Oh boy. I think I can outsmart the NFL experts and end up sounding like Emmitt Smith. Sure, the NFL experts probably had Dallas and the Jags like I did, but I like to think I can outsmart them, oh well. I can hang my hat on the Falcons. I also have more ammo for next year with worst to first or at least wild card performances by the Dolphins, Ravens, Eagles, and aforementioned Falcons. I had a measly 1 out of 6 playoff participants right in the AFC, and a respectable 4 of 6 playoff participants in the NFC. Here's a breakdown:
AFC EAST
Dolphins 11-5
My Prediction 6-10
Explanation- Who saw the elf from Rudolph turning the Phins around so quickly?
Patriots 11-5
My Prediction 11-5
Explanation- Winner!
Jets 9-7
My Prediction 9-7
Explanation- Winner!
Bills 7-9
My Prediction 10-6
Explanation- Booooooooo! What a homer!
AFC NORTH
Steelers 12-4
My Prediction 7-9
Explanation- Did you know who James Harrison was before this year?
Ravens 11-5
My Prediction 4-12
Explanation- Keep repeating Ray Ray is not on PEDS...
Bengals 4-11-1
My Prediction 6-10
Cut Ocho; Palmer + Rivers return maybe next year?
Browns 4-12
My Prediction 8-8
Explanation- Staph, Bray cries, BQ gets punched, no Cowher...yikes!
AFC SOUTH
Titans 13-3
My Prediction 7-9
Explanation- Obviously my prediction would have been different if I knew I street person Kerry Collins would be QB.
Colts 12-4
My Prediction 8-8
Explanation- My hatred for Peyton is so pure I will continue to pick against the Colts.
Texans 8-8
My Prediction 10-6
Explanation- Nice end, maybe my pick is one year too soon.
Jaguars 5-11
My Prediction 13-3
Explanation- Oops, Good thing Garrard didn't sign a huge contract. Oh he did? Ouch, hoping fan dissatisfaction precipitates a move to LA FU Jacksonville.
AFC WEST
Chargers 8-8
My prediction 11-5
Explanation- Philip Rivers is a cocky bastard, and backed
it up.
Broncos 8-8
My prediction 7-9
Explanation- I was off by one game because Jay Cutler has diabetes.
Raiders 5-11
My prediction 7-9
Explanation- Genuinely feisty at the end of the year.
Chiefs 2-14
My prediction 4-12
Explanation- Tyler Thigpen is a top ten QB...in Fantasy.
NFC EAST
Giants 12-4
My prediction 8-8
Explanation- What an offensive line! Will be tough to beat.
Eagles 9-6-1
My prediction 12-4
Explanation- The one team the Giants don't want to face.
Cowboys 12-4
My prediction 13-3
Explanation- I drank the Hard Knocks kool-aid...they looked so happy.
Redskins 8-8
My prediction 11-5
Explanation- Will Dan Snyder go New York Yankee this off-
season?
NFC NORTH
Vikings 10-6
My prediction 10-6
Explanation- Winner!
Bears 9-7
My prediction 5-11
Explanation- I still don't think Kyle Orton is the answer.
Packers 6-10
My prediction 7-9
Explanation- Packers had a lot of close losses. They will bounce back.
Lions 0-16
My prediction 4-12
Explanation- It's tough looking back on a 4-12 prediction and thinking that I gave the Lions too much credit.
NFC SOUTH
Panthers 12-4
My prediction 7-9
Explanation- I wonder what the percentage of teams that won their fantasy leagues because of DeAngelo Williams.
Falcons 11-5
My prediction 9-7
Explanation- Since 2002 team that has finished last in NFC South has bounced back to make the playoffs the following year.
Buccaneers 9-7
My prediction 8-8
Explanation- Epic collapse. Bucs defense looked OLD.
Saints 8-8
My prediction 8-8
Explanation- Winner (and winner of Bucs merchandise through bet with fool)!
NFC West
Cardinals 9-7
My prediction 10-6
Explanation- It was an ugly 9-7 wasn't it? A lot of blowout losses.
49ers 7-9
My prediction 3-13
Explanation- A different team with Singletary.
Seahawks 4-12
My prediction 9-7
Explanation- Most injury plagued team of 2008.
Rams 2-14
My prediction 3-13
Explanation- Oh so close!
Playoffs
I'm going with the Cardinals to beat the Falcons, Eagles over Vikings, Chargers over Colts, and Ravens over the Dolphins...but as the above displays, what do I know?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Apparently the Run and Shoot doesn't work as well in the snow
Are the Cardinals the worst playoff team in history? I would argue yes, mostly because I don’t feel like digging up any evidence to the contrary. As a Bears fan, I’m especially upset that this disgrace of a team will take the place of someone at least slightly more worthy. Not that the Bears are the most deserving replacement, but I feel confident in saying that the Cardinals are the worst team in the NFC, outside of the rest of the NFC West and the Lions. I mean, the Cardinals haven’t even won a game outside of the crap-tastic NFC West since week SIX! We all know that the Cardinals have a great passing game (except when it snows) but no Arizona running back has managed to surpass even the eager milestone of 40 yards in a single game since week nine! And that was against the Rams! They’ve lost four of the their last five games, so I think it’s safe to assume that whoever earns the five seed in the NFC and has the good fortune of facing Arizona in the playoffs can go ahead and can cancel their plans for the following weekend.Depending on what happens in tonight’s MNF game, Chicago is inching closer and closer to a surprise playoff berth. They looked dead after getting blown out by Minnesota and falling to 6-6, but with a win tonight at home against Green Bay and next week at Houston, the Bears can lock up the division title if Minnesota loses to the Giants next week. Unfortunately for the Bears, the Giants have already clinched home-field advantage so they may rest a few players. However, never underestimate Minnesota’s ability to choke.
Of course, a few obligatory comments on the Pro Bowl. I know that no one gives a gosh darn about it, but I think it’s worth pointing out that golden boy Matt Ryan did not make the NFC squad, while Eli and his goofy moptop did. Many pundits are throwing Matt Ryan’s name around for NFL MVP (OK, maybe just Peter King) so I think it’s safe to say that if he didn’t make the Pro Bowl, he probably won’t win MVP. A lot of people are getting bent out of shape about Philip Rivers not making the team, but I’m okay with it. Sure, he has great stats, but his team has pretty much sucked. Like or not, the QB has a lot to do with that. It’s only thanks to the Broncos’ own ineptitude that San Diego is still in the playoff race, which I guess raises the question of why Jay Cutler deserves to be in the Pro Bowl more than Rivers. To which I say, why not Chad Pennington? He may not have quite the yards or TD’s of the other two guys, but he has the lowest interception percentage among AFC QBs and helped bring the Dolphins from the brink of relegation to the Arena League to playoff contention. And how crappy is the AFC that Thomas Jones is the starting running back? Remember when the AFC was so good that Fred Taylor could never make the Pro Bowl despite surpassing 1200 yards and 4.5 ypc nearly every season? Those were the days…
I’ve complained about the NFL’s parity in the past, but it’s hard to argue against the excitement it generates at the end of the season. In the AFC, six teams are fighting for the last three spots, and in the NFC five teams are still in contention for the last two slots. Two or three quality teams will almost certainly be left out of the playoffs. As exciting as the race is, I’m pretty sure that there is something that has fans even more juiced. Of course, I’m talking about the Lions pursuit of (im)perfection, which could come to a close this Sunday. I know I would be watching the game - if it wasn’t blacked out, of course.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Extension!
ESPN and local Buffalo Radio are reporting Dick Jauron (see above) has signed a three year extension. Words really can't express my feelings right now. To reward a coach for consistently mismanaging the clock, squandering legitimate talent, and losing close games is beyond comprehension. Now I am not one of the many delusional Buffalonians who start their message board posts with pathetic cries of "I quit being a Bills fan." The People who make such outlandish statements usually have post names like "Beelze4eva," "Iluvbills," "BB2daGrave," and "SchoebelsHUGEsack," well maybe not the last one, but anyway though I am not one of those silly Bills fans I think you can still be critical of your team and love them unconditionally. Do I wish they wouldn't have extended Dick Jauron? Of course, but its now a fact. Always the optimist I have noted that the Bills have locked up last place in the AFC East even if they win out meaning next year's opponents will include the Bengals and the Chiefs/Raiders...we can beat them next year right?Monday Thoughts
- The Bucs went from possible first round bye to having to fight for their playoff lives in the tough NFC. I have a merchandise bet with a buddy from high school. If the Bucs finish with a better record than the New Orleans Saints then I receive a Bucs jersey of his choice. If the Saints beat out the Bucs he gets a Saints jersey. With the Saints loss I clinched at least a tie, its kind of a shame though because I really wanted to see the look on his face when I gave him an authentic black Aaron Brooks Saints jersey.
- The Patriots legitimately could finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs. The Pats with wins against the Cards and Bills would finish 11-5, but would need help from the Ravens and Jets/Dolphins who all hold tiebreakers over the Pats (all based on AFC Conference record).
