquisitions of Alan Faneca, Damien Woody, Kris Jenkins, and Calvin Pace. Brett Favre added on to that. If the Jets want to erase 2008, they need to make the playoffs in 2009.
Goals: Find a new QB and improve on pass defense. Brett Favre's TD/INT ratio was 22/22, not what anyone expected. He is old, washed up, and needs to retire. The Jets need QB help and Favre is not the solution. Whether they try to sign Matt Cassel, Tom Brady's replacement, or look in the draft for a QB, they need help. The Jets' pass defense was appalling to say the least. They allowed 234.5 passing yards per game, 4th worst in the NFL. 23 passing touchdowns were allowed, tied for 8th worst in the NFL. The Jets ranked 26th in opponent's completion percentage. They need help at SS and CB. Abram Elam is not doing the job, neither is Eric Smith at safety. Darrelle Revis is a pro-bowler but he needs another cornerback to complement him.

New York Giants
Expectations: For the upcoming playoffs, make it to the NFC Championship game. The Giants' surprise run to win last year's Super Bowl was astounding. They already have home-field advantage for this year's postseason and not making it back to the title game will be a disappointment. As for next season, it is too early to be thinking of that. They need to focus on this season first.
Goals: Win the Super Bowl. No one thought they would win the Super Bowl last year. No one thought the Giants would come remotely close to winning this year's Super Bowl after losing defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. No one thought they would stand strong after the Plaxico Burress shooting. The trend here is shunning the nonbelievers and proving the doubters wrong. Their goal is to win the Super Bowl again.

Teixeira Signing Sparks Ignorance

2008-12-24T16:20:00.002-05:00

The New York Yankees missed the playoffs in 2008 and the Yankees' front office is trying to prevent that from happening again in 2009. They lost $88+ million in salary over the offseason, but that plays no part to the media. The Yankees signed CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, proving their typical big name spending. But that is what many analysts expected. What they did not expect is what just happened.

As you may have heard, the Yankees signed another Scott Boras client, Mark Teixeira to an 8 yr, $180 million contract. This came as a surprise to many as no one expected the Yankees to play part to Teixeira after trading for former Whitesox first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher.

But what really catches my eye is the amount of ignorance by the media and other fans. The Yankees are probably the most hated team in baseball because of their 26 World Series titles and their enormous salary. But because of their hatred and ignorance, fans everywhere say they will miss the playoffs. Period. There is no logical explanation to that.

Injuries? Every team suffers from injuries, even fluke ones. They happen to every team, don't say your team can avoid injuries.

Relief pitching? Mariano is still one of the most dominating closers in baseball. He blew one save last year (39/40 in save opps) with a very low ERA (1.40) and a superb K/BB ratio (77/6). Damaso Marte, though struggling at first in the AL East after the trade, really pitched well at the end of the year. In the last 11 innings pitched, he allowed just two runs. Bruney, Ramirez, and Veras are all middle relievers and should play big roles for '09. Phil Coke should also pitch well in 2009.

These players are all overrated? That may be, but they are great players. If they did not sign with the Yankees, there would be no talk of them being overrated.

The Yankees still managed to trim their payroll from 2008, which is astounding. The only difference is they signed big name free agents to do it, and that is what is getting everyone all riled up.

The Yankee Hot Stove (to date)

2008-12-12T20:33:00.002-05:00

Well the offseason has been underway for several weeks now and I for one am more than impressed with the Yankees. Last year they were in the Johan Santana biddings but did not take it to the next level. Johan ended up in Flushing with the Mets and the Yankees did not have another ace. Also last year, their biggest acquisition was probably LaTroy Hawkins, who was traded to Houston in the summer. Morgan Ensberg was their biggest offensive signing and he amounted to nothing as well. Oh what a difference a year makes.

Yankees sign P Sergio Mitre to one-year deal with club option for 2010
This was a low-risk, high-reward (potentially) deal for New York. Mitre missed the ’08 season due to injury. This was a good signing for New York. The 27-year old pitcher can be a nice addition to the Yankees. He won’t find much room in the rotation but could make an impact in the bullpen alongside the likes of Brian Bruney, Edwar Ramirez, and Jose Veras.

Yankees resign RP Damaso Marte to three-year deal with club option for 2012
The Yankees originally declined Marte’s $6 million option but decided to sign him to a longer deal. This was a great deal by New York as they kept the left-handed reliever. Marte could be the set-up man or lefty specialist for the Yankees in 2009. Plus Marte’s K/9 ratio is strong to make the Yankee bullpen even stronger.

Yankees trade P Jeff Marquez, P Johnny Nunez, and INF Wilson Betemit to the Whitesox for 1B/OF Nick Swisher and P Kanekoa Texeira
This was somewhat a surprise deal pulled off by Brian Cashman, but it was a nice one. The Yankees got rid of Betemit and his massive amount of strikeouts. Betemit was probably the key bench player in 2009 for the Yankees. Jeff Marquez was once considered to make an impact toward the Yankees’ pitching staff in the future, but with the emergence of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Alfredo Aceves, Marquez was not in the plans.

Mike Mussina retires
This may not have been a surprise to many, I included, but this was not in the Yankees’ hands. Mike Mussina retired on his own terms and leave baseball on a 20-win season. I just want to take the time to say congratulations to Mussina for an astounding career and hopefully a trip to Cooperstown in five years.

Yankees sign SP CC Sabathia to 7 year, $161 million deal (opt-out clause after 3rd year)
The Yankees needed to make a big splash and did so by signing CC Sabathia. They stayed put by not going after another left-handed ace last year, Johan Santana, but decided to pay the big man his money. Though he was considering signing a deal on the west coast, closer to his home, he took more money to play in the Big Apple. CC is the ace the Yankees need and he can be known as one of the premier pitchers in baseball more now than ever. The opt-out clause after his 3rd season in New York can be good for both sides. For the Yankees, if he opts out they will have gotten three excellent years in his prime. For Sabathia, after three years he can opt-out and sign with a team in the west coast closer to his home for the later years of his career.

Yankees sign SP A.J. Burnett to 5 year, $82.5 million deal
This is another great move by New York to bolster their rotation. Burnett will likely be the #3 pitcher for the Yankees behind Sabathia and Chien-Ming Wang. Though Burnett could have been an ace on the Braves, he chose to be a #3 pitcher for the Yankees. The announcement of the signing of Burnett was released just days after the signing of Sabathia was announced.

The Yankees planned to lay low for the 2007 off season and go away from their known philosophy of signing players to big contracts and trading away prospects for proven veterans and saw what their results were: missing the playoffs. Though their record was very good, 89-73, but just not good enough to make the playoffs.

The 2008 offseason is much different as they went out to trade for Nick Swisher and sign pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. The Yankees still may not be done but no one knows for sure. One thing is certain: over the course of one year, the Yankee mentality changed drastically.

Oklahoma thrashes Texas Tech 65-21

2008-11-23T16:33:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, but here is my latest article.

It was supposed to be a game of two teams battling it out at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. It was supposed to be a game that would be considered a classic. It was supposed to be a game that would be replayed on television over and over again. None of those happened Saturday night as the Oklahoma Sooners dismantled the Texas Tech Red Raiders 65-21.

Oklahoma drove 73 yards down field on their first drive of the game for a DeMarco Murray touchdown run. Murray, a sophomore running back, ran for 48 yards on the drive and sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford threw for 22 yards. Murray’s night would not be finished.
Sophomore defensive end Adrian Taylor and sophomore defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sacked Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell for 12 and 7 yards respectively on their next drive. After the ensuing punt, Bradford and junior tight end Jermaine Gresham hooked up for a 42-yard reception. Junior running back Chris Brown ended that 76-yard drive with a 4 yard touchdown run, extending the Sooner lead to 14-0.

Texas Tech drove down field in the red zone on their following drive, but did not convert a 4th and 3, turning the ball over to the Sooners. DeMarco Murray was a key player on the ensuing drive. Murray ran the ball 23 yards on a 1st down and also caught a Sam Bradford pass for a 31 yard reception. Bradford passed the ball to Gresham again on the drive, but this time for a 19 yard touchdown catch. Gresham’s touchdown put the Sooners ahead 21-0 with 10:58 left in the 1st half.

Texas Tech continued to struggle as they failed to convert another 4th down. After the failed 4th down conversion, Sam Bradford continued to shine. Bradford scrambled twice for gains of 13 and 8 yards. Bradford also threw the ball to senior wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias for a 28 yard touchdown, increasing the Texas Tech deficit to 4 touchdowns!

The Red Raiders finally showed some signs of life when Harrell threw the ball 34 yards to senior wide receiver Eric Morris. Two plays later, Harrell and freshman wide receiver Tramain Swindall put the Red Raiders on the scoreboard with a 25 yard touchdown pass.

However, the Red Raiders could not gain momentum. Murray and Brown continued to establish a solid running game for Oklahoma. Murray ran for 28 yards and Brown ran for 37 yards on the next drive that ended in a Chris Brown touchdown, making the Sooner lead back to 4 touchdowns. When it had seemed as if the lead could not have been any bigger, freshman linebacker Travis Lewis intercepted a Harrell pass and returned it to the Texas Tech 2 yard line. Murray ran up the middle for another touchdown. At halftime, Oklahoma was up 42-7, a monumental amount of points scored in one half.

The 2nd half was much like the 1st half. Oklahoma scored a field goal on their first drive of the half. Sophomore linebacker Keenan Clayton returned a fumble by Texas Tech senior running back Shannon Woods to the Texas Tech 3 yard line to end a potential Red Raider run. Two plays later, Chris Brown ran the ball into the end zone again to continue the Texas Tech nightmare. With 1:38 left to go in the 3rd quarter, Bradford launched a deep ball down field that was caught by senior wide receiver Manuel Johnson for a 66 yard touchdown pass. Oklahoma continued to pour it on with a Ryan Broyles 26 yard touchdown catch from Sam Bradford, increasing the lead to 65-14.

Sam Bradford increased his chances at winning the Heisman Trophy with his 4 touchdown game. Bradford was 14/19 with 304 passing yards. Bradford now has 42 passing touchdowns on the season. DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown combined for 233 of the Sooners’ 299 rushing yards and a whopping 5 touchdowns! Jermaine Gresham caught 5 passes for 95 yards with 1 touchdown. Gresham has 10 touchdowns in the 2008 campaign now. Kicker Jimmy Stevens kicked 1 field goal and 8 extra points in the game.

As for the Red Raiders, Graham Harrell was 30/51 in his passes with 317 yards in the air. Harrell also threw 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. The Red Raider run game was shut down by Oklahoma’s defense. Graham Harrell’s running abilities were not shown as he contributed negative yardage on the ground. The Red Raiders cumulated 19 carries for 24 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Michael Crabtree’s Heisman campaign also likely ended with his poor performance. Crabtree had no touchdowns and only 62 receiving yards with 6 catches.

Texas Tech fell to 10-1 with the loss, likely ruining their chance at playing for the National Championship game in January. Oklahoma’s odds are still alive with the victory as they too are 10-1. Texas Tech will face Baylor next week while Oklahoma will face Oklahoma State.