- The NFL's "indisputable evidence" standard needs to be more clearly defined. Obviously there was not "indisputable" evidence that Santonio Holmes was in the end zone last night during the Steelers/Ravens game. Referees should be instructed to stick with the call on the field, the human call, when a play is inconclusive.
- I would just like to note that both of my fantasy football teams are playing in the Fantasy Super Bowl this year. People laughed at me for selecting Chris Johnson in around the sixth round. I am laughing now. It also helps to have Andre Johnson and Michael Turner playing absolutely brolick. I do fear that Michael Turner is getting too many carries and will end up like Larry Johnson.
- I simply cannot wait to pick up my Marshall's JP Losman jersey.
- The New York Giants peaked too early. I always seem to be doubting the Giants and then they end up proving me wrong, but its entirely possible for the Giants to lose to the Panthers and Vikings and end up being the NFC's 4 seed. A Panthers win next week gives them homefield. Coupled with a Vikings win next week, the Giants and Vikings would be playing for a bye week on the season's final week.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Speaking of Cole Hamels....
The Phillies stud workhorse just recently told the world what everyone was thinking but didn't have the balls to say (except me, I said it last February because I'm awesome). The Mets are the most expensive choke artists this side of the 2004 Yankees.
Good job Cole. Here's to Philly not squandering a double digit lead in games in September.
Also, I'm going to sleep in order to more effectively rant about Eric Devendorf's dumb ass tomorrow.....fucking dick.
Good job Cole. Here's to Philly not squandering a double digit lead in games in September.
Also, I'm going to sleep in order to more effectively rant about Eric Devendorf's dumb ass tomorrow.....fucking dick.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love....
As the winter meetings wind down in Vegas, I want to take this opportunity to introduce anyone who is reading to this the newest member of the Philadelphia Phillies. I know I shouldn't be complaining since the Phillies won the World Series, but really that feeling only lasted for a few days. After about a week, I was back to cursing out McNabb and Andy Reid, as well as wondering why the Sixers spent so much money on two bum "superstars" like Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand.As the 2009 season begins, I notice every team in the NL East is making an effort to get better. The Braves have already traded for Javier Vazquez. The Mets have signed K-Rod and traded for Putz, which the team hopes will enable Jerry Manuel to shorten the game. Even the Nationals have made an offer to Textiera (which he'll never accept). Everyone is trying to get better.
What have the Phillies done you ask? Well lets see. They have declined arbitration to Pat Burrell and Jamie Moyer. Chase Utley has had hip surgery that will likely keep him out until June. They have still not resigned All World MVP Cole Hamels (he still only makes 400K, which was much less than the 900K they paid to So Taguchi last season). So far they have made two meaningless trades. They swapped bust prospects with the Rangers and now have traded a 26 year old catcher to the Pirates for castoff Ronny Paulino. Welcome to the team Ronny. You'll likely be booed by Sunday.
The NFL Season is Over
Surprisingly, the NFL season didn't end about 8 weeks ago for me and other Cleveland fans. However, with the devastating loss to the Titans, the NFL holds nothing for me anymore. The main reason I kept up with the NFL for this long is because I had one fantasy team in the playoffs. Now since that's over...well fuck the 2008 season. Anwyay, the only victory for the Browns this season was the completely perplexing throttling of their toughest opponent, the New York Giants. There is a slight chance I'll watch this Monday Night's matchup with the mediocre Eagles and the final Steelers game. But if the Cavs are on, fuck that.
So what do the Browns do this offseason? Well, firing fat fuck Romeo is probably the last move Savage should do before getting canned by Lerner. At least he can go out on a high note. Although, I think Savage gets a hard time from the fans, myself included, for how he's handled the Browns in his tenure. His drafting has been pretty superb with jems such as Brady Quinn, Josh Cribbs, D'Qwell Jackson, and Kamerion Wimbely. I attribute the shittiness of the Browns to poor coaching and, somewhat less, to injuries. Injuries are moot because every team has to deal with them. However, losing two straight games after leading by 13+ at the half is squarely put on the shoulders of atrocious coaching.
Romeo Crennell has done an awful job this year with clock management, personell management, and general gameplan. This was a team that won 10 games last year and had one of the top offenses in the league! In 2008, they couldn't score a TD if their lives depended on it. Who loses 3 games in one season by the score of 10-6. Its absolutely unbelievable.
My hope is that Lerner goes out of his way to get Bill Cowher to coach. I know this is a longshot but give him money, operations control, ANYTHING to get that man on the Cleveland sidelines. We need someone to instill discipline and a culture of winning on this Browns team. Sure Schottenheimer can get the wins, but whats the point of winning 12 games and then losing in the playoffs for no apparent reason. He'd be a good short term fix, but what the Browns need is a sense of stability and continuity. They've gone through a revolving door of coaches since their inception 10 years ago. I'm sure that doesn't help with the inherent identity crisis that comes with being an expansion team.
C.C. Sabathia.
I'll be doing another more extensive Hot Stove piece during the holidays when the GM meetings are over and the deals that are in the works are either confirmed or quashed. For now, I'll talk about CC's decision to go with the Yankees. From what I understand, Sabathia took his time making the decision and I'm sure that it wasn't a foregone conclusion. Sources close to Sabathia have repeatedly stated that he wanted to play on the west coast near his family. Rumor has it that if the Dodgers or Giants made an offer anywhere in the proximity of the Yankees' offer, he would have taken it.
I'm disappointed in CC's decision because it forces me to root against him. I've had my ups and down with the pitcher since he came up through the Indians farm system but he was always one of my favorite players on the Indians. I wanted him to win a World Series, whether with the Tribe or longshot Brewers last year. I could even stomach a Dodger win if it meant Sabathia got the ring (the Giants are more dubious). However, since he plays on the Yankees, there is no way that I'll root for that to happen now. I hope Cliff Lee and the Indians spoil the Yanks home opener next year. From then on, Sabathia will become an uneasy enemy to me.
The other reason I'm disappointed with CC's decision is that it really doesn't make much sense. Logic would dictate that it was the best offer because it could potentially pay $160 million and has a player option on the last 3 years of the contract. That's good for Sabathia but a terrible decision by the Yanks. If Sabathia flops in New York, nobody would pick up that contract and he'd be able to pick up his own option and just eat salary space while being another mediocre starting pitcher. Obviously the Yankees thought very highly of him to offer that arrangement. Where the agreement doesn't make sense is the location. Why would Sabathia relocate to the AL East to a team that is aging and is probably past its prime?
The Yankees aren't a lock anymore to make the playoffs. Sure they'll have a great rotation if they sign Burnett and Joba lives up to his potential, but the chemistry on the team is obviously not there. They really fell apart last season due to early injuries and an epic failure on the part of their young players. The front office continually trades the homegrown talent for veterans that bring their own agenda and personality to a clubhouse already divided in a cold war between Jeter and A-Rod. Their outfield is weak by AL standards and their middle infield is deficient on defense. Robinson Cano is turning into a one season wonder. It seems like the Yankees need to blow up and reboot, but the culture in New York obviously won't let that happen.
Plus, they aren't even the best team in the East. That battle is going to be between the Red Sox and Rays for a couple of seasons to come. The Rays are young and dynamic. They have everything the Yankees don't in terms of defense, chemistry, and young blood. They have all that without the drama of being in New York. Sabathia probably won't be affected by any of this though. He thrives on pressure and plays well when under the gun. I'm confident that he'll struggle early with the Yanks but get his bearings straight quickly and play as well as they need him to down the stretch. It just boggles my mind why he wouldn't stay in the NL where he would dominate and win Cy Young awards for years to come.
Maybe that's why he's a professional athlete and I'm not.
The Cavs are Good.
This obviously comes with a caveat because I'm from Cleveland. While the Cavs have set an NBA record by winning 9 games by 12+ points, they came against opponents who are under .500 on the season. I think only one or two of those teams were above .500 during that stretch. However, their style of play has altered drastically this season with the addition of Mo Williams on the team.
A true point guard makes the game much easier for the rest of the team. The Cavs have the best offense, statistically in the NBA, and the best defense in terms of points allowed and field goal percentage allowed. Lebron hasn't been playing the 4th quarter during the blowouts so he'll be fresher to play against tougher opponents deeper into the season. The bench is strong with Daniel Gibson averaging 10 ppg and surprising rookie JJ Hickson providing energy and defense. Delonte West is definitely better as an off guard and has played incredibly well to start the season in terms of shooting and defense. Since the burden of running the point is now on Mo Williams, he gets to expend more energy on defense shutting down the other team's perimeter threat.
If the Cavs can keep this pace, or even come close to it, for the rest of the season, they'll be a tough out in the playoffs. I think they legitimately have a chance at beating the Celtics in the playoffs this year and winning the title. I'm not calling it by any means, but this is the strongest Cavs team that I have seen in the Lebron era, by far. Obviously its too early to call anything about 20 games into the season but its enough of a sample space to make a fair assessment of a team's chances.
So what do the Browns do this offseason? Well, firing fat fuck Romeo is probably the last move Savage should do before getting canned by Lerner. At least he can go out on a high note. Although, I think Savage gets a hard time from the fans, myself included, for how he's handled the Browns in his tenure. His drafting has been pretty superb with jems such as Brady Quinn, Josh Cribbs, D'Qwell Jackson, and Kamerion Wimbely. I attribute the shittiness of the Browns to poor coaching and, somewhat less, to injuries. Injuries are moot because every team has to deal with them. However, losing two straight games after leading by 13+ at the half is squarely put on the shoulders of atrocious coaching.
Romeo Crennell has done an awful job this year with clock management, personell management, and general gameplan. This was a team that won 10 games last year and had one of the top offenses in the league! In 2008, they couldn't score a TD if their lives depended on it. Who loses 3 games in one season by the score of 10-6. Its absolutely unbelievable.
My hope is that Lerner goes out of his way to get Bill Cowher to coach. I know this is a longshot but give him money, operations control, ANYTHING to get that man on the Cleveland sidelines. We need someone to instill discipline and a culture of winning on this Browns team. Sure Schottenheimer can get the wins, but whats the point of winning 12 games and then losing in the playoffs for no apparent reason. He'd be a good short term fix, but what the Browns need is a sense of stability and continuity. They've gone through a revolving door of coaches since their inception 10 years ago. I'm sure that doesn't help with the inherent identity crisis that comes with being an expansion team.
C.C. Sabathia.
I'll be doing another more extensive Hot Stove piece during the holidays when the GM meetings are over and the deals that are in the works are either confirmed or quashed. For now, I'll talk about CC's decision to go with the Yankees. From what I understand, Sabathia took his time making the decision and I'm sure that it wasn't a foregone conclusion. Sources close to Sabathia have repeatedly stated that he wanted to play on the west coast near his family. Rumor has it that if the Dodgers or Giants made an offer anywhere in the proximity of the Yankees' offer, he would have taken it.
I'm disappointed in CC's decision because it forces me to root against him. I've had my ups and down with the pitcher since he came up through the Indians farm system but he was always one of my favorite players on the Indians. I wanted him to win a World Series, whether with the Tribe or longshot Brewers last year. I could even stomach a Dodger win if it meant Sabathia got the ring (the Giants are more dubious). However, since he plays on the Yankees, there is no way that I'll root for that to happen now. I hope Cliff Lee and the Indians spoil the Yanks home opener next year. From then on, Sabathia will become an uneasy enemy to me.
The other reason I'm disappointed with CC's decision is that it really doesn't make much sense. Logic would dictate that it was the best offer because it could potentially pay $160 million and has a player option on the last 3 years of the contract. That's good for Sabathia but a terrible decision by the Yanks. If Sabathia flops in New York, nobody would pick up that contract and he'd be able to pick up his own option and just eat salary space while being another mediocre starting pitcher. Obviously the Yankees thought very highly of him to offer that arrangement. Where the agreement doesn't make sense is the location. Why would Sabathia relocate to the AL East to a team that is aging and is probably past its prime?
The Yankees aren't a lock anymore to make the playoffs. Sure they'll have a great rotation if they sign Burnett and Joba lives up to his potential, but the chemistry on the team is obviously not there. They really fell apart last season due to early injuries and an epic failure on the part of their young players. The front office continually trades the homegrown talent for veterans that bring their own agenda and personality to a clubhouse already divided in a cold war between Jeter and A-Rod. Their outfield is weak by AL standards and their middle infield is deficient on defense. Robinson Cano is turning into a one season wonder. It seems like the Yankees need to blow up and reboot, but the culture in New York obviously won't let that happen.
Plus, they aren't even the best team in the East. That battle is going to be between the Red Sox and Rays for a couple of seasons to come. The Rays are young and dynamic. They have everything the Yankees don't in terms of defense, chemistry, and young blood. They have all that without the drama of being in New York. Sabathia probably won't be affected by any of this though. He thrives on pressure and plays well when under the gun. I'm confident that he'll struggle early with the Yanks but get his bearings straight quickly and play as well as they need him to down the stretch. It just boggles my mind why he wouldn't stay in the NL where he would dominate and win Cy Young awards for years to come.
Maybe that's why he's a professional athlete and I'm not.
The Cavs are Good.
This obviously comes with a caveat because I'm from Cleveland. While the Cavs have set an NBA record by winning 9 games by 12+ points, they came against opponents who are under .500 on the season. I think only one or two of those teams were above .500 during that stretch. However, their style of play has altered drastically this season with the addition of Mo Williams on the team.
A true point guard makes the game much easier for the rest of the team. The Cavs have the best offense, statistically in the NBA, and the best defense in terms of points allowed and field goal percentage allowed. Lebron hasn't been playing the 4th quarter during the blowouts so he'll be fresher to play against tougher opponents deeper into the season. The bench is strong with Daniel Gibson averaging 10 ppg and surprising rookie JJ Hickson providing energy and defense. Delonte West is definitely better as an off guard and has played incredibly well to start the season in terms of shooting and defense. Since the burden of running the point is now on Mo Williams, he gets to expend more energy on defense shutting down the other team's perimeter threat.
If the Cavs can keep this pace, or even come close to it, for the rest of the season, they'll be a tough out in the playoffs. I think they legitimately have a chance at beating the Celtics in the playoffs this year and winning the title. I'm not calling it by any means, but this is the strongest Cavs team that I have seen in the Lebron era, by far. Obviously its too early to call anything about 20 games into the season but its enough of a sample space to make a fair assessment of a team's chances.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Third Quarter
AFC EASTJets 8-4 [9-7]
Patriots 7-5 [11-5]
Dolphins 7-5 [6-10]
Bills 6-6 [10-6]
If you notice the above picture the Bills retro logo actually has a buffalo penis. The logo brazenly exposes a fat buffalo cock. Unfortunately, the real Buffalo Bills have no balls. Dick Jauron may be an ivy leaguer. He really may be dead though. Not only does he look like a skeleton, but he shows no emotion, cannot manage time-outs, and insists on allowing offensive coordinator Turk Schonert to run when he should pass, and pass when he should run. I can't believe how this season has turned out, and even a hopeful fan like me is having a hard time looking forward to the draft next year. As for the rest of the division, I hate them all, and do not want to talk about them.
AFC NORTHSteelers 9-3 [7-9]
Ravens 8-4 [4-12]
Browns 4-8 [8-8]
Bengals 1-10-1 [6-10]
See that Browns retro logo? That guy is smiling, but he is obviously infected with staph. As were my predictions for this division. I really had no idea how good the Steelers defense was. I also would have never guessed that Joe Flacco would be as good as he is. Guys like Terrell Suggs who openly lobbied for Troy Smith are hopefully apologizing to Flacco. It should be interesting to see what happens in Cleveland though, this division suddenly gets much more interesting next year if Bill Cowher shows up in Cleveland.
AFC SOUTHTitans 11-1 [7-9]
Colts 8-4 [8-8]
Texans 5-7 [10-6]
Jaguars 4-8 [13-3]
The Colts seriously are not good. They should legitimately be 4-8. They should have lost both Texans games (Blast you Sage Rosenfels!), the Vikings game, and even the Browns game. I have to give the Colts credit though for winning these games that they should not be winning. It is the sign of superior coaching and a team that just knows how to win. That may sound cliche, but it is absolutely true. Teams new to winning often can't get over the hump because you really do need to learn how to win. That is why if the Colts will be an extremely tough out in the playoffs (hopefully they don't make it).
AFC WESTBroncos 7-5 [7-9]
Chargers 4-8 [11-5]
Raiders 3-9 [7-9]
Chiefs 2-10 [4-12]
That's Tom Cable to the right. Hmmm...interesting right? What a horrible division. I don't care that the Broncos beat the Jets their defense is horrible. Any team that gets blown out by that guy ---> does not deserve to make the playoffs. Ever. The Chargers, along with the Jags are shocking failures. Was Shawn "I love steroids" Merriman really that valuable?
PLAYOFF TEAMS: If the playoffs started today I would hit on ZERO, yes that's right ZERO out of six. I thought I was so much better than those assholes on ESPN, but I'm sure they have at least one.
NFC EAST
Giants 11-1 [8-8]
Cowboys 8-4 [12-4]
Redskins 7-5 [11-5]
Eagles 6-5-1 [12-4]
A good division to be sure, but obviously not as good as I thought they would be. The NFC South has turned out to be the best division. The Cowboys are an interesting team to watch in the final quarter as they really can afford to lose only one game the rest of the season if they plan on making the playoffs.
NFC NORTHVikings 7-5 [10-6]
Bears 6-6 [5-11]
Packers 5-7 [7-9]
Lions 0-12 [4-12]
Poor Detroit Lions fans. The closest the Lions are going to get to the Super Bowl is old school Tecmo with Barry Sanders, or if you cheat on Madden. This division is still very much up for grabs with the NFL announcing Kevin and Pat Williams' suspensions today. Though the top three teams are mediocre it should still make for some compelling games.