Yankees' Hot Stove preview

2008-11-02T19:59:00.005-05:00

The 2008 season for the New York Yankees was just a disappointment. Their offense failed to score more than two runs 50 times this season. Their pitching has had problems, especially by trying to develop their young players like Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Injuries have taken a toll on the team. Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Brian Bruney, Jon Albaladejo, and others have been on the disabled list at least one time. Posada and Wang have been out for extended periods of time, since June and have missed the entire season since. As the Yankees wrap up their final season at Yankee Stadium, they will head into 2009 going into a brand new, $1.3 billion stadium right across the street. They will also face many key decisions to make.

The Yankees already resigned Brian Cashman to a 3-year extension through the 2011 season at GM. The past few seasons, Cashman has revamped the entire farm system and changed the tactic of the Yankees. Before, the Yankees’ approach to prospects was to trade them for major-league ready players. One of the examples of trading a key prospect for a major-league ready player was when the Yankees traded Jay Buhner, Rich Balabon, and Troy Evers to the Mariners for Ken Phelps. This move was criticized by many and seen as a giant mistake in retrospect. Now the Yankees’ strategy is to rebuild but still try to contend for the postseason by keeping potential impact players that could help the team in the future. In 2004, the Yankees were ranked 27th in baseball by their minor league depth by Baseball America. Now they rank the Yankees 5th in all of baseball, courtesy of Brian Cashman. It is a great move in my opinion and he can build on his own success if he puts the pieces of the puzzle together.

The Yankees have a lot of players who will be free agents at the end of the season. Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Carl Pavano, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, and Damaso Marte are some notable players. Those players will free more than $88 million off their payroll. They face many crucial decisions to make whether to resign them or let them walk. Notable players who will be in the free agent class are CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett (assuming he opts out of his current deal with Toronto), Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and other key players. Here is my analysis on these players.

Mike Mussina – 20-9, 3.37 ERA in 2008 (SP, 40 yrs old, Type A)
Mike Mussina entered the 2008 campaign with extremely low expectations. Fans and analysts saw him as a back-of-the-line rotation starter or even a relief pitcher. His season was just stellar compared to the predictions. Mussina won 20 games (which nearly sealed him a ticket to Cooperstown) with an ERA in the mid-3.00s. He was the Yankees’ ace in 2008. I would offer Mussina arbitration and potentially a 2 year deal if he declines arbitration. If he accepts, we have him for another year. It would be good to have him but one cannot expect him to put up numbers like he did in 2008. If he declines, the Yankees receive 2 draft picks and continue to build around their future. If he declines, he could retire on a high note with his 20-win season.

Andy Pettitte – 14-14, 4.54 ERA in 2008 (SP, 36 yrs old, Type A)
Pettitte, a longtime Yankee, will be a free agent this offseason. Pettitte struggled at times in 2008 as his ERA points to a sign of decline. There has been some speculation that teams have figured out his deceiving pickoff move, which would be a tremendous blow to his future. He has had a lot of success over his Yankee career (and Astros career from 2004-06), but I do not think the past will make the Yankees jump all over him. I would not mind seeing him back in Pinstripes, but definitely not at the money he made in 2008 ($16 million). I would offer him arbitration too. If he accepts, he is back for one more year. If he declines and signs with another team (potentially the Astros) than the Yankees would receive 2 draft picks in the 2009 MLB draft. If he retires (which there has been some minor speculation of), than his career will end. It may be on a sour note with the steroid issue and the high ERA, but all in all, he did have a solid career.

Carl Pavano – 4-2, 5.77 ERA in 2008 (SP, 33 yrs old, None)
“American Idle” signed a 4-year deal worth around $40 million in the 2004 offseason. The Yankees, thinking they picked up a gem, could not be any more wrong. The New York media has been all over him, criticizing his lack of team effort and failure to stay healthy and durable. Pavano has endured injuries to his shoulder, buttocks, ribs, and elbow, all of which had led to his demise. I say let him go for good. Get him out of New York. The fans do not like him and neither do some of the Yankee players. Since he is not a type A nor a type B, the Yankees will not receive any compensation for his departure.

Ivan Rodriguez – .276/7/35/.714 OPS (with DET and NYY) in 2008 (C, 37 yrs old, Type B)
Pudge Rodriguez was acquired by the Yankees in a deadline deal by the Tigers for reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Pudge hit .219 with New York after hitting .295 with Detroit. In the Yankees’ perspective, I would let Pudge walk. The Yankees will have Jorge Posada healthy in 2009 and also a well-rested Jose Molina. Francisco Cervelli, a young minor league catcher, can be the injury replacement. Pudge’s exit will net a draft pick for the Yankees.

Jason Giambi – .247/32/96/.876 OPS in 2008 (1B, 38 yrs old, None)
Jason Giambi’s situation with the Yankees is a tough one. This year has been a success for him, hitting 32 homeruns and close to 100 RBI. Giambi has had his share of misery as he hit .236 with only 14 homeruns and 39 RBI in 2007. He is making $22+ million this season and it is doubtful he will make even close to that next season. His option for the 2009 season will likely be declined with a $5 million buyout. The Yankees need a real first baseman. Giambi has said he would like to return to the Yankees in 2009 and would be willing to take a pay cut for it. It is a difficult decision on what to do for Giambi. If the Yankees make an attempt at Mark Teixeira, expect Giambi to say good-bye to the Bronx. If the Yankees do not go for Teixeira, than there is a possibility Giambi could be back, but not a great possibility. The Yankees can move Johnny Damon to 1B or maybe Jorge Posada to 1B if he is not fully healthy. Juan Miranda, a Cuban 1B, can replace Giambi if everyone retains their spot.

Bobby Abreu – .296/20/100/.843 OPS in 2008 (RF, 35 yrs old, Type A)
Abreu has been a Yankee since the deadline deal in the 2006 season. Since then he has met expectations and filled a much needed void in the outfield. Abreu’s arm is one of the best currently on the Yankees, but his overall defense is average at best. I would offer Abreu arbitration and leave it at that. If he accepts, he is on the Yankees for one more season and would play the same role in 2009 as he did in 2008. If he declines, he can sign somewhere else and the Yankees would obtain 2 draft picks for compensation.

Damaso Marte – 5-3, 4.02 ERA, 5 saves (with PIT and NYY) in 2008 (RP, 34 yrs old, Type A)
Marte came along with Xavier Nady in the deadline deal from the Pirates when the Yankees traded away 4 minor leaguers. Marte was acquired by the Yankees because when they were still in contention, they needed a left-handed relief pitcher, and that’s what they got with Marte. Marte has a $6 million option for the 2009 season and the Yankees are in a debacle with him. They can pick up the option and use Marte for the 2009 season as the set-up man; they can pick up the option and trade him for prospects, they can decline the option and let him walk, or they can decline the option, offer him arbitration, and see where it goes from there. The Yankees cannot go wrong by keeping Marte on their roster. If they do not choose to have him on their 2009 roster, they will have Phil Coke and/or Billy Traber to replace him as the lefty in the bullpen. Plus, Marte would enable the Yankees to acquire 2 draft picks.

CC Sabathia – 17-10, 2.70 ERA, 10 CG (with CLE and MIL) in 2008 (SP, 28 yrs old, Type A)
CC was the 2007 Cy Young award winner for the Cleveland Indians and has also gone on a rampage for the Milwaukee Brewers since they traded for him in July. Sabathia is due to get a ton of offers from a lot of big league clubs all over. Hank Steinbrenner has openly said that Sabathia was the top priority of the Yankees’ offseason. He has pitched over 500 innings in the past 2 seasons, but if I were the Yankees, I would throw that out the window. He is the much needed ace the Yankees need that can go long into games and strike people out. He can also pitch on short rest (as he did several times during the pennant race) and pitch during the stretch run. His postseason struggles are a “hazard” but to get to the postseason, you must succeed in the regular season. Sabathia is due an enormous contract in the offseason and the Yankees need to be the ones who give it to him. However, if the Yankees do sign him, they will lose a first round draft pick because Sabathia is a type A free agent.

Ben Sheets – 13-9, 3.09 ERA in 2008 (SP, 30 yrs old, Type A)
Ben Sheets is Sabathia’s teammate and has had a great season with a 3.09 ERA. Sheets has had problems with injuries before, most recently elbow problems that left him off the Milwaukee postseason roster. Sheets is only 30, but the injury history is more than a big risk. The Yankees should not make a pitch to sign him because there are better options than him (Sabathia, Burnett, etc.). If they do sign him, it should be to a short-term deal with not as much money as he deserves when healthy.

A.J. Burnett – 18-10, 4.07 ERA in 2008 (SP, 32 yrs old, Type A)
Burnett is a pitcher who opted out of his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He could have opted in and stayed firm with Toronto, but he chose to opt out to explore more possibilities and seek more money. Burnett has had injury problems in the past with his shoulder, which causes concern for teams interested in the pitcher. A reason to make a pitch for Burnett is because he dominates the American League east. In his career, he has an ERA of 2.97 against the Redsox; 2.58 ERA against the Yankees; 1.00 ERA against the Blue Jays; and a 2.98 ERA against the Rays. Burnett has a very good fastball and curveball which is also a plus. However he does struggle at times. His 18-10 record seems exceptional but his 4.18 ERA is worrisome. Nevertheless, I would offer Burnett a contract that is between 3 and 5 years in length. Burnett dominates the AL East which is important and when he is on his game, he can be one of the best pitchers in the league. It would not surprise me if the Yankees sign him because he would have a tremendous impact on their 2009 rotation. If they do not sign him, than it is only a missed opportunity in a Yankee standpoint.

Mark Teixeira – .308/33/121/.962 OPS (with ATL and LAA) in 2008 (1B, 28 yrs old, Type A)
Mark Teixeira is a young first baseman who is a great defender and a power hitter. Some teams that are bound to be interested in him are the Angels, the Redsox, the Orioles, and the Yankees. There are many other teams that could offer Teixeira a contract but those 4 teams are only the most notable teams. The switch-hitter has said he wanted a long-term contact from 8 to 10 years and deserves one. His agent, Scott Boras, is sure to advertise Teixeira for as much money as possible. By that, it could range anywhere from $150 million to $225 million (or even more!). Teixeira should be the Yankees’ #2 priority and “Big Hank” is certain to offer him a big contract. Do not be surprised if he signs with another team, but do not be shocked if he does sign with New York.

Manny Ramirez – .332/37/121/1.031 OPS (with BOS and LAD) in 2008 (LF, 36 yrs old, Type A)
Ramirez, coming off a dramatic 2008 campaign, almost led Joe Torre’s Dodgers to the World Series. He also almost sunk the Redsox to the ground with his incidents on and off the field. Ramirez is a career .321 hitter against the Yankees with an OPS of 1.029. He has 55 homeruns and 163 RBI against the Yankees in his life. Why would the Yankees sign him? He wants vengeance on the Redsox because they “disrespected” him. Plus it would only help the Yankees offensively. Why would the Yankees stay away from him? He is just a hassle on and off the field. Plus the Yankees already have a lot of depth in the outfield. Again, Hank Steinbrenner has said the Yankees will “explore” the Manny Ramirez situation, but in my mind he is staying with LA. Ramirez is not the person the Yankees need. He does help the offense but his antics will lead to an assured fiasco.