Buccaneers 9-3 [8-8]
Panthers 9-3 [7-9]
Falcons 8-4 [9-7]
Saints 6-6 [8-8]
The NFC South looks like the best division in football. ESPN and the rest of the mainstream media still loves the NFC East, but all the NFC South teams are tough. The Panthers win close games, the Bucs are led by a core of old guys with some youngsters, and hot cheerleaders, the Falcons have the rookie QB and are playing beyond all expectations, and the Saints have a puncher's chance in every game they play with an awesome offense. I obviously did not see this division playing so well. I've definitely become a fan though and would be overjoyed to see three NFC South teams make the playoffs, especially if it means that the Cowboys don't make it.NFC WEST
Cardinals 7-5 [10-6]
49ers 4-8 [3-13]
Seahawks 2-10 [9-7]
Rams 2-10 [3-13]
I don't have much to say about the NFC West. The Cardinals look good one week, and bad the next. The Seahawks have been decimated by injuries no one could have seen coming. Though Mike Holmgren looks like a walrus he deserved a better final season in Seattle than this.
NFC PLAYOFFS- If the playoffs started today I would hit 3 of 6, that's not too shabby, and I will hang my hat on the Falcons pick.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday Night Football
It is in the depths of hell that love is cultivated and strengthened. It is in the fires of the underworld where commitment and dedication are sculpted. After enjoying a weekend in upstate New York and seeing a Monday Night Football game in Buffalo, I salute you Buffalo fans. You've been through 4 Superbowl losses, the Music City Miracle, the No Goal, and a bunch of other stuff I probably left out. However, after tailgating and watching a game on a brutal (yet beautiful) Buffalo winter night, I have found new respect for your kin.
Let me say this: the main lot in front of Ralph Wilson Stadium looks like hell. It has fires burning, people in the strangest outfits, crazy music, and possessed Bills fans. It could be something straight out of Mad Max Return to Thunderdome. I was fortunate that my medium sized William Green jersey didn't fit over my winter jacket and various other gear I had on. Otherwise, I might have been maimed or killed. The atmosphere was very hostile to opposing fans, as it should be. In fact, I would have to say it was worse than tailgating in front of Browns Stadium. Obviously I've never experienced life as an away fan in Cleveland (interesting experiment idea, however I'd like to live a little longer), but I have seen the treatment they get. It's worse in Buffalo.
Ralph Wilson Stadium itself isn't too pretty. I wasn't able to check out all the bells and whistles but it is an old school stadium with all of its charm coming from the loudspeakers and the seats. There really isn't any wow factor when looking at the Ralph. But when the Bills score a touchdown and "Black Betty" plays over the PA, the fans go nuts. Honestly, it is pretty fucking scary. Then the mood lightens up a little after the PAT when "Shout" plays and everyone is singing incredibly loudly. I think it should be required that every team have a song that the fans know after scoring. I'm not sure the Browns even have one. Its probably something that died with Municipal Stadium and wouldn't work anyway because everyone is hammered on gameday.
What was completely incredible to me was that I was able to see what utter dejection looks like on the home fans after a devastating loss. And of all the places to see it, in Buffalo. I really didn't appreciate it at the time because I know what the feeling is like, but in retrospect I was pretty fortunate to experience Buffalo pain firsthand. After Lindell missed the field goal attempt wide right, the entire place fell deathly silent. All I could muster up was a subtle fist pump in fear of getting absolutely mauled by some crazy Bills fan. However I really saw the love these people have for their hapless football team. They stick through thick and thin, good weather and bad to root on what has effectively become an impotent team this season. In the words of Ali G: much respect.
Let me say this: the main lot in front of Ralph Wilson Stadium looks like hell. It has fires burning, people in the strangest outfits, crazy music, and possessed Bills fans. It could be something straight out of Mad Max Return to Thunderdome. I was fortunate that my medium sized William Green jersey didn't fit over my winter jacket and various other gear I had on. Otherwise, I might have been maimed or killed. The atmosphere was very hostile to opposing fans, as it should be. In fact, I would have to say it was worse than tailgating in front of Browns Stadium. Obviously I've never experienced life as an away fan in Cleveland (interesting experiment idea, however I'd like to live a little longer), but I have seen the treatment they get. It's worse in Buffalo.
Ralph Wilson Stadium itself isn't too pretty. I wasn't able to check out all the bells and whistles but it is an old school stadium with all of its charm coming from the loudspeakers and the seats. There really isn't any wow factor when looking at the Ralph. But when the Bills score a touchdown and "Black Betty" plays over the PA, the fans go nuts. Honestly, it is pretty fucking scary. Then the mood lightens up a little after the PAT when "Shout" plays and everyone is singing incredibly loudly. I think it should be required that every team have a song that the fans know after scoring. I'm not sure the Browns even have one. Its probably something that died with Municipal Stadium and wouldn't work anyway because everyone is hammered on gameday.
What was completely incredible to me was that I was able to see what utter dejection looks like on the home fans after a devastating loss. And of all the places to see it, in Buffalo. I really didn't appreciate it at the time because I know what the feeling is like, but in retrospect I was pretty fortunate to experience Buffalo pain firsthand. After Lindell missed the field goal attempt wide right, the entire place fell deathly silent. All I could muster up was a subtle fist pump in fear of getting absolutely mauled by some crazy Bills fan. However I really saw the love these people have for their hapless football team. They stick through thick and thin, good weather and bad to root on what has effectively become an impotent team this season. In the words of Ali G: much respect.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Never Trust The Masses
OK, first let me admit that I am not the baseball expert here, much less the AL baseball expert (I'm a Braves fan) but seriously? Dustin Pedroia, AL MVP? The guy is literally the exact same size as I am. I like scrappy players as much as the next guy, but that doesn't mean they should be league MVP.
Maybe I just miss the steriod-filled days when guys like Juan Gonzalez, Miguel Tejada, and Jason Giambi were winning these awards. I guess times have changed when Miguel Cabrera is able to lead the AL in homers with only 37 dingers. For the record, that would have been good for tenth back in 2000.
Even still, I find it hard to believe that there wasn't a single player who could beat out Pedroia. Sure, he led the league in runs, hits, and doubles, and finished second in batting average, but I'm still not feeling it. He only hit 17 home runs and didn't break 100 RBI. You could compare his achievements to Ichiro's MVP-winning season in 2001, but at least Ichiro batted .350 and had over 50 stolen bases that season.
The truth is that there just wasn't a standout player this season in the AL. I think you could have made a solid case for Josh Hamilton or Kevin Youkilis. Hamilton led the league in RBI and was in the top ten for hits, home runs, and slugging percentage. Youkilis had better power stats than Pedroia and also had a higher on-base percentage. Hell, even A-Rod's numbers (in a down year by his standards) were every bit as good as Pedroia's. A-Rod batted .300, hit twice as many home runs as Pedroia, had over 100 RBI, and led the league in slugging. He also had a higher on-base percentage than Pedroia. Of course, the argument against A-Rod and Hamilton is that their teams didn't even make the playoffs.
On a bit of a side note, I have to say I'm a little perplexed that Nick Markakis did not get a single vote. I don't think he deserved to win, but his numbers were nearly identical to Pedroia's.
Player A - 118 runs scored, 54 doubles, 17 home runs, 83 RBI, .326 BA, .376 OBP, .493 SLG
Player B - 106 runs scored, 48 doubles, 20 home runs, 87 RBI, .306 BA, .406 OBP, .491 SLG
Obviously, if you were paying attention earlier when I mentioned that Pedroia only had 17 home runs, you know that he is player A. The difference appears minimal at best. Pedroia plays a more difficult position (2B) than Markakis (RF), but I don't see how that could be the difference between winning the MVP and not getting a single vote. Sure, the Orioles lost nearly 100 games, but voters (or at least one or two of them) managed to cast ballots for Ichiro and Raul Ibanez from the 100+ loss Mariners, as well as Oriole teammate Aubrey Huff.
I guess my conclusion from this rant is that when a league lacks a clear standout candidate, voters default to voting for the perceived top player from one of the playoff teams. The Rays, Angels, and White Sox lacked anyone close to worthy of the AL MVP, with the possible exception of Carlos Quentin (who suffered a late season injury that killed his chances), so voters basically defaulted to selecting either Pedroia or Youkilis. Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer also received some consideration since they just missed the playoffs, but that was probably compensation for the lack of any other candidates.
At least the NL got it right when they voted for Albert Pujols, who was head and shoulders above everyone else this season. And for what it's worth, I think Phillies second baseman Chase Utley had a better season than Dustin Pedroia, yet he didn't even finish in the top ten for NL MVP. I guess that's just one more reason why I prefer the NL.
Maybe I just miss the steriod-filled days when guys like Juan Gonzalez, Miguel Tejada, and Jason Giambi were winning these awards. I guess times have changed when Miguel Cabrera is able to lead the AL in homers with only 37 dingers. For the record, that would have been good for tenth back in 2000.
Even still, I find it hard to believe that there wasn't a single player who could beat out Pedroia. Sure, he led the league in runs, hits, and doubles, and finished second in batting average, but I'm still not feeling it. He only hit 17 home runs and didn't break 100 RBI. You could compare his achievements to Ichiro's MVP-winning season in 2001, but at least Ichiro batted .350 and had over 50 stolen bases that season.
The truth is that there just wasn't a standout player this season in the AL. I think you could have made a solid case for Josh Hamilton or Kevin Youkilis. Hamilton led the league in RBI and was in the top ten for hits, home runs, and slugging percentage. Youkilis had better power stats than Pedroia and also had a higher on-base percentage. Hell, even A-Rod's numbers (in a down year by his standards) were every bit as good as Pedroia's. A-Rod batted .300, hit twice as many home runs as Pedroia, had over 100 RBI, and led the league in slugging. He also had a higher on-base percentage than Pedroia. Of course, the argument against A-Rod and Hamilton is that their teams didn't even make the playoffs.
On a bit of a side note, I have to say I'm a little perplexed that Nick Markakis did not get a single vote. I don't think he deserved to win, but his numbers were nearly identical to Pedroia's.
Player A - 118 runs scored, 54 doubles, 17 home runs, 83 RBI, .326 BA, .376 OBP, .493 SLG
Player B - 106 runs scored, 48 doubles, 20 home runs, 87 RBI, .306 BA, .406 OBP, .491 SLG
Obviously, if you were paying attention earlier when I mentioned that Pedroia only had 17 home runs, you know that he is player A. The difference appears minimal at best. Pedroia plays a more difficult position (2B) than Markakis (RF), but I don't see how that could be the difference between winning the MVP and not getting a single vote. Sure, the Orioles lost nearly 100 games, but voters (or at least one or two of them) managed to cast ballots for Ichiro and Raul Ibanez from the 100+ loss Mariners, as well as Oriole teammate Aubrey Huff.
I guess my conclusion from this rant is that when a league lacks a clear standout candidate, voters default to voting for the perceived top player from one of the playoff teams. The Rays, Angels, and White Sox lacked anyone close to worthy of the AL MVP, with the possible exception of Carlos Quentin (who suffered a late season injury that killed his chances), so voters basically defaulted to selecting either Pedroia or Youkilis. Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer also received some consideration since they just missed the playoffs, but that was probably compensation for the lack of any other candidates.
At least the NL got it right when they voted for Albert Pujols, who was head and shoulders above everyone else this season. And for what it's worth, I think Phillies second baseman Chase Utley had a better season than Dustin Pedroia, yet he didn't even finish in the top ten for NL MVP. I guess that's just one more reason why I prefer the NL.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Jesus Christ...
...The Browns are AWFUL.
Just when I thought my football team couldn't be any worse or lose a game in any worse of a manner, they go ahead and prove me wrong. The Browns second half meltdown against the Broncos was not only epic, it was legendary. How can a team, up by 10+ points at the half in two consecutive games, lose? At what point does the coaching staff take a look into the warped mirror and hold themselves accountable? Granted, Winslow's fumble wasn't their fault, but the godawful play calling definitely was.
The only silver lining in this debacle was the fact that Brady Quinn couldn't have looked any better, and gayer. The latter because he just looks really gay when playing football, if that's possible. I can't really describe it in words but the aura of gayness surrounds him at every turn. However, he looked real good as a quarterback. He has the balls to step up in the pocket and complete passes. He definitely reads the field quicker and better that Anderson ever did. DA's definition of progressions was looking at Edwards the whole time and overthrowing him. Quinn went through his progressions and hit the open man every time he could. He wasn't afraid to use his running backs in the flat.
I'm not saying that Quinn is going to be a pro bowler, but his first game was impressive, even in a loss. The only real caveat is that Denver's defense is looser than a $20 whore. It will be interesting to see how he handles the Bills defense this week. Hopefully the Browns will throw short passes and march it down the field like the Patriots did. Speaking of which...
...The Bills Looked Bad
I watched the Bills game this week with B-Rad at a Bills backer's bar in Manhattan. The atmosphere was awesome. I mean the continuous pitchers of beer and plates of wings really helped assuage the devastating full night of drinking and 5 hours of sleep that preceded the affair. However, the Bills play was disgusting. They ran their offense like the Browns usually do. Nothing came easy, not even a 2nd and 2. Marshawn needs to be used more creatively instead of just running off tackle or up the middle, using brute force to move the line. Edwards is still scared from that concussion that he experienced a few weeks back. His feet were real happy. I'll leave the rest of this to be discussed by B-Rad because I feel bad criticizing his team.
...Gold Gloves are a Joke.
I've pretty much come to the understanding that the Gold Glove awards players for being merely good at fielding provided that they can hit. It doesn't necessarily award the best fielders in the game, that's an afterthought. If you can hit and field decently well, you go it. There's also the reputation factor. If you have been a good fielder historically, then you're given the benefit of the doubt. Both of these explain how Derek Jeter has won so many and why Michael Young won one this year.
It's a fucking joke. Really. Derek Jeter has the worst range of any shortstop in the American League. He can barely field balls that are hit to his left (the hitter's right). Sure he's made some standout plays in the past, but overall he's more of a liability on the field than an asset. The last few years have shown that as his errors have mounted. Michael Young was rated as the 30th best fielder in the Majors. The only reason he got the award this year is because he had a high fielding percentage (meaning he did well when he got to balls).
But fielding percentage is a gilded statistic. It only tells you how effective they are when the play comes to them. You have to look at range to determine how many plays the fielder actually made. Here's an example. Young could race to a ball in the hole and dive but let it get past him and it wouldn't be counted an error. It wouldn't be part of his fielding percentage either because he never got to make the play. However, if a shortstop with better range actually got to the ball and botched the throw, its an error. If he made the play entirely, then the process (looking at fielding percentage and errors) wouldn't award him anything. In fact, him making the play and Young's/Jeter's inability to even get to the ball are treated the same. What a joke.
On the experience and reputation side of things, Carlos Gomez of the Twins got absolutely robbed. He was incredible this year. Gomez deserved to win over Hunter, Ichiro, and Sizemore. They could have easily put him in there and taken any of those three out. However, the voters decided to "play it safe" and give it to the same guys who won it last year.
Just when I thought my football team couldn't be any worse or lose a game in any worse of a manner, they go ahead and prove me wrong. The Browns second half meltdown against the Broncos was not only epic, it was legendary. How can a team, up by 10+ points at the half in two consecutive games, lose? At what point does the coaching staff take a look into the warped mirror and hold themselves accountable? Granted, Winslow's fumble wasn't their fault, but the godawful play calling definitely was.
The only silver lining in this debacle was the fact that Brady Quinn couldn't have looked any better, and gayer. The latter because he just looks really gay when playing football, if that's possible. I can't really describe it in words but the aura of gayness surrounds him at every turn. However, he looked real good as a quarterback. He has the balls to step up in the pocket and complete passes. He definitely reads the field quicker and better that Anderson ever did. DA's definition of progressions was looking at Edwards the whole time and overthrowing him. Quinn went through his progressions and hit the open man every time he could. He wasn't afraid to use his running backs in the flat.
I'm not saying that Quinn is going to be a pro bowler, but his first game was impressive, even in a loss. The only real caveat is that Denver's defense is looser than a $20 whore. It will be interesting to see how he handles the Bills defense this week. Hopefully the Browns will throw short passes and march it down the field like the Patriots did. Speaking of which...
...The Bills Looked Bad
I watched the Bills game this week with B-Rad at a Bills backer's bar in Manhattan. The atmosphere was awesome. I mean the continuous pitchers of beer and plates of wings really helped assuage the devastating full night of drinking and 5 hours of sleep that preceded the affair. However, the Bills play was disgusting. They ran their offense like the Browns usually do. Nothing came easy, not even a 2nd and 2. Marshawn needs to be used more creatively instead of just running off tackle or up the middle, using brute force to move the line. Edwards is still scared from that concussion that he experienced a few weeks back. His feet were real happy. I'll leave the rest of this to be discussed by B-Rad because I feel bad criticizing his team.
...Gold Gloves are a Joke.
I've pretty much come to the understanding that the Gold Glove awards players for being merely good at fielding provided that they can hit. It doesn't necessarily award the best fielders in the game, that's an afterthought. If you can hit and field decently well, you go it. There's also the reputation factor. If you have been a good fielder historically, then you're given the benefit of the doubt. Both of these explain how Derek Jeter has won so many and why Michael Young won one this year.
It's a fucking joke. Really. Derek Jeter has the worst range of any shortstop in the American League. He can barely field balls that are hit to his left (the hitter's right). Sure he's made some standout plays in the past, but overall he's more of a liability on the field than an asset. The last few years have shown that as his errors have mounted. Michael Young was rated as the 30th best fielder in the Majors. The only reason he got the award this year is because he had a high fielding percentage (meaning he did well when he got to balls).