Robinson Cano – .271/14/72/.715 OPS in 2008 (2B, 26 yrs old, under contract)
2 seasons ago, Robinson Cano was contending for the batting title in the American League, only behind Joe Mauer and teammate Derek Jeter. This season, with a batting average of .270 and going into colossal slumps, fans have booed him and critiqued him with his streaky hitting and his poor defensive play. Many have said that Cano has struggled because of the loss over former 3rd base coach Larry Bowa because Bowa gave Cano tough love and say that is what Cano needed for motivation. I still believe Robinson Cano is the 2nd baseman of the future for the franchise. Trading Cano will continue with the old “Yankee-way” by trading young prospects for older, experienced players. He is still very young and there is plenty of room for improvement.

Melky Cabrera – .249/8/37/.641 (sent to AAA for a stint) in 2008 (OF, 24 yrs old, under contract)
Melky Cabrera filled Hideki Matsui’s spot in 2006 when Matsui broke his wrist in a game. The fracture forced Matsui to be sidelined for the majority of the season, initiating Melky Cabrera’s time in the majors. In 2006, Cabrera was a huge asset to the team with his defense and speed with 12 outfield assists and 12 stolen bases. His 2006 campaign affected his role in 2007, when Cabrera was the starting centerfielder for the Yankees. His defense shined again in 2007 with 16 outfield assists. His speed was still intact with 13 stolen bases. 2008 was an entirely different story for the switch hitter. Between 2007 and 2008, Cabrera’s batting average dropped 31 points, on-base percentage dropped 31 points, and slugging percentage dropped 54 points. He had 37 fewer RBI in 2008 than 2007. All had seemed lost for him. With his value diminished, many have wanted him out of New York with all of the players currently occupying the outfield. I would not sell low on Cabrera. He has plenty of value and potential. He could be part of the future outfield for the Yankees or he could just be trade bait to land another player. The Yankees should keep Cabrera and let him develop.

Ian Kennedy – 0-4, 8.17 ERA in MLB (6-3, 2.22 ERA in MiLB) in 2008 (SP, 24 yrs old, under contract)
In 2007, Ian Kennedy was called up to the majors to see if he could help the Yankees in a playoff run. He did that, with a 1.89 ERA in 3 starts for the Bombers. In 2008, it was expected that he would be a back-end rotation starter for the season. Kennedy had a dreadful season for the 2008 New York Yankees. In 10 starts, he pitched a total of 39.2 innings, allowing 36 earned runs and 50 hits in the span. His 8.17 ERA is appalling and his criticism of the New York media has also ruined his image. He was not a favorite by manager Joe Girardi as he disapproved of Kennedy’s comments towards the media. I still believe Kennedy’s future is with the Yankees. The former 1st round pick from Southern California is very young and has plenty of time to mature. He has to learn how to act toward the media to avoid controversy.

Phil Hughes – 0-4, 6.62 ERA in MLB (3-0, 4.79 ERA in MiLB) in 2008 (SP, 22 yrs old, under contract)
Phil Hughes has had his shares of highs and lows. He had a no-hitter going in his 2nd career MLB start in 2007, but had to leave that game due to injury. In the 2007 postseason, he was successful by allowing 1 run in 5.2 innings. In the AAA championship game, he struck out 12 in 5 innings. In a September game against the Blue Jays, he pitched 8 quality innings. Those were his highs, but here are some of his lows: being rushed to the bigs in 2007, the injuries he suffered in 2007 and 2008, vision problems (had to start wearing glasses), and starting off the 2008 campaign with an ERA of 9.00 in 6 April appearances (34 earned runs in 34 innings pitched). He has been pitching in the Arizona fall league to build up arm strength and develop better pitches. He is one of the youngest players in the game now and it would be wrong for him to be given up on. It was thought that Hughes had ace-type pitches and could develop into an ace in the future. That is still not completely unlikely as there is plenty of time for development.

2008 MLB Awards

2008-10-30T21:23:00.002-04:00

Well, the season is over and the Phillies are World Series champions. There are only 2 things left to discuss about baseball: the offseason and the awards. Here are the awards I would give out.

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez (NYY)
2. Dustin Pedroia (BOS)
3. Carlos Quentin (CHW)
Alex Rodriguez led the American League in VORP (value over replacement player), MLV (marginal lineup value), and PMLV (positional marginal lineup value). Those three statistics are sabremetrics, which are a great way to value a player. Alex Rodriguez’s Yankees did not make the playoffs, which is a disadvantage from the voters. However, A-Rod’s power numbers (35 HR/103 RBI/.965 OPS) are better than those of Pedroia (17 HR/83 RBI/.869 OPS). Both Rodriguez and Quentin missed extended periods of time due to injury, but the reason Quentin falls short of the MVP title is because he was injured when his team needed him most: in September. Quentin led the league with 36 homeruns before he was out with an injury. Despite missing the final 26 games of the regular seasons, he was only one homerun shy of the American League lead (Miguel Cabrera, 37). The overall American League was weak in statistics. Pedroia, Quentin, and Kevin Youkilis may all deserve the MVP award, but it goes to A-Rod here.

NL MVP: Albert Pujols (STL)
2. Hanley Ramirez (FLA)
3. Chipper Jones (ATL)
I don’t know how the top 3 National League MVP candidates are from non-playoff teams either, but this is how I predict it. Albert Pujols had the power, the batting average, and the clutch hitting to give him the MVP award. He led the NL in VORP, MLV, and PMLV just like Rodriguez. Pujols came in 2nd in the batting title to Chipper Jones. Pujols bat .357 while Jones hit .364. Of the 3 vying candidates, Pujols led them with 37 homeruns and 116 RBI. Hanley Ramirez and Chipper Jones will battle it out for 2nd place in the voting, but the winner of that race would go to Ramirez. He hit 33 homeruns and stole 35 bases with a batting average over .300. Though Jones won the batting title and sat around .400 for the first few months of the season, he only hit 22 homeruns with 75 RBI, coming from the #3 hole (Ramirez was primarily the leadoff batter for the Marlins). Regardless of Ramirez and Jones, Pujols is the clear-cut winner.

AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee (CLE)
2. Roy Halladay (TOR)
3. Mike Mussina (NYY)
Cliff Lee had an amazing turnaround season from 2007. Lee won 22 games and led the AL in ERA. He went deep into games many times over the course of the season. However, the case for Roy Halladay is not too far behind of Lee’s. Halladay won 20 games too and struck out more batters. Doc also pitched more complete games than Lee. On the pitcher’s VORP scale, Lee led the entire league with 75.0 points, 1.6 ahead of 2nd place Johan Santana (NYM; NL) and 3.5 ahead of Halladay. Lee edges out Halladay in what should be a close vote. 3rd place could go to anyone: Francisco Rodriguez and his 62 saves, Daisuke Matsuzaka and his low ERA, Jon Lester and his heart-warming story, but my vote would go to Mike Mussina of the Yankees. Mussina had arguably one of the best seasons of his long career, winning 20 games. Mussina had low expectations entering the season but excelled, posting an ERA of 3.37. Mussina had a lot of quality outings for the Yankees and deserves some recognition with it.

NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum (SF)
2. Johan Santana (NYM)
3. Brandon Webb (AZ) and CC Sabathia (MIL)
Though Brandon Webb won 22 games in 2008, Johan Santana led the league in ERA, and CC Sabathia had a great second half with the Brewers, Lincecum is the winner. Lincecum had the most strikeouts in the NL. He was second in quality starts behind Johan and 8 of his quality starts did not factor into a victory. Between Lincecum and Webb, Lincecum won games with fewer run support, a lower WHIP, a lower opponent’s batting average, and a higher K/BB rate. Between Lincecum and Santana, Lincecum had a much lower HR/9 rate and a much higher K/9 rate. Between Lincecum and Sabathia, Lincecum’s BABIP (batting average on balls put into play) was much lower than Sabathia’s.

AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria (TB)
2. Alexei Ramirez (CHW)
3. Joba Chamberlain (NYY) and Mike Aviles (KC)
Longoria definitely wins this race in a landslide. He led all AL rookies in homeruns and RBI and his impact on the Rays was tremendous. It seems obvious that Longoria wins this. However, the real competition is for the runner-ups. Ramirez flashed power numbers (21 homeruns and 77 RBI) and also played some great defense for the AL Central division winning Whitesox. He demonstrated clutch hitting by batting .380 with RISP, .471 with the bases loaded, and .316 in the late innings of close games. 3rd place is a tie between Yankees Joba Chamberlain and Royal Mike Aviles. Chamberlain gets all the media attention from the New York media whereas Aviles is more of an unknown. Joba Chamberlain led AL rookie pitchers in VORP (32.3) but also suffered shoulder troubles when he was being converted from a reliever to a starter. Aviles led all AL rookie position players in VORP (35.0) and PMLV (21.7). His batting average was .53 points higher than that of Longoria’s. Aviles hit .316 with RISP just like Ramirez too.

NL Rookie of the Year: Joey Votto (CIN)
2. Geovany Soto (CHC)
3. Jair Jurrjens (ATL)
Votto’s and Soto’s numbers are very similar. Votto hit 24 homeruns while Soto hit 23. Soto hit 86 RBI while Votto hit 84. Votto’s batting average was .012 points higher than Soto’s (.297 - .285) and his OPS was .006 points higher than Soto’s (.874 - .868). The main difference between Votto and Soto is Soto’s team, the Cubs, advanced to the postseason. Regardless of the team, Votto’s statistics are better and he would get the award. Jurrjens led all of rookie pitchers in VORP (33.0) and ERA (3.68). Jurrjens’ numbers could have been much better had he not fallen off track later on in the season. His ERA was 3.00 prior to the All-Star break but rose to 4.66 after the All-Star break.

That is it for the major awards. For the record, I would give Joe Maddon (TB) the AL Manager of the Year for the epic turnaround of the Rays in 2008 and Charlie Manuel (PHI) the NL Manager of the Year for giving the city of Philadelphia their first title in 25 years. However, Jerry Manuel, the interim manager of the New York Mets, should come in a close second for his impact towards the Mets’ season. The Mets fired Willie Randolph in the middle of the season with the team struggling, but Manuel stepped in and almost led the Mets to the playoffs, something nobody thought they would do early on in the season.