But fielding percentage is a gilded statistic. It only tells you how effective they are when the play comes to them. You have to look at range to determine how many plays the fielder actually made. Here's an example. Young could race to a ball in the hole and dive but let it get past him and it wouldn't be counted an error. It wouldn't be part of his fielding percentage either because he never got to make the play. However, if a shortstop with better range actually got to the ball and botched the throw, its an error. If he made the play entirely, then the process (looking at fielding percentage and errors) wouldn't award him anything. In fact, him making the play and Young's/Jeter's inability to even get to the ball are treated the same. What a joke.
On the experience and reputation side of things, Carlos Gomez of the Twins got absolutely robbed. He was incredible this year. Gomez deserved to win over Hunter, Ichiro, and Sizemore. They could have easily put him in there and taken any of those three out. However, the voters decided to "play it safe" and give it to the same guys who won it last year.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What I Learned This Weekend
The Browns are Putrid
After the two touchdown comeback by Baltimore that effectively dismantled the Browns' season, they had the audacity to bench Derek Anderson and start Brady Quinn. Benching Anderson for Quinn isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, it has solidified the hypothesis I've had about the Browns organization for a few seasons now. They are at the mercy of their fanbase and the Cleveland media.
Trent Dilfer lambasted the Browns on Sunday night for their move. I tend to agree with him. The Browns are subject to knee jerk reactions and this was one more. Dilfer made some good points in his rant. The offensive incompetence cannot be entirely attributed to Derek Anderson. Braylon Edwards can make the most ridiculous catch but drop the routine one. He has the most dropped passes in the league. The offensive playcalling lacks any sort of in game adjustment and variety. The only time they have lived up to their potential was during the Giants game. They led a balanced attack that kept the defense on its heels the entire night.
It's completely unfair to blame Derek Anderson for all of these miscues and poor coaching. He's not the one calling the plays or the timeouts during the two minute drill. However, I think this is a move in the right direction. Brady Quinn is obviously the future and it isn't a bad time to take a chance to see if the season could be saved. The Browns weren't going to make any progress taking one step forward and two steps back under Anderson. I wonder, though, how long Romeo has before he is canned. He definitely has to be in the hot seat right now.
C.C. Sabathia Should Go to the Dodgers
I think the Dodgers are the perfect fit for Sabathia. He has had enormous success in the National League this year. In fact, he looked nearly unhittable. Sabathia has made it known that, if not playing in Cleveland, he would gladly move back to the West Coast to be closer to family. The Dodgers play in a weak division and can legitimately win the NL next year with him.
However, I think its important to consider the financial implications of his free agency. In other words, would he be worth the cost to the Dodgers? Especially after Santana's enormous contract? Yes. Santana has had pretty good success with the Mets but hasn't been as dominant as he was with the Twins. His only major weakness is that he is predictable. When teams hit against him often, they tend to figure him out. He has tendencies that he hardly ever sways from. In 2007 the Indians faced Santana about 5 times and beat him every single time. They were the only team he didn't have a win against.
The problem stems from the fact that Santana is a 2 pitch guy. Fastball and changeup. Granted, he throws those two very well, but you can only throw so many combinations with those pitches during a count. He goes to that changeup a little too often and its been blasted out of the park this year by NL teams. They know when its coming. I'm not sure if he has a tell or if he's been scrutinized by scouts, but he's been figured out.
Sabathia, on the other hand, is a smart pitcher who goes on 4 pitches. He's very good when mixing up his fastball and slider. But he's at his best when he gets that changeup involved. Thats what made him so dominant this year with the Brewers. Obviously the garbage hitting in the NL helped out his statistics. I hope he goes to the Dodgers. I'd rather not see him on the Yankees playing against the Indians. However, an opening day with the Cy Young winners from the previous to years at the new Yankee Stadium would be pretty sweet.
Minorities are People Too
You know I had to write about the election. I'm sorry to do this but it is pretty historic. First off, I didn't vote for Barack Obama because he is a black. I voted for him because I agree with his policies and am completely amazed by his intellect and general demeanor. He handled the financial crisis with a steady hand while his opponent was erratic at best. However, President Obama's ethnicity does have an effect on me personally as a minority in the United States.
We have long accepted that there is equal opportunity in this country. However, that wasn't true for government and public office. That was the white man's burden. The question of leadership belonged to the majority. Was this due to racism? Who knows. I am a firm believer in the equality of people in this country, maybe even to a fault. But what this election actually says to me is that it is possible.
Sure we theorized about minority presidents in the past. And, sure we could chalk this up to outside forces. But in an hour of need the American people chose a black man to lead them. We chose based on ideas, personality, intelligence, and the appearance of leadership. We looked past his name and skin color and said, "This is the best candidate for the job at this moment." It was the vindication of the millions of people who put their lives on the line during the civil rights movement of the 60s.
This election gives millions of people in the United States the belief that they can actually make a different regardless of what they look like. More kids in the inner city suffering from socioeconomic distress will believe they can be president and don't have to settle for sports or entertainment. My kids will look at the poster of the presidents and see someone that looks like them on there. At least, for now, the the American dream is finally a reality to everyone.
After the two touchdown comeback by Baltimore that effectively dismantled the Browns' season, they had the audacity to bench Derek Anderson and start Brady Quinn. Benching Anderson for Quinn isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, it has solidified the hypothesis I've had about the Browns organization for a few seasons now. They are at the mercy of their fanbase and the Cleveland media.
Trent Dilfer lambasted the Browns on Sunday night for their move. I tend to agree with him. The Browns are subject to knee jerk reactions and this was one more. Dilfer made some good points in his rant. The offensive incompetence cannot be entirely attributed to Derek Anderson. Braylon Edwards can make the most ridiculous catch but drop the routine one. He has the most dropped passes in the league. The offensive playcalling lacks any sort of in game adjustment and variety. The only time they have lived up to their potential was during the Giants game. They led a balanced attack that kept the defense on its heels the entire night.
It's completely unfair to blame Derek Anderson for all of these miscues and poor coaching. He's not the one calling the plays or the timeouts during the two minute drill. However, I think this is a move in the right direction. Brady Quinn is obviously the future and it isn't a bad time to take a chance to see if the season could be saved. The Browns weren't going to make any progress taking one step forward and two steps back under Anderson. I wonder, though, how long Romeo has before he is canned. He definitely has to be in the hot seat right now.
C.C. Sabathia Should Go to the Dodgers
I think the Dodgers are the perfect fit for Sabathia. He has had enormous success in the National League this year. In fact, he looked nearly unhittable. Sabathia has made it known that, if not playing in Cleveland, he would gladly move back to the West Coast to be closer to family. The Dodgers play in a weak division and can legitimately win the NL next year with him.
However, I think its important to consider the financial implications of his free agency. In other words, would he be worth the cost to the Dodgers? Especially after Santana's enormous contract? Yes. Santana has had pretty good success with the Mets but hasn't been as dominant as he was with the Twins. His only major weakness is that he is predictable. When teams hit against him often, they tend to figure him out. He has tendencies that he hardly ever sways from. In 2007 the Indians faced Santana about 5 times and beat him every single time. They were the only team he didn't have a win against.
The problem stems from the fact that Santana is a 2 pitch guy. Fastball and changeup. Granted, he throws those two very well, but you can only throw so many combinations with those pitches during a count. He goes to that changeup a little too often and its been blasted out of the park this year by NL teams. They know when its coming. I'm not sure if he has a tell or if he's been scrutinized by scouts, but he's been figured out.
Sabathia, on the other hand, is a smart pitcher who goes on 4 pitches. He's very good when mixing up his fastball and slider. But he's at his best when he gets that changeup involved. Thats what made him so dominant this year with the Brewers. Obviously the garbage hitting in the NL helped out his statistics. I hope he goes to the Dodgers. I'd rather not see him on the Yankees playing against the Indians. However, an opening day with the Cy Young winners from the previous to years at the new Yankee Stadium would be pretty sweet.
Minorities are People Too
You know I had to write about the election. I'm sorry to do this but it is pretty historic. First off, I didn't vote for Barack Obama because he is a black. I voted for him because I agree with his policies and am completely amazed by his intellect and general demeanor. He handled the financial crisis with a steady hand while his opponent was erratic at best. However, President Obama's ethnicity does have an effect on me personally as a minority in the United States.
We have long accepted that there is equal opportunity in this country. However, that wasn't true for government and public office. That was the white man's burden. The question of leadership belonged to the majority. Was this due to racism? Who knows. I am a firm believer in the equality of people in this country, maybe even to a fault. But what this election actually says to me is that it is possible.
Sure we theorized about minority presidents in the past. And, sure we could chalk this up to outside forces. But in an hour of need the American people chose a black man to lead them. We chose based on ideas, personality, intelligence, and the appearance of leadership. We looked past his name and skin color and said, "This is the best candidate for the job at this moment." It was the vindication of the millions of people who put their lives on the line during the civil rights movement of the 60s.
This election gives millions of people in the United States the belief that they can actually make a different regardless of what they look like. More kids in the inner city suffering from socioeconomic distress will believe they can be president and don't have to settle for sports or entertainment. My kids will look at the poster of the presidents and see someone that looks like them on there. At least, for now, the the American dream is finally a reality to everyone.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Second Quarter
Yikes. The wheels are starting to fall off on many of my predictions for the 2008 NFL Football Season. Happily, all the other people who had faith in the Cowboys and Jags are in the same boat at least.
Here are the halftime results, with my predictions in brackets:
AFC EAST
Jets 5-3 [9-7]
Patriots 5-3 [11-5]
Bills 5-3 [10-6]
Dolphins 4-4 [6-10]
Maybe because this is my hometown division I actually did okay. The Bills have played agonizingly bad, especially in the fourth quarter, against their AFC East division opponents. BUT they still have the 49ers, Chiefs, and Browns on the horizon. If they can win just two of their final 4 division games they still have a shot at the playoffs and 10-6. If I knew Tom Brady was going to get hurt I would have thought the Patriots would finish in last place. The Pats have done a good job of being an okay team without the best player in the NFL.
AFC NORTH
Steelers 5-2 [7-9]
Ravens 5-3 [4-12]
Browns 3-5 [8-8]
Bengals 1-8 [6-10]
In making my predictions I had the most difficult time with this division. The Ravens and Joe Flacco have blown me away, but I'm still seriously not sold on the Steelers. A loss tonight against the Skins, mounting injuires, and a tough schedule to end the season will still make it difficult for them to make the playoffs. As for the Browns...I am mad I believed in them. Is it Brady Quinn time yet?
AFC SOUTH
Titans 8-0 [7-9]
Colts 4-4 [8-8]
Jaguars 3-5 [12-4]
Texans 3-5 [10-6]
The Titans are definitely the surprise team of the league. Their defense is Raven/Buc like and might lead to the most pure Super Bowl ever (Giants/Titans). I am sad I didn't see the Titans domination coming, but did draft Chris Johnson in my fantasy league. The Jags miss Marcus Stroud and their defense has been putrid. The Texans cannot win away games. As for the Colts? One ballsy pick that looks okay at the halfway point.
AFC WEST
Broncos 4-4 [7-9]
Chargers 3-5 [11-5]
Raiders 2-6 [7-9]
Chiefs 1-7 [4-12]
Western football this year is disgusting. Though they certainly won't finish 11-5, I still think the Chargers find a way to take this dung pile.
PLAYOFF TEAMS: If the playoffs started today I would hit on a measly 2 of 6. I do think that will get better though.
NFC EAST
Giants 7-1 [8-8]
Redskins 6-2 [11-5]
Eagles 5-3 [12-4]
Cowboys 5-4 [12-4]
If I had the Cowboys and Giants switched the East then I would be smart. I too got sucked in my the stars in Dallas. How did I forget the lessons of the Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith Redskins?
NFC NORTH
Bears 5-3 [5-11]
Packers 4-4 [7-9]
Vikings 4-4 [10-6]
Lions 0-8 [4-12]
With Kyle Orton out a month the Bears Norris division hopes are hit hard. Will the Lions win?
NFC SOUTH
Panthers 6-2 [7-9]
Buccaneers 6-3 [8-8]
Falcons 5-3 [9-7]
Saints 4-4 [8-8]
Not too bad here. I was half joking with my Falcons pick, making it strictly on the NFC South last place finisher being first place the next year pattern, but how bout them Falcons??? Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White look legit. Looking forward to watching the division games between the top three teams. The Saints just don't play defense and are looking at three players possibly missing four games due positive drug tests.
NFC WEST
Cardinals 5-3 [10-6]
Seahawks 2-6 [9-7]
49ers 2-6 [3-13]
Rams 2-6 [3-13]
Wow. I end on a high note. Sure the Seahawks won't approach 9 wins, but they've been decimated by injuries.
NFC PLAYOFFS- Again, if the playoffs started today I would hit only 2 of 6, but seriously, things will get better for me...I hope...
Here are the halftime results, with my predictions in brackets:
AFC EAST
Jets 5-3 [9-7]
Patriots 5-3 [11-5]
Bills 5-3 [10-6]
Dolphins 4-4 [6-10]
Maybe because this is my hometown division I actually did okay. The Bills have played agonizingly bad, especially in the fourth quarter, against their AFC East division opponents. BUT they still have the 49ers, Chiefs, and Browns on the horizon. If they can win just two of their final 4 division games they still have a shot at the playoffs and 10-6. If I knew Tom Brady was going to get hurt I would have thought the Patriots would finish in last place. The Pats have done a good job of being an okay team without the best player in the NFL.
AFC NORTH
Steelers 5-2 [7-9]
Ravens 5-3 [4-12]
Browns 3-5 [8-8]
Bengals 1-8 [6-10]
In making my predictions I had the most difficult time with this division. The Ravens and Joe Flacco have blown me away, but I'm still seriously not sold on the Steelers. A loss tonight against the Skins, mounting injuires, and a tough schedule to end the season will still make it difficult for them to make the playoffs. As for the Browns...I am mad I believed in them. Is it Brady Quinn time yet?
AFC SOUTH
Titans 8-0 [7-9]
Colts 4-4 [8-8]
Jaguars 3-5 [12-4]
Texans 3-5 [10-6]
The Titans are definitely the surprise team of the league. Their defense is Raven/Buc like and might lead to the most pure Super Bowl ever (Giants/Titans). I am sad I didn't see the Titans domination coming, but did draft Chris Johnson in my fantasy league. The Jags miss Marcus Stroud and their defense has been putrid. The Texans cannot win away games. As for the Colts? One ballsy pick that looks okay at the halfway point.
AFC WEST
Broncos 4-4 [7-9]
Chargers 3-5 [11-5]
Raiders 2-6 [7-9]
Chiefs 1-7 [4-12]
Western football this year is disgusting. Though they certainly won't finish 11-5, I still think the Chargers find a way to take this dung pile.
PLAYOFF TEAMS: If the playoffs started today I would hit on a measly 2 of 6. I do think that will get better though.
NFC EAST
Giants 7-1 [8-8]
Redskins 6-2 [11-5]
Eagles 5-3 [12-4]
Cowboys 5-4 [12-4]
If I had the Cowboys and Giants switched the East then I would be smart. I too got sucked in my the stars in Dallas. How did I forget the lessons of the Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith Redskins?
NFC NORTH
Bears 5-3 [5-11]
Packers 4-4 [7-9]
Vikings 4-4 [10-6]
Lions 0-8 [4-12]
With Kyle Orton out a month the Bears Norris division hopes are hit hard. Will the Lions win?
NFC SOUTH
Panthers 6-2 [7-9]
Buccaneers 6-3 [8-8]
Falcons 5-3 [9-7]
Saints 4-4 [8-8]
Not too bad here. I was half joking with my Falcons pick, making it strictly on the NFC South last place finisher being first place the next year pattern, but how bout them Falcons??? Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White look legit. Looking forward to watching the division games between the top three teams. The Saints just don't play defense and are looking at three players possibly missing four games due positive drug tests.
NFC WEST
Cardinals 5-3 [10-6]
Seahawks 2-6 [9-7]
49ers 2-6 [3-13]
Rams 2-6 [3-13]
Wow. I end on a high note. Sure the Seahawks won't approach 9 wins, but they've been decimated by injuries.
NFC PLAYOFFS- Again, if the playoffs started today I would hit only 2 of 6, but seriously, things will get better for me...I hope...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Weekly Post
What a weekend! The weather all of sudden turned from summer to winter without warning and my entire fall collection of clothing went to waste. I hate you global warming. All those swanky sweaters and fall jackets that I have mean nothing now. Anyway, here's the recap.
Fox Baseball Announcers need to stop being shitty.
Seriously, these guys are the worst. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are an exercise in complete nonsense. Buck uses the same drawn out dramatic tone and phrases regardless of the situation. Down by 5 and have a man on first with 2 outs in the 7th inning? Apparently that's "making noise". I really hate that guy. He offers nothing in terms of stats and expresses his worthless opinion excessively for a play by play guy.
McCarver isn't alive. I'm pretty sure that there is some Weekend at Bernie's shit going on at Fox with McCarver. He makes no sense when he talks and the stats on the screen clearly have contradicted him like 6 times. When the Phillies hit back to back shots in game 4, he said that nobody had ever done that before. About 5 minutes earlier the stats on the screen had indicated that this had happened twice in World Series history. What a fucking crackpot.
BJ Upton is a Gamebreaker.
Upton has singlehandedly kept the Rays in games during the Series. On Saturday his speed caused the Phillies all sorts of trouble. Hell, the guy got picked off at first by a lefty and STILL made it to second safetly. Then during the rain game, which is still being played, he got onto first and stole second with absolutely no footing on the drenched dirt. And he did this Hamels, another lefty! He then rounded third on a Pena single and scored from second on wet ground. He has single handedly kept the Rays alive. Impressive Upton, impressive.