2008 World Series Predictions

2008-10-20T15:23:00.002-04:00

If I told you the World Series would be Rays/Phillies in Spring Training, you'd all laugh at me. Well, it happened and who will it be? Who will win it all? Here is some analysis:

Catcher:
Dioner Navarro (TB) vs Carlos Ruiz (PHI)
Navarro's postseason has not been great compared to his regular season. He is batting .268 with no homeruns and 5 RBI. Carlos Ruiz's postseason has not been great either, hitting .200 with only 1 RBI. Both have bad offensive numbers, but the edge here goes to Navarro because of the great game he calls. Navarro can manage pitchers very well and knows what pitch to call in key situations.
Edge: Navarro

First Base:
Carlos Pena (TB) vs Ryan Howard (PHI)
In the postseason, Pena is .333 with 3 homeruns, 8 RBI, and an OPS over 1.000. Pena also has 3 stolen bases, 2 more than he had in all of the regular season. Ryan Howard's postseason performance has been mediocre. A .258 batting average with no homeruns and a mere 3 RBI have not shown his full potential. His .733 OPS is over .150 points below his regular season average. Between their playoff performance, Pena has outmatched Howard by a landslide.
Edge: Pena

Second Base:
Akinori Iwamura (TB) vs Chase Utley (PHI)
Iwamura's postseason has been alright by his standards. A .277 batting average is close to what he put up in the regular season. He has 1 homerun, 4 RBI, and a .805 OPS in the playoffs. His SLG in the postseason is .067 points higher than in the regular season. Chase Utley has also struggled in the postseason with a .250 batting average, 1 homerun, 5 RBI, and an OPS of .838 (nearly .080 points below his regular season total). With their playoff performance, I'd call this a tie, but with their impact on their team, the edge goes to Utley.
Edge: Utley

Third Base:
Evan Longoria (TB) vs Pedro Feliz (PHI)
Longoria's postseason has been up and down. He began the playoffs with 2 homeruns in as many at-bats in the ALDS against the Whitesox. After game 1 (3-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI), he fell in an 0-13 slump. In the ALCS against the Redsox, Longoria began struggling, but than emerged powerful, hitting 4 homeruns in consecutive games. His subtotal statistics were .262 with 6 homeruns and 11 RBI and a 1.102 OPS. Pedro Feliz has not had as good a postseason as Longoria. Feliz's batting average in the playoffs is below the Mendoza line, only 5 hits in 26 at-bats. He has no homeruns and only 2 RBI. Longoria is the better player.
Edge: Longoria

Shortstop:
Jason Bartlett (TB) vs Jimmy Rollins (PHI)
Jason Bartlett's postseason is not all too well either with a .243 batting average and only 1 HR. Jimmy Rollins' statistics are almost identical to Bartlett's. He too has a .243 batting average but only has 2 homeruns. Bartlett and Rollins combined have 3 RBI, all via solo homeruns. Rollins is not the team leader he was last year. Bartlett has had his share of defensive struggles of late as well. In a name-game, Rollins would have the edge, but right here it is a tie.
Edge: Tie

Left Field:
Carl Crawford (TB) vs Pat Burrell (PHI)
Though Crawford does not have any homeruns in the playoffs, he does have 6 stolen bases. He has a .303 batting average and 6 RBI as well. The Phillies' Pat Burrell does have some power, hitting 3 homeruns and 9 RBI in 9 games. He has a .300 batting average as well with a .964 OPS. It is very close between the two of them, so I will probably give this a tie. Crawford has the speed the Rays need and Burrell is showing the power the Phillies have lacked in the postseason.
Edge: Tie

Center Field:
B.J. Upton (TB) vs Shane Victorino (PHI)
Upton has had a tremendous postseason and that cannot be denied. He hit 7 homeruns with 15 RBI in the 11 games played with a .304 average and an OPS close to 1.200. 9 of Upton's 14 hits have been for extra-bases and he also has 2 stolen bases. Shane Victorino's arm patrolling center field for the Phillies is a valuable asset to have. He has a lot of speed with his 3 stolen bases. "The Flyin' Hawaiian" has 2 homeruns and 11 RBI for the Phillies too. Upton's power is just too much to compare with Victorino's statistics.
Edge: Upton

Right Field:
Gabe Gross/Rocco Baldelli (TB) vs Jayson Werth (PHI)
Gross and Baldelli have not had the greatest statistics in the playoffs. Gross is batting below .100 and Baldelli is only batting .214. Werth's numbers have not been great either, but certainly better than those of the Rays'. Werth has 1 RBI (via solo homerun) and a .243 batting average. Neither right fielder has been successful but Werth gets the edge here.
Edge: Werth

Designated Hitter (when necessary):
Cliff Floyd (TB) vs Matt Stairs (PHI)
Floyd only has a .200 batting average with a homerun and 2 RBI. The 35-year old outfielder has been on a sharp decline since his spectacular 2005 season with 34 homeruns and 98 RBI. Since, he only has 31 homeruns and 128 in the 3 seasons since. Matt Stairs only has 3 postseason at-bats this year. He is 1/3 with a 2-run homerun. Both have struggled throughout their careers and throughout their playoff games in 2008 (granted, Stairs only had 3 at-bats) but overall it is a tie.
Edge: Tie

Starting Rotation:
Shields/Kazmir/Garza/Sonnanstine (TB) vs Hamels/Myers/Moyer/Blanton (PHI)
James Shields was chosen as the postseason ace for a reason: he is a big game pitcher. His record does not show for it. He is 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA. Not bad for the 26 year old. Scott Kazmir has gone through struggles of his own. Though he is 1-0, he has 2 no-decisions. He finished the ALDS and ALCS with an era of 4.02. Kazmir is a very good southpaw pitcher for the Rays and the 23 year old can only improve. Matt Garza won the ALCS MVP for a reason: he was that good. In 13 ALCS innings pitched, he allowed only 2 runs and had 14 Ks. Andy Sonnanstine was 2-0 in the playoffs with a 3.46 ERA. He is not a power pitcher like Kazmir or Garza, but Sonnanstine has been effective, allowing only 9 hits and 2 walks in his 13 innings pitched. To say Phillies' pitcher Cole Hamels is great is an understatement. He is 3-0 in the 2008 playoffs with 22 Ks in 22 innings pitched. He has a 1.23 ERA, allowing only 3 runs in his performance. Hamels is one of the league's best left-handed pitchers now and because he's only 24, there is a long time for his dominance to be shown around baseball. Brett Myers is 2-0 in the postseason but with a 5.25 ERA. He allowed 7 runs in 12 IP in the playoffs to date. Jamie Moyer has had a postseason to forget. He has pitched in 2 games but for a total of 5.1 innings. He allowed 8 earned runs in those innings with 10 hits and 3 walks. Aside from Cole Hamels, Philly's rotation is subpar. The Rays have a great, young rotation.
Edge: Rays

Bullpen:
Rays vs Phillies
Grant Balfour has had a good postseason with the exception of 1 outing (4 ER in .2 ip). Aside from that one dreadful outing, he allowed 1run in 5 innings. Chad Bradford allowed only 1 run in 6 innings pitched for the Rays as well. Lefties J.P. Howell and Trever Miller pitched a combined 10.1 innings, allowing only 2 runs and striking out 13. Dan Wheeler also had skewed playoff statistics. He pitched 6 innings and allowed 4 runs, but in 1 outing he pitched 1.1 innings and allowed 3 runs. David Price pitched 2.1 shutout innings in the playoffs too. Philadelphia's bullpen has been led by Clay Condrey (1.2 ip, 1 earned run), Scott Eyre (2.1 ip, 1 er), Chad Durbin (2.2 ip, 2 r, 1 er), J.A. Happ (3 ip, 1 er), J.C. Romero (2.2 shutout innings), and Ryan Madson (9 ip, 1 run). Brad Lidge, the Philly closer, has 5 saves and struck out 10 in 7.1 innings. It is too close to call, but Philadelphia gets the egde because of its consistency.
Edge: Phillies

Prediction:
I am predicting the Rays to win the World Series in 6 games. Cole Hamels is too good to beat this postseason and the Rays will take advantage of the rest of the weak Philly rotation. The Rays' offense has slugged their way to victory and will continue to do so.

LCS Predictions

2008-10-08T17:30:00.004-04:00

So I was 1/4 with my guesses. Tampa Bay won, but the Angels, Cubs, and Brewers all lost. The ALCS will be the Boston Redsox vs. the Tampa Bay Rays. The NLCS will be the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. Here are my thoughts:

ALCS
The Rays and the Redsox came off ALDS wins in 4 games. The Rays' offense was led by BJ Upton and Evan Longoria, both of whom had multi-homerun games. Akinori Iwamura had a .389 batting average and Dioner Navarro had a .400 batting average. The Rays' rotation was satisfactory. Though each Ray starter only pitched 1 game, Scott Kazmir and Andy Sonnanstine had ERAs of 3.38 and 3.18 respectively. James Shields and Matt Garza both struggled a bit in their starts, posting ERAs of 4.26 and 7.50. The Tampa Bay bullpen was filled with success. JP Howell, Chad Bradford, and Grant Balfour did not allow a run in their combined 10.2 innings.

The Redsox offense was bright too. Jacoby Ellsbury had 6 RBI and a .333 batting average. Jason Bay, Manny Ramirez's replacement, hit .412 with 2 homeruns in the ALDS against the Angels. Jon Lester was superb in his 2 starts against the Los Angeles Angels. In 2 starts, Lester threw 14 shutout innings and struck out 11 batters. Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka both struggled, going a combined 10 innings with 7 earned runs allowed (6.30 ERA). Jon Papelbon and Manny Delcarmen held the Redsox bullpen strong by pitching a total of 7.1 shutout innings.

The teams will face eachother in the ALCS, so who will win? The Redsox have a ton of postseason experience. They have won 2 of the past 4 World Series after an 86 year drought. However, the Rays were 10-8 against the Redsox in the 2008 season. The Rays have homefield advantage over the Redsox, and they were 8-1 against the Redsox at home. The Rays also had the best home record in baseball with a 57-24 record at the Trop. The teams do have a lot of bitterness in their rivalry. Brawls have broken out several times, most recently in June when Coco Crisp and James Shields threw punches at eachother. The Rays' rotation is in line to have Shields/Kazmir/Garza/Sonnanstine like they did in the ALDS against the Whitesox. The Redsox will not have ace Jon Lester pitch game 1.

Edge:
Tampa Bay Rays

NLCS
The Philadelphia Phillies are coming off a series win against the Milwaukee Brewers. Jimmy Rollins had a .375 batting average for the Phillies. Jason Werth and Shane Victorino also had batting averages over .300. Pat Burrell had 2 homeruns for the Phils. Philadelphia's rotation was very good. Ace pitcher Cole Hamels pitched 8 shutout innings in his one appearance with 9 strikeouts. Brett Myers and Joe Blanton also had quality starts. Their bullpen was proficient too. Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge did satisfactory for the Phillies too.

The Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Chicago Cubs in the 2008 NLDS in 3 games. Manny Ramirez was one key player for LA with a .500 batting average and 2 homeruns. James Loney hit the biggest homerun for the Dodgers with a grand slam in game 1 of the NLDS. Rafael Furcal and Russell Martin also performed well for LA. The 3 Dodger starters: Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley, and Hiroki Kuroda each showed skill on the mound. In the 19.2 innings they threw, a mere 3 runs were allowed. Cory Wade and Jon Broxton kept the Dodger bullpen firm, pitching a combined 7 shutout innings.

So which team will go to the World Series? In their season series, the teams split their 8 games 4-4. The Dodgers were 4-0 at home against the Phillies and the Phillies were 4-0 at home against the Dodgers. In overall standings, the Phillies had an 8 game lead in the regular season over the Dodgers. However, I think LA can pull it off. Joe Torre has led a team filled with young players to the playoffs. Their rotation is solid with Lowe and Billingsley. Led by Manny Ramirez, their lineup is brimming with talent. The Phillies' offense did score 15 runs in the NLDS, but only scored those runs in a few innings.

Edge:
Los Angeles Dodgers

October Predictions: MLB Postseason

2008-10-01T05:22:00.004-04:00

The 2008 baseball season has come to an end and we head to the playoffs. Baseball changes in October and that is where the season has gone. The Tampa Bay Rays emerged as baseball’s surprised team and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The New York Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993. The Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, both preseason favorites to make the postseason, came nowhere close to contention. The Chicago Cubs look to end their century-long World Series title drought. The Los Angeles Dodgers, led by new manager Joe Torre, overcame the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies to win the National League West. Now that October baseball will begin, who will win the 2008 World Series?

The case for the Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays came into the season with a change of uniform, logo, and team name. They became the “Rays” instead of the “Devil Rays”. In spite of 4th place predictions, the Rays’ overcame them by remarkable proportions. The Rays have 96 wins, 25 more than their previous franchise-high. The story of the Rays is a motto coined by manager Joe Maddon. Their mantra is “9=8”, which represents “9 innings of baseball (and 9 hearts on the field) equals 1 of 8 teams to make the playoffs”. The Rays’ pitching went through an incredible breakthrough. Troy Percival joined the Rays and helped their bullpen. A trade with the Twins helped the Rays’ pitching staff acquire Matt Garza and helped the Rays’ defense with shortstop Jason Bartlett. Garza, 24, had a great season but was not shown by his 11-9 record. Garza’s 3.66 ERA was fantastic and also had 3 complete games, 2 of which shutouts. Scott Kazmir and James Shields also proved to be brilliant pitchers. The two had a combined 26-16 record with a 3.54 ERA. Shields too had 3 complete games. Pitchers Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine also proved to be stunning pitchers. They had no major expectations entering the season but went a combined 26-19 (13 wins each). The Rays’ pitching staff had a team ERA of 3.78, 1.75 points lower than last season. Their bullpen has also been very successful. Last season, the Rays had 58 holds, last in the majors. This season, the Rays have 79 holds, which is 4th in all of baseball. The Rays’ offense has also been a great story too. Rookie 3rd baseman Evan Longoria was called up from AAA Durham in late April and has done a magnificent job, hitting 27 homeruns and 85 RBI. Carlos Pena led the Rays with 31 homeruns and 101 RBI. Clutch hitting played a big part for the Rays in 2008. In the late innings of 2008, Akinori Iwamura and the aforementioned Pena hit .301 and .341 respectively. To make room for Evan Longoria, their future 3rd baseman for years to come, they moved Akinori Iwamura to 2nd base full time and flourished. As a team, the Rays’ defense had a .985 fielding percentage, tied for 8th in all of baseball. In 2007, the Rays’ defense had a .980 fielding percentage, tied for 20th in baseball.

So why do the Rays have a shot at the World Series? There were only 2 teams in baseball that had a winning record against the Rays: the Indians and the Yankees, and both of whom are missing the postseason. Pitching phenom David Price has a chance to make the playoff roster as a starter. Price was 12-1 with a sub-2.00 ERA in the minor leagues in 2008. The southpaw was drafted last year from Vanderbilt University. A 4-man rotation of Kazmir, Shields, Garza, and Price would be dominant for now and for the future. The Rays can hit in the clutch as many of their wins have came in their last at-bat. They have a great team now and a team built for the future.

The case for the Chicago Whitesox
The Whitesox, led by manager Ozzie Guillen, made the playoffs for the first time since 2005. In the offseason, the Whitesox acquired Carlos Quentin from the Arizona Diamondbacks for top prospect Chris Carter. Quentin’s impact with the Whitesox was tremendous. He led the American League with 36 homeruns before he was sidelined for almost the entire month of September with a broken wrist. Quentin’s 100 RBI also led the team. Quentin could have won the American League MVP award had he not been injured. Teammates Jermaine Dye and rookie Alexei Ramirez were tied for the team lead in batting average (.290). Dye hit 34 homeruns for the Chi-Sox and Ramirez’s presence gave the Whitesox a huge boost. Jim Thome also hit 34 homeruns and fellow teammates Paul Konerko and Nick Swisher hit 22 and 24 respectively. In the midst of the summer months, the Whitesox traded for former Reds’ outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. Pitching was a good success for the Whitesox too. Gavin Floyd and John Danks were unexpected sources of wealth for Chicago. They had a combined 29-17 record with an ERA under 4.00. Mark Buerhle also had a 15-12 record. Bobby Jenks had an okay season in the closer role, converting 30 of his 34 save opportunities. The Whitesox season was surrounded by controversies surrounding manager Ozzie Guillen. Guillen openly criticized the media and his players over the course of the season. The Whitesox ended the regular season in a 1st place tie with the Minnesota Twins, which forced a 1-game playoff. Jim Thome hit a 461-foot homerun in the 7th inning gave the Whitesox a 1-0 lead, which would be enough for the Whitesox to advance to the playoffs.

But do the Whitesox have a good chance to win it all? They do have some momentum heading into their series with the Rays and they can slug it out, but can they match up with the Rays? The Rays can hit the long ball and can play small ball whereas the Whitesox are primarily a long ball type team. The Rays can outpitch the Sox and Chicago would need to play their hearts out to compete with the other top-tier teams in the playoffs.

The case for the Los Angeles Angels
The Angels entered the 2008 campaign as serious World Series contenders, and ended up doing just that. They suffered injuries to John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, two of their top pitchers. They needed Joe Saunders, Jon Garland, and Ervin Santana to fill in for the injured starters. The 3 pitchers amassed for a 46-21 record and a 3.87 ERA. When Lackey came back in mid-May, he started strong and continued strong, having a 3.25 ERA through 23 games pitched. Closer Francisco Rodriguez had accumulated 62 saves this season, shattering the old mark held by Bobby Thigpen (57 saves). The rest of the Angel bullpen also was thriving. Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo had a combined 2.21 ERA and 47 holds. Darren Oliver and Justin Speier also collected a total of 22 saves. LA’s offense also prospered. The newly acquired Torii Hunter and the veteran Vlad Guerrero combined for 48 homeruns and 168 RBI. Chone Figgins led the team with 32 stolen bases. The Angels entered a win-now mentality when they traded for 1st baseman Mark Teixeira, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. With the Angels, Teixeira hit .362 with 13 homeruns and 42 RBI. The Angels were the 1st team in baseball in 2008 to clinch a playoff berth this year, with 99 wins and a 22 game lead over the 2nd place Texas Rangers.

With the Angels doing this successful, does it not seem logical that they will win the World Series? Though they have the best record in all of baseball, they have a 3-6 record against the Rays, who also have a very good shot to win the pennant. The Angels also played in the weakest division in the American League talent-wise.

The case for the Boston Redsox
The reigning World Series Champions began the season as prime contenders as champions once again. The Sox expected Josh Beckett to lead the staff and have Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jon Lester used as solid 2/3 starters. The 2008 season turned out very different from that. Matsuzaka finished the season with 18 wins and a 2.80 ERA. Cancer survivor Jon Lester also proved to be valuable for Boston. The lefty went 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA, including 2 complete game shutouts. Compared to his 2007 season, Josh Beckett was mediocre. In 2007, Beckett was a prime Cy Young award contender, but he would not be in 2008. His 12-10 record seems pedestrian and his 4.03 ERA is also second-rate. Potential MVP candidate David Ortiz was out from late May to late July with a wrist injury. The Redsox needed Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and J.D. Drew to fill in. Pedroia and Youkilis filled in and thrived. Both of them are potential MVP candidates for the 2008 season. They hit .325 and .314 respectively and also did very well in clutch situations. While Ortiz was out, J.D. Drew prospered. At one point of Ortiz’s absence, Drew raised his batting average from .282 to .327. At the trade deadline, things started to change for Manny Ramirez and the Redsox. Ramirez’s lack of hustle, off-the-field antics, and disrespect towards the team led to him being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 3-team trade that gave the Redsox Jason Bay in return from the Pirates. Bay has since hustled and played very well, with a .300 batting average with the Redsox. With poor play of the Yankees and the American League Central on the stretch run, the Redsox became the American League Wild Card winners.

Redsox Nation’s main source of victory will be from their offense. Pedroia, Youkilis, Lowell, Ortiz, and Bay will all do a good job in the postseason, but the cause for concern is the bullpen. Is Jon Papelbon reliable enough to close down in a crucial situation? Can Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen do well in the bullpen? Can Mike Timlin find where he was in 2005? The Angels are 8-1 against the Redsox in 2008 and they have the better rotation and bullpen than Boston’s.

The case for the Philadelphia Phillies
On paper, this team looked like a team that would slug their way to the playoffs. Well, the Phillies had pitching too. They rank 6th in all of baseball in ERA (3.91). Closer Brad Lidge is a perfect 40/40 in saves and save opportunities. Starters Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels had a combined 29-17 record with a combined ERA of 3.40. The Philly offense had its struggles, revolving around the 2007 National League MVP Jimmy Rollins. Rollins criticized Phillies’ fans earlier in the year, calling them “bandwagoners” and “front-runners” when he appeared on “Best Damn Sports Show Period”. 1st baseman Ryan Howard also went through rough patches in the season. As late as May 21st, Howard’s batting average was below the Mendoza line, at a putrid .195. Up until the beginning of July, Howard was sitting at .215 with 20 homeruns and 68 RBI. Howard didn’t get red hot until after the All-Star break, hitting 20 homeruns and 58 RBI since; 11 homeruns in the month of September. Teammate Chase Utley started the season on a rampage, hitting 18 homeruns through May. He has slowed down rapidly, only hitting 12 homers since.

Now that the Phillies will make the playoffs, where will they go? Their bullpen has been terrific and so has their offense. The cause for concern is their rotation. Can Hamels and Moyer go deep into games? Will the Phillies use Brad Lidge in a non-save situation for more than 1 inning? Can Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton have quality outings in the playoffs? They will face some quality teams in the playoffs like the Cubs, Brewers, and the Dodgers.

The case for the Chicago Cubs
The Cubs last won a World Series in 1908. They have not appeared in one since the 1940s. Why do Cubs fans think this is the year the drought ends? Well, the Cubs are 5th in baseball in team batting average, 8th in homeruns, and 2nd in runs scored. Rookie catcher Geovany Soto is 3rd on the team with 23 homeruns, behind Alfonso Soriano (29) and Derrek Lee (27). Soto had more of an impact than fellow rookie teammate Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome, the Asian outfielder hit a measly .257 with a mere 10 homeruns. Since the All-Star break, Fukudome has only hit .217 in 60 games played. The real story behind Chicago’s success is their pitching. Ryan Dempster surely came as a pleasant surprise. Dempster was 17-6 with an ERA under 3.00 in the regular season. Fireballer Carlos Zambrano also fared well. Though Zambrano only had 14 wins, he did throw a no-hitter against the Houston Astros at Milwaukee because of Hurricane Ike. The Big Z has battled inflammation in his shoulder at times this season.

Do the Cubs have a legitimate shot at the World Series? Yes they do. They have a strong enough offense with Soriano, Lee, Soto, and Aramis Ramirez. Their rotation also consists of Ted Lilly and the acquired Rich Harden, which makes the Cubs prime challengers for the World Series. Harden was 10-2 on the season with the Oakland Athletics and the Cubs (5-1 for each team) with an ERA of 2.07. Zambrano, Harden, Dempster, and Lilly make a fierce rotation for the playoffs.

The case for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Led by new manager Joe Torre, the Los Angeles Dodgers made the playoffs. They surpassed the miraculous Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers suffered an early setback by losing closer Takashi Saito for an extended period of time. They had to use Jonathan Broxton to replace Saito. The Dodgers’ rotation was led by 24 year-old Chad Billingsley, who was 16-10 with a 3.17 ERA. Billingsley also led the Dodgers with 199 strikeouts. Derek Lowe did a satisfactory job for LA with his 3.29 ERA in 33 starts. Rookie pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Hiroki Kuroda had a combined 4.01 ERA in their 51 combined appearances. Late in the season, the Dodgers acquired Greg Maddux from the San Diego Padres. With LA, the 42 year old veteran has not had many things to smile about statistically. His appalling 5.71 ERA with the team is a warning sign. Hitting-wise, the Dodgers had somewhat a tough time. Outfielder Andruw Jones struggled immensely with a dreadful .158 batting average. Fellow teammates Matt Kemp and James Loney performed well. The two had a combined .292 batting average with 31 homeruns and 166 RBI. Kemp stole 35 bases too, 2nd on his own team to Juan Pierre (39). But at the trade deadline, the Dodgers realized they needed to add a power bat to the lineup. They made a blockbuster trade with the Redsox and the Pittsburgh Pirates by acquiring Manny Ramirez from the Redsox and trading away 2 young prospects to the Pirates. Ramirez has since been a display of excellence. In 52 games with the Dodgers, Ramirez is batting a high .396 with 17 homeruns and 53 RBI. With Boston, Ramirez played 100 games and hit 20 homeruns with 68 RBI. His presence sparked the Dodgers to overcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to win the National League West.

But do the Dodgers have what it takes to win it all? Their postseason rotation is solid, especially with Billingsley. The difference maker will be the rest of the pitching. The Dodgers need Lowe, Maddux, and Kuroda/Kershaw to do well in order to make some noise. Their offense needs to carry the team, Manny Ramirez in particular. If the Dodgers face the Cubs in the NLDS, they desperately need Ramirez, Russell Martin, Loney, and Kemp to step up big time.

The case for the Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers came into the season with high hopes that they would reach the postseason for the first time since 1982. They began the season with second-year players Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo looking to have even better seasons. Gallardo suffered 2 injuries early on: a torn meniscus that sidelined him for nearly a month (late March to late April) and a torn ACL which put him out from early May to very late September. The Brewers would suffice with pitchers Manny Parra (10-8) and Dave Bush. In early July, the Brewers made a trade that sent them in “win-now” mentality by trading 4 players (including top prospect Matt LaPorta) to the Cleveland Indians for reigning American League Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia. Sabathia’s presence would be enormous. In 17 starts with the Brewers, Sabathia pitched 130.2 out of 153 possible innings with an 11-2 record. Sabathia also pitched 7 complete games and 3 shutouts, one of which a controversial 1-hitter. Ryan Braun hit 34 homeruns and 96 RBI in his rookie season, and his 2nd season with Milwaukee was similar. He hit 37 homeruns with 106 RBI. Teammate Prince Fielder hit 34 homeruns with 102 RBI. Mike Cameron, JJ Hardy, and Corey Hart were all fine hitters for the Brew Crew. They hit a combined 69 homeruns and 235 RBI. Late in the season, the Brewers fired their manager Ned Yost and promoted Dale Sveum to interim manager. The Brewers’ push to the playoffs came to the last game of the regular season, tied with the New York Mets for 1st in the wild card. The Brewers needed a win and a Mets’ loss to make the playoffs. To help secure a spot, they had CC Sabathia pitch on 3-days rest. Sabathia could not have done any better. He pitched a complete game and allowed only 1 run to lock up their playoff status.

Can the Brew Crew make a significant run in the playoffs? They need Sabathia and Sheets to step up big time with their shaky bullpen. Eric Gagne had a 5.44 ERA and closer Salomon Torres had a 3.49 ERA, very high for a closer. If the Milwaukee offense can slug and their pitching can hold up, expect Milwaukee to be serious World Series contenders.

My Predictions:
ALDS: Rays over Whitesox (4 games) and Angels over Redsox (5 games)
NLDS: Cubs over Dodgers (4 games) and Brewers over Phillies (5 games)

ALCS: Rays over Angels (6 games)
NLCS: Cubs over Brewers (7 games)

World Series: Rays over Cubs (6 games)

Having the Tampa Bay Rays as World Series champions sounded absolutely preposterous at the beginning of the season, but the Rays proved they can contend for the playoffs and for the World Series. They have a bright future with their plethora of minor league talent. They can be a threat to be in the playoffs for years to come.

Week 3: New York Jets at San Diego Chargers (live blogging)

2008-09-22T20:18:00.025-04:00

Monday Night Football on ESPN. Jets vs the Bolts. The Jets (1-1) are coming off a 19-10 loss against the rival New England Patriots. The Chargers (0-2) are coming off a controversial 39-38 loss to the Denver Broncos. Before that, they lost a heartbreaker to the Carolina Panthers that was decided on the final play.

I will be doing some live blogging with this game as well.

Update, 8:40 pm- I think the Jets should line up Keller a few times and throw to him too. He could be a valuable asset for the future (though Chris Baker is now locked up for a few yrs).

Update, 8:43 pm- Great playfake, bad execution. Hey, he passed it to Keller too.

Update, 8:44 pm- Wow, Ben Graham's punt traveled a fair distance. Not bad for someone who was cut earlier in the week and resigned because their replacement punter sustained an injury.

Update, 8:47 pm- David Barrett with an INT returned for a TD. Great pick by #36. Revis, Rhodes, and Lowery have been the well-known defensive backs for the Jets through the first 2 weeks of the season, but it doesn't really matter here. 7-0 Jets.

Update, 8:53 pm- Barrett almost had INT #2 right there. Hit him in a bad spot, right in the hands.

Update, 8:55 pm- Nice play by Lowery. The 4th round pick from SJ State has been key for the Jets' defense.

Update, 8:57 pm- Mike Tirico just said that David Barrett is headed to the locker room. Wonder why...

Update, 9:00 pm- Lowery broke up the pass and forced a 4th down for the Chargers. 7-3 after the Kaeding field goal.

Update, 9:06 pm- Lucky that Cromartie didn't catch that.

Update, 9:07 pm- Doesn't matter any more, Jones fumbled it and it's San Diego's ball inside the 20.

Update, 9:10 pm- Akward play by Rivers. Bobbled the ball, than wanted to hand it off to Tomlinson, than took it himself.

Update, 9:11 pm- Tolbert was wide open in the end zone, bad coverage by the Jets. 10-7 Bolts.

Update, 9:15 pm- Keller again...

Update, 9:18 pm- Cromartie redeems himself with an INT and returned for a TD.

Update, 9:20 pm- Predicting a long runback by Leon or Brad Smith

Update, 9:21 pm- Called it. To the San Diego 4 yd line.

Update, 9:22 pm- And here comes the conservative, Schottenheimer play-calling

Update, 9:23 pm- Favre with a redzone TD pass to Coles. Finally, some faith in #4. 17-14 Chargers now.

Update, 9:25 pm- Though I don't like the phrase "Mangenius", that was some trickery. Too bad it didn't go Gang Green's way.

Update, 9:31 pm- With the exception of Barrett's INT, the Jets' secondary has been awful. The deep ball has been thrown many times by Rivers and Chambers just caught a TD pass, wide open in the end zone. 24-14

Update, 9:40 pm- That was Favre's 2nd INT tonight, 1st by Weddle.

Update, 9:50 pm- This game got tough to watch after Weddle's INT. It just got tougher to watch as Rivers threw another TD pass, but this one to Antonio Gates. It's 31-14 Bolts and I doubt Favre can lead the Jets to a comeback.

Update, 9:59 pm- Wow, Graham with another nice punt. Something must have changed...

Update, 10:36 pm- That just about does it, down by 24 with 4:47 left in the 3rd. They would need some comeback to win it. The way the Jets are playing, San Diego will have a 30+ point lead

The Last Game at Yankee Stadium (live blogging)

2008-09-21T20:12:00.031-04:00

I decided to do some live blogging for tonight's game, though I will be watching it at home.

I was very impressed with the pre-game ceremonies, with Bob Sheppard and every other player being announced. The people who lined up as the 1923 Opening Day roster was mediocre to me. Bernie Williams, Paul O'Neill, Tino Martinez, Derek Jeter, Willie Randolph, Bobby Murcer's family, Yogi Berra, and Ron Guidry got the loudest ovations from what I heard. Bob Sheppard's voice was just outstounding, hearing him announce the Yankees' lineup from his home was great. Also, having Ruth's daughter throw out the last-first pitch at Yankee Stadium was quite a tribute, but having Jorge Posada catch it gave him a special moment I would think. It's too bad Posada wasn't healthy.

Update, 8:20 pm- Pretty cool ceremony honoring Jeter passing Gehrig on the Yankee Stadium hit list. The crystal bat and ball must be very special to get.

Update, 8:35 pm- One last roll call, gonna be a great one. Last first pitch was a called strike. Last first play was a flyout to Abreu. He approached the warning track on that.

Update, 8:40 pm- Listen to the cowbell by the Bleacher Creatures, it's tradition. It's great.

Update, 8:49 pm- Pettitte's 2000th career K comes at Yankee Stadium in its final game.

Update, 8:50 pm- And Abreu's poor fielding gives Adam Jones a triple. Hard hit ball, but Abreu couldn't play the carom well.

Update, 9:03 pm- Can't do anything about that, Roberts made a nice play to rob Cano of a hit that might have scored A-Rod. To the 3rd inning we go with the O's ahead 1-0.

Update, 9:17 pm- A "Paul O'Neill" chant broke out as he was seen walking.

Update, 9:24 pm- Johnny Damon hit a 3-run homerun over the short porch in right. scoring Matsui and Molina. Last homerun at Yankee Stadium? Maybe.

Update, 9:50 pm- Robinson Cano just walked for the 2nd time in 4 games. Prior to that, he went 98 consecutive at-bats without a walk (26 games).

Update, 9:53 pm- Jose Molina is now the last person to hit a homerun at Yankee Stadium, into Monument Park. That was Molina's 3rd homerun of the season, and it came at a wonderful time for him.

Update, 10:00 pm- We are nearing the point in the game in which the lever will be pulled for the final time. My guess is Bernie, but it's up in the air. Wouldn't be surprised to have it be George Steinbrenner.

Update, 10:04 pm- Well, it looks like they're gonna pull it at the end of the game.

Update, 10:16 pm- Girardi just took out Pettitte in the middle of the 6th inning, mainly to get a final cheer from the fans, but he did allow 7 hits in his 5 innings. He's getting some applause from the crowd. Too bad ESPN focused on Peter Gammons interviewing David Wells and David Cone.

Update, 10:20 pm- Kevin Millar struck out once in the at-bat (whistle sounded) but he only had 2 strikes apparently. The next pitch from Jose Veras was a strike right down the middle for a called strike 3. The whistle sounded again.

Update, 10:29 pm- Girardi is bringing in Phil Coke now. Veras threw 2/3 of an inning and walked 1.

Update, 10:32 pm- And Phil Coke does it again, striking out Brian Roberts. That makes it 11 consecutive scoreless innings for Coke. Remember he was originally in the Nady/Marte deal.

Update, 10:51 pm- Phil Coke did his job and is done. Joba Chamberlain entered the game with a huge ovation.

Update, 10:53 pm- I just read this on Pete Abraham's blog on Lohud that Michael Kay pulled the lever.

Update, 10:54 pm- Jeter made a pretty nice play to get the 2nd out of the 7th inning.

Update, 10:56 pm- And who is singing the final "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium? Why, none other than Ronan Tynan. I guess it's better than Kate Smith.

Update, 11:10 pm- Wasn't the prettiest way to knock in a run, but Giambi did it. It's a line drive in the box score at least. 6-3 Yankees and the O's keep making pitching changes.

Update, 11:15 pm- Boy, Brett Gardner is fast. Running on the play, he goes from 1st to 3rd on a misplayed ground ball by Brandon Fahey (the ball stayed in the infield by the way).

Update, 11:17 pm- Robinson Cano just recorded a sacrifice fly, scoring Gardner. It is now 7-3 Yankees. If Joba has a successful 8th inning and Girardi brings in Mo for the 9th, it would be a great way to end the history of Yankee Stadium. No save situation by the way.

Update, 11:26 pm- And Mariano warms up for the final time at Yankee Stadium.

Update, 11:31 pm- Now, Mariano Rivera enters the field for the final time at Yankee Stadium to the tune of Metallica's "Enter Sandman." I just wish ESPN didn't cut to a commercial break so we can soak it all in.

Update, 11:38 pm- Girardi pulled Jeter so he could get an enormous ovation from the crowd. A site to be seen. He gave the crowd one last curtain call as he exited the game.

Update, 11:40 pm- And there it is, the final game at Yankee Stadium. It worked out to Girardi's plan, having Pettitte pitch and leave with an ovation and bring in Mariano to close out the game.
Some little tidbits:
Babe Ruth said, "I hit the first homerun at Yankee Stadium. God only knows who will hit the last one."
Well, the last person to hit a homerun at Yankee Stadium was Jose Molina.
The last hit at Yankee Stadium: Jason Giambi
The last run scored at Yankee Stadium: Brett Gardner
The last out recorded at Yankee Stadium: A groundout hit by Brian Roberts. 3-unassisted to defensive replacement 1B Cody Ransom.

A Farewell to Yankee Stadium

2008-09-21T14:30:00.002-04:00

I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but I do find it depressing that the final game at Yankee Stadium will not be played in the month of October. Yankee Stadium is rich in history. The World Series was played there in 39 years of its history. It hosted 4 All-Star games. It was home to Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Mantle. Munson, Mattingly, Rizzuto, Murcer. Reggie, Whitey, Red, Lefty. Elston Howard, Bill Dickey, Doc, Paul O’Neill, Tino, Roger. Bernie, Jeter, Jorge, Mo. Mel Allen and Bob Sheppard. The façade, the bleacher creatures, the 2-strike clap, and the monuments were founded. Perfection has been accomplished here.

With the new Yankee Stadium opening up in 2009, here is a list of the greatest moments in Yankee Stadium. Before I reveal my top moments, here are some notable moments that were not in the top 10. Roger Maris’ 61st homerun, Derek Jeter’s dive into the stands, David Cone’s and David Wells’ perfect games. Curt Schilling’s bloody sock performance in the 2004 ALCS, Nelson Mandela’s speech, Notre Dame vs. Army football game, the boxing matches, the concerts, the movies and television shows filmed, and the papal visits. Those were key highlights in the illustrious history of Yankee Stadium, but not the most prominent in its history.

10. July 15, 2008 (The 2008 All-Star Game)
Commissioner Bud Selig thought it would be a good idea to play the All-Star game in Yankee Stadium in its final season. The game was an instant classic. The All-Star futures game and other festivities were great, but the Homerun Derby was also astounding, including Josh Hamilton’s memorable performance by hitting 28 homeruns in the 1st round of the Derby, several of which measured over 500 feet in distance. Hamilton lost to Justin Morneau in the finals and many thought the Homerun Derby could not be topped. The pre-game ceremonies in the All-Star game were unforgettable. 49 living Hall-of-Famers attended the game as a celebration to the final season at the House that Ruth Built. It was a commemoration of the past stars and present stars in baseball history. The game began as a pitcher’s duel, scoreless through 4 innings. Matt Holliday broke the tie in the 5th with a solo homerun. In the 7th inning, J.D. Drew of the Boston Redsox had a clutch at-bat, hitting a game-tying 2-run homerun off Reds’ pitcher Edinson Volquez. Jon Papelbon entered the All-Star game with controversy, saying that he wanted to close out the game in such situation instead of Yankees’ pitcher Mariano Rivera. Padres’ first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly off Papelbon in the 8th inning. In the bottom half, Rays’ rookie hitter Evan Longoria was sent to the plate as a pinch-hitter and hit a game-tying ground-rule double. Mariano Rivera was brought into the game though no save situation and was stupendous. Rivera pitched 1.2 innings with 2 strikeouts. The game went on, inning after inning. The American League had many missed opportunities in extras, failing to score in bases loaded, nobody out chances. Marlins’ 2nd baseman Dan Uggla had a game to forget, making 3 errors in the field in the extra innings. In the bottom of the 15th inning, Michael Young hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to end the game, scoring Morneau. The game was over 4:50 in time. J.D. Drew was awarded the All-Star game MVP.

9. July 24, 1983 (George Brett’s Pine-Tar Game)
An ordinary game between the Yankees and the Royals turned out to be one of the most-renowned games in baseball history. In the 9th inning of the game, the Yankees had a 4-3 lead with Goose Gossage on the mound. George Brett stepped up to the plate with a runner on and hit a rocket over the fence to give the Royals a 5-4 lead. After Brett crossed the plate, Yankees’ manager Billy Martin came out to talk to the umpires, questioning whether Brett had the proper amount of pine tar on his bat. Umpire Tim McClelland took the bat and measured it against home plate. After the measurement, it became aware that he used too much pine tar. The umpires ruled Brett out and the homerun nullified. Brett, in one of the most notorious outrages in baseball, and maybe even sports history, stormed out of the dugout furiously and fought with the umpires. The Royals later protested the game and it was upheld by American League president Lee MacPhail. The game was later resumed on August 18, 1983 with the Royals up 5-4 with the homerun standing in the 9th inning with Brett ejected for his actions. The Royals won the game 5-4, on George Brett’s homerun.

8A. December 28, 1958 (The Colts-Giants NFL Title Game)
This game has been classified as the greatest football game ever played. On December 28, 1958, the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts clashed at Yankee Stadium. The high-powered Colts’ offense and the strong Giants’ defense was the main headline entering the game. The Colts were up 14-3 at halftime, but late in the game, the Giants came back courtesy of a Frank Gifford touchdown run, which gave them a 17-14 lead. Johnny Unitas led the Colts to a late drive, but ended in a game-tying field goal. Tied after regulation, the game went into sudden-death overtime, something that had not occurred before. In overtime, Johnny Unitas and the Colts had a long, 80 yard drive to the Giants’ 2 yard line. At the 2, running back Alan Ameche ran the ball into the end zone, giving the Colts the 23-17 victory in front of over 64,000 fans.

8B. June 22, 1938 (Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling Boxing Match; The Second Fight)
This was one of the most historical boxing matches of all time, and it took place at Yankee Stadium. It was American Joe Louis against German Max Schmeling. The match was known as “American freedom vs. Hitler’s Third Reich.” It was American Freedom vs. Aryan Dominance. Their first fight took place June 19, 1936, also at Yankee Stadium and Schmeling won in 12 rounds. This fight would be totally different. Louis came right out of the corner on fire, hitting Schmeling directly several times. Hits to the head and the jaw sent Schmeling to the ground in only the first round. 2 minutes and 4 seconds was the duration of the classic fight. Louis got his redemption against Schmeling. This was more than a boxing match between an American and a German. This was a boxing match that led to “world supremacy.”

7. October 9, 1996 (Jeffrey Maier’s Catch)
The Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles clashed in an ALCS battle in the 1996 postseason. The Yankees, led by new manager Joe Torre had looked to play in their first World Series since the 1980s. In the 8th inning of game 1, Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate. Jeter hit a long fly ball to deep right field. Orioles’ outfielder Tony Tarasco was on the warning track and leaped for the ball, but did not make the catch. Instead, 12-year old Jeffrey Maier reached over the fence to grab the ball. It was ruled a homerun, but Tarasco thought it would be ruled fan interference. The umpires upheld the ruling of a homerun and it turned out to be the first of many clutch hits for Jeter. Maier’s catch tied the game and allowed the Yankees to win it in extra innings on a walk-off homerun by Bernie Williams. Maier’s catch was all over the tabloids and he became famous for it.

6. October 14, 1976 (Chris Chambliss’ Homerun)
George Steinbrenner had been frustrated with his ballclub, seeing as how they had not won a World Series since the 1960s. However, the Yankees and the Royals were in another historical game, but this time in the playoffs. In the decisive game 5 of the 1976 ALCS, the Yankees had a 6-3 lead going into the 8th inning. George Brett hit a game-tying 3-run homerun. With the game tied at 6, Chris Chambliss stepped up to the plate. Royals’ pitcher Mark Littell delivered a pitch, and Chambliss cranked it over the right-center field wall for a homerun. The homerun propelled the Yankees to the World Series. The lasting image of the game is the fans storming the field, celebrating as Chambliss rounded the bases. This is my personal favorite Yankee Stadium moment, mainly because of the crowd’s reaction.

5. October 18, 1977 (Reggie Jackson’s 3-Homerun Game)
The Yankees faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1977 World Series. The Yankees entered the game with a 3-2 series lead. In one of the most significant years in New York history with the Son-of-Sam murderer, there needed to be some ray of light on the mind of a typical New Yorker in 1977. Luckily, Reggie Jackson gave hope. Jackson had hit 2 homeruns in the series already, but this game was something special. In game 6 of the World Series, Reggie Jackson stepped up to the plate in the 4th inning. The Dodgers were up 3-2 at the time. Jackson hit the first pitch he saw from the Burt Hooton offering over the fence, giving the Yankees a 4-3 lead. In the 5th inning, Jackson stepped up to the plate again, but this time to a new pitcher, Elias Sosa. It was no difference for Jackson, the same result occurred, a 2-run homerun on the first pitch of the at bat. With the Yankees up 7-3 in the 8th inning, Jackson made his last at-bat of the World Series. He made that just as special: a solo homerun that traveled an estimated 475 feet. Reggie’s 3-homerun game is one of the best performances in World Series history.

4. July 4, 1939 (Lou Gehrig’s Farewell Speech)
Lou Gehrig, known as the “Iron Horse”, played in 2130 consecutive games. Gehrig was a Yankee legend, hitting 493 career homeruns. He was a 2-time AL MVP award winner and had 6 World Series rings. His career was cut short due to a disease known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which is now known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease.” ALS can cause paralysis and has no cure. On June 21, 1939, Gehrig announced his retirement from the sport. Less than 2 weeks later, Gehrig announced his goodbyes. Gehrig said “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth” in his farewell speech. Those 13 words live on in the hearts of many Gehrig supporters and Yankee fans. The day he proclaimed his departure, the Yankees retired the number 4 that he wore in his honor. Applause for Gehrig was given for nearly 2 minutes. A bit less than 2 years after he declared his retirement, Gehrig died of the disease he was suffering from.

3. October 16, 2003 (Aaron Boone’s Homerun)
The Yankees and the Redsox had already engaged on one of the most crucial series in their rivalry that had several brawls already, but game 7 of the 2003 ALCS was something else. The Redsox jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and knocked out Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens out of the ballgame early. The Yankees came back with 2 homeruns by Jason Giambi which was the Yankees’ first 2 runs of the game. In the 8th inning, Redsox manager Grady Little made a questionable decision leaving in pitcher Pedro Martinez to face Hideki Matsui with 2 on. Matsui doubled, scoring Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams, cutting the deficit from 3 runs to only 1. Little left in Martinez to face catcher Jorge Posada, but that proved unsuccessful for the Redsox as Posada hit a bloop double down the right field line that scored Matsui and tied the game at 5. The field was shaking with cheers. The Yankees brought in Mariano Rivera, their closer, to pitch 3 innings of game 7. Rivera did so, allowing no runs to the Boston hitters. In the bottom of the 11th inning, the Yankees sent up Aaron Boone, who was earlier inserted into the game as a pinch runner. Redsox pitcher Tim Wakefield, who had pitched a scoreless 10th inning, delivered the pitch to Boone. The first pitch of the at-bat, Boone made contact. The ball sailed down the left field line, staying fair, and going over the wall in left field. Boone’s walk-off homerun sealed the Yankees’ victory and sent them to the World Series in come-from-behind fashion. Though the Yankees ended up losing the 2003 World Series to the Marlins in 6 games, the ALCS will never be forgotten.

2. October 30, 2001 – November 1, 2001 (2001 World Series Heroics)
September 11, 2001 was one of the most frightening days in the lives of an American. 4 commercial flights were hijacked by extremists in the middle-east. 2 of them crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City, 1 of them into the Pentagon in the Washington DC area, and 1 of them in a field in Pennsylvania. America needed some reassurance that it was safe and worry-free. On October 30, 2001, President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Derek Jeter. Chants of “U-S-A” were heard amongst the sell-out crowd. The Yankees won that game over the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 courtesy of a Scott Brosius RBI single in the 6th inning. In game 4 of the World Series, Halloween night, the Yankees were trailing in the 9th inning 3-1. With Paul O’Neill on first, Tino Martinez stepped up to the plate. Tino hit the pitch from Byung-Hyun Kim over the right-center field wall for a game-tying homerun. In the bottom of the 10th inning, still tied at 3, Derek Jeter came up to the plate. As the clock struck midnight on Halloween, baseball had reached where it had not gone before: November. At midnight, Derek Jeter hit Kim’s pitch over the short porch in right field for a walk-off homerun. Jeter became known as “Mr. November” for that clutch hit. With the series tied at 2, game 5 also took place at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees found themselves down by 2 runs again heading into the 9th inning. With Jorge Posada on base, Scott Brosius hit a deep fly ball off Kim over the left field fence for a game-tying homerun. Alfonso Soriano, the Yankees’ 2nd baseman at the time, drove in Chuck Knoblauch for the game-winning run. Knoblauch pinch ran for designated hitter David Justice earlier in the game. Although the Yankees lost the World Series in 7 games to Arizona, the heroics by Tino, Jeter, and Brosius will live in history.

1. October 8, 1956 (Don Larsen’s Perfect Game)
In game 5 of the 1956 World Series between the Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, Don Larsen took the mound. Previously in the series, Larsen allowed 4 runs in 2 innings. Even Larsen was surprised that he would be pitching the critical game. Larsen had a perfect game going through the first 3 innings, and it would be like that for the next 3, and the next 2. Larsen went into the 9th inning, facing the minimum 24 batters. Larsen was just 1 batter away from the first no-hitter in postseason history, let alone World Series history. Dale Mitchell was the batter for Brooklyn who was the last to face Larsen in game 5. Larsen threw a 1-2 pitch on the outside part of the plate for strike 3. Catcher Yogi Berra leaped into Larsen’s arms in celebration. Larsen threw a mere 97 pitches in his effort. Larsen’s perfect game earned him the World Series MVP award for the 1956 World Series. The crowd of over 64,000 cheered as the Yankees celebrated perfection. The Yankees won the World Series in 7 games, but Larsen’s perfect game is the highlight of it.

Brady out, Cassel in

2008-09-13T16:25:00.002-04:00

The New England Patriots entered the 2008 campaign as a strong contender to win the Super Bowl after their devastating loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. However, after a week 1 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, experts, analysts, and fans rethought their Patriot predictions.

Chiefs’ safety Bernard Pollard tackled Tom Brady early in the 1st quarter and Brady was seriously hurt as he did not get up immediately. He had to be helped off the field with the trainer and left the game. The Boston Globe reported that Brady had a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee. Brady’s injury requires surgery and he will miss the entire 2008 season. Now it is time for backup quarterback Matt Cassel to step in.

Cassel was a 7th round draft pick in the 2005 NFL draft from the University of Southern California. Cassel is not as polished as Brady, nor is he as experienced as Brady. His college football career consisted of a mere 33 pass attempts. He sat behind Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, both current NFL quarterbacks. He has not started a game since the year 2000, when he was a senior in high school. Brady was a starting quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1998 and 1999 when he started all 25 games in that span. Brady was a starter for his high school varsity team as well. In Cassel’s NFL career, he has played scarcely. He has only played in 15 games in his 4 seasons with the Patriots and only has 57 career pass attempts.

Many fans and analysts say that Cassel will do a satisfactory job, but there is room for doubt. Analysts say that because of the receiving bunch the Patriots have with Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Jabar Gaffney, Cassel will do fine. But, there is statistical evidence that proves a skilled quarterback makes a proficient wide receiver. Randy Moss is a fine example of this. When Moss played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1998 to 2004, Daunte Culpepper was the quarterback. With Culpepper at quarterback, Moss had 9,142 receiving yards and 90 touchdowns. Culpepper was an exceptional quarterback in those seven years. However, when Randy Moss was with the Oakland Raiders from 2005 to 2006, Moss had a total of 1558 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. The Oakland quarterbacks in those two seasons: Kerry Collins, Andrew Walter, Aaron Brooks, and Marques Tuiasosopo; none of whom have close the skill level that Culpepper had. Than in 2007 when Moss played with Brady, they accumulated record-setting, single-season numbers with 1493 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns. Now with Cassel at the helm, it seems very unlikely the receiving team will succeed and do as well as they did last season.

Cassel replacing Brady also proposes this question: Where do the Patriots go from here? The Patriot defense did lose Asante Samuel and Randall Gay, who combined for 9 interceptions last season. Teams with pass-heavy offenses, such as the Colts, Rams, and Cardinals, can take advantage of the weak secondary. Their defense is still aging significantly as Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Lewis Sanders, and Rodney Harrison are all old for NFL standards.

On the offense, the Patriots’ running game is weak compared to other NFL teams. Laurence Maroney, LaMont Jordan, Kevin Faulk, and Sammy Morris are not up to par with most NFL starters on today’s game. The offensive line is also getting old and weaker. Matt Cassel was sacked twice in the week 1 matchup against the Chiefs due to the poor job by the offensive line. The Chiefs have a subpar defensive line and teams with strong defensive lines like the Bills, Colts, Jets, and Titans can take advantage of the shaky offensive line of the Patriots. On the other hand, the Patriots have one of the easiest schedules in the entire NFL and that should be a relief for the New England faithful.

Now that has been said, the Patriots’ season could go in different directions. It is critical that they start off well in the next few games with the departure of Tom Brady because Cassel's confidence will be rattled if he begins to struggle. If Cassel handles the pressure well than the best-case scenario is that the Patriots maintain to win the AFC East and have somewhere between 10 and 13 wins without Brady. That would be more than remarkable for a season for a backup quarterback. The worst-case scenario is Cassel flops and the Patriots finish the season with a sub-.500 record. What can be expected? Losing Brady is colossal, especially since he was the league’s most valuable player last season. The chances of going undefeated again are slim-to-none. What will happen is up in the air, but one thing is for sure, and that is the road to the playoffs will no longer be a cake walk for the Patriots without Brady.

New York Jets vs Miami Dolhpins week 1

2008-09-07T17:07:00.003-04:00

The first game of the New York Jets’ regular season resulted in a 20-14 victory over the rival Miami Dolphins.

The Jets scored first on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre to Jerricho Cotchery on a play action fake. Kicker Mike Nugent missed a 32 yard field goal wide right. Nugent later left the game temporarily with a thigh injury.

In the second quarter, former Jet Chad Pennington led the Dolphins to a 78 yard drive, tying the game with a touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Fasano. The Jets responded with a long drive, but on a 4th and 13 from the Dolphin 22, the Jets did not go with the field goal unit and decided to go for it. Favre broke out of a few tackles and than lobbed the ball to Chansi Stuckey for a sensational 22 yard touchdown. With Nugent hurt, the Jets decided to go for the 2-point conversion. The Jets did not convert and the score was 13-7 going into the half.

In the 3rd quarter, a Brett Favre fumble was a miscue that could have resulted in points for the Jets. The Dolphins failed to capitalize on the blunder and punted it away. On the ensuing drive, the Jets scored a touchdown on a 6-yard run by Thomas Jones. Compared to last season, Jones’ first touchdown came 12 weeks earlier as last season his only rushing touchdown came in week 13, against the Miami Dolphins.

In the 4th quarter, Chad Pennington led the Dolphins to another touchdown drive on an 11 yard pass from Pennington to David Martin. The Jets were close to sealing the game but a penalty on Damien Woody forced the Jets to punt the ball away with 1:56 left. Chad Pennington was 5/7 with 48 yards on the final drive, but a 3rd and 10 from the Jet 18 was intercepted on a breathtaking play by Darrelle Revis as he was held on the play. The Jets downed it to finally wrap up the game.

Brett Favre’s Jet debut was successful with a victory. He went 15/22 with 194 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. Former Jet QB Chad Pennington outmatched Favre as he was 26/43 with 251 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, but the 1 interception. The Jets’ run defense was solid, holding Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown to 47 yards. There were 2 big plays by Miami that would have led to more yards rushing, but they were both called back on tripping and holding penalties. Chansi Stuckey missed his rookie season in 2007 with a foot injury, but his NFL debut resulted with 2 big receptions including a touchdown. Newly acquired linebacker Calvin Pace had 5 tackles and a sack. Teammate Bryan Thomas had 2 sacks and Shaun Ellis also had a sack. Rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery from San Jose State University was superb. He had 3 tackles and also deflected 3 passes, all of which had a great importance.

One thing to worry about for the Jets is the health of kicker Mike Nugent. If his injury is severe than punter Ben Graham would have to be the kicker as well as the punter. Nugent has not been great as his field goal percentage last season was 80.6%, which ranked 22nd in the entire NFL last season.

Laveranues Coles only had 1 catch of 5 yards, and that was the first play from scrimmage for the Jets in the 1st quarter. Tight ends Chris Baker and Bubba Franks combined for 4 receptions for 53 yards. Rookie tight end Dustin Keller from Purdue had a few receptions but were all called back due to penalties.

The Jets will face the 1-0 New England Patriots next week at the Meadowlands. The Patriots won 17-10 against the Chiefs despite losing Tom Brady in the 1st quarter. The Pats held off a late comeback drive by the Chiefs. The Patriots were 2-0 against the Jets last season, winning by scores of 38-14 in week 1 and 20-10 in week 15.

Intro

2008-09-03T19:21:00.000-04:00

Here's my first blog post. Feel free to comment on them and post your opinions.

By the way, I'm Matt and will be posting mostly about sports.