The Browns are Good Again.
Get used to this manic depressive behavior. It will last all season. They'll suck again soon, I promise you that.
Van Gogh's Early Landscapes are Awesome.
I had the chance to go to the Museum of Modern Art in New York this weekend after a long absence from the place. They had an extensive Van Gogh exhibit displayed which focused on his evolution as an artist using mainly his landscape works. Of course, there were some famous pieces in there such as The Potato Eaters, The Night Cafe, and Gaugin's Chair in there, but mostly it was landcapes. His earlier works didn't contain the think brushstrokes and vivid colors that people usually associate with Van Gogh. However, they were more earthy and haunting. It was very cool to see paintings I've never seen by the artist that I could see only by going to Utrecht, Amsterdam, or some other obsure town in Holland that has a Van Gogh museum.
I apologize for infusing you with a modicum of culture.
McCain is Desperate.
No, this isn't based on his ridiculous assertion that Obama is socialist. Nor the fact that his own campaign is calling Palin a whackjob (yes, they used this exact langauge). I've derived this conclusion based on the statement that John McCain made asserting that "If I were president, no infomercial would delay the World Series!" Seriously McCain? Are you promising soda in the vending machines during school hours too? Maybe some free candy during lunch? Extended recess?
Obviously the delay in the World Series is more important than the credit crisis, global financial meltdown, lack of healthcare, and a deteriorating educational system that all plague this country. How dare the World Series be delayed because Fox was paid $3 million dollars for it?
Thats not right! It's not John, it's called free market capitalism. If you understood how that worked, maybe you/us wouldn't be in this clusterfuck right now.
Fox Baseball Announcers need to stop being shitty.
Seriously, these guys are the worst. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are an exercise in complete nonsense. Buck uses the same drawn out dramatic tone and phrases regardless of the situation. Down by 5 and have a man on first with 2 outs in the 7th inning? Apparently that's "making noise". I really hate that guy. He offers nothing in terms of stats and expresses his worthless opinion excessively for a play by play guy.
McCarver isn't alive. I'm pretty sure that there is some Weekend at Bernie's shit going on at Fox with McCarver. He makes no sense when he talks and the stats on the screen clearly have contradicted him like 6 times. When the Phillies hit back to back shots in game 4, he said that nobody had ever done that before. About 5 minutes earlier the stats on the screen had indicated that this had happened twice in World Series history. What a fucking crackpot.
BJ Upton is a Gamebreaker.
Upton has singlehandedly kept the Rays in games during the Series. On Saturday his speed caused the Phillies all sorts of trouble. Hell, the guy got picked off at first by a lefty and STILL made it to second safetly. Then during the rain game, which is still being played, he got onto first and stole second with absolutely no footing on the drenched dirt. And he did this Hamels, another lefty! He then rounded third on a Pena single and scored from second on wet ground. He has single handedly kept the Rays alive. Impressive Upton, impressive.
The Browns are Good Again.
Get used to this manic depressive behavior. It will last all season. They'll suck again soon, I promise you that.
Van Gogh's Early Landscapes are Awesome.
I had the chance to go to the Museum of Modern Art in New York this weekend after a long absence from the place. They had an extensive Van Gogh exhibit displayed which focused on his evolution as an artist using mainly his landscape works. Of course, there were some famous pieces in there such as The Potato Eaters, The Night Cafe, and Gaugin's Chair in there, but mostly it was landcapes. His earlier works didn't contain the think brushstrokes and vivid colors that people usually associate with Van Gogh. However, they were more earthy and haunting. It was very cool to see paintings I've never seen by the artist that I could see only by going to Utrecht, Amsterdam, or some other obsure town in Holland that has a Van Gogh museum.
I apologize for infusing you with a modicum of culture.
McCain is Desperate.
No, this isn't based on his ridiculous assertion that Obama is socialist. Nor the fact that his own campaign is calling Palin a whackjob (yes, they used this exact langauge). I've derived this conclusion based on the statement that John McCain made asserting that "If I were president, no infomercial would delay the World Series!" Seriously McCain? Are you promising soda in the vending machines during school hours too? Maybe some free candy during lunch? Extended recess?
Obviously the delay in the World Series is more important than the credit crisis, global financial meltdown, lack of healthcare, and a deteriorating educational system that all plague this country. How dare the World Series be delayed because Fox was paid $3 million dollars for it?
Thats not right! It's not John, it's called free market capitalism. If you understood how that worked, maybe you/us wouldn't be in this clusterfuck right now.
Monday, October 20, 2008
World Series Prediction and What I Learned This Weekend
World Series Prediction
Surprise, surprise. I was right on with my playoff predictions. It took the Rays an extra game to kill off the Red Sox, but perhaps it was my hubris that told me they'd take it in six. Garza was dominant last night and only let up 1 run to the Manny-less Sox lineup for about 7 innings. Then Price pitched out of a hell of a jam in the 8th and the Rays are your new American League Champions.
They'll have their hands full with the Phillies though. The Phils are definitely the best team in the National League. They have great bullpen that doesn't lose a lead heading into the later innings. They get along better as a team and play better as a result (ahem, Cubs). What is surprising, and scary, is that they got to the Series with very little production from Ryan Howard. He's a streaky hitter and he's due at some point to go nuts. I'm sure the World Series provides a little motivation for players to give it their best. Watch out for Ryan Howard. Obviously Chase Utley and James Rollins will bring it every night.
The Rays have offensive punch too. BJ Upton and Evan Longoria have been dropping bombs this entire fall. Pena, Crawford, and Baldelli have been doing their part too. The best aspect of the Rays offense, though, is its speed. They have Upton, Crawford, Bartlett, and Iwamura who can steal bases at any point in the game. They were virtually unstoppable in the ALCS. Its also a defensive advantage too.
I think the make or break here is the starting rotation. The Rays are just deeper than the Phillies. The Phils have the only true ace in this series with Cole Hamels. But the rest of the rotation looks pretty shaky. Jamie Moyer got tagged up pretty badly in both of his starts and Joe Blanton is hit or miss. Whereas Sheilds, Sonnanstine, Kazmir, and Garza have been more than solid all postseason. As a staff, the Rays only gave up 5 runs or more once during the course of the postseason. I think pitching will be the difference here. Plus the DH advantage always goes to the AL team.
This is one rare championship series where I wish both teams could win because the Phillies are very good and I like their players. But the Rays are like children to me at this point, so after much contemplation (5 minutes):
Prediction: Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays in 6
What I Learned This Weekend:
The Browns are Atrocious
Yeah, last weekend I added the caveat that I wouldn't make my final judgment on the Browns until the Redskins game. Well they shit the bed. Why go for two 30 yard bombs when you could have simply went short and made the tying field goal a little easier for your kicker? The coaching staff needs to really take the blame here. They had an enthusiastic team coming off a big win and they allowed the letdown game to happen. That is unacceptable. You have to ride that high into the next game and the next game's preparation. It seems like Romeo just gave the guys the week off! Another aspect of the coaching disaster is poor clock management. Romeo again failed to use timeouts ineffectively to move the ball into field goal range; resulting in a 52 yard attempt for the tie. Ridiculous. Someone UNLEASH THE FUCKING OFFENSE FOR THE SAKE OF MY MENTAL HEALTH!
I can't write anymore about this or I will kill someone.
The Bills Might Win the AFC
I didn't watch this game (and I probably couldn't have if I lived in Buffalo) but the linescore tells me something. These guys can win games and do so in definitive fashion. It looks like Trent Edwards is recovering fine after getting knocked the fuck out a couple of weeks ago. Marshawn, Lee Evans, and the rest of the Buffalo offense seems to be in synch. This is good news especially considering the impact concussions have had on quarterbacks in the past.
The only things that stand in the way of Buffalo and Super Bowl berth are the Steelers and the Titans. The Titans are of the 2000 Ravens and 2002 Bucs mold. They have an a very solid defense and somehow score points with a washed up quarterback to win games. Its pretty impressive. The Steelers, I still consider a flawed team. Roethlisberger might not be alive at the end of the season and their defense is beatable this season. Their corners are doing well and their pass rush is coming around, but I still don't see them being as dominant as Steelers teams of the past.
The Bills have the most well rounded teams of the contenders. Good solid defense and can move the ball either on the ground or through the air. This is HUGE considering the fact that they play in Buffalo and snow season is just around the corner up there. I like the Bills in the East and they may even make me pick them for the AFC in general. With the Browns tanking their season with terrible coaching and staph infections, all I have to say is Lets Go Buffalo.
Fuck the Red Sox.
I think this one is self explanatory. I hate "Red Sox Nation". Long live Rays Republic until the beat the Indians in heartbreaking fashion at some point. But until then...Go Rays.
Surprise, surprise. I was right on with my playoff predictions. It took the Rays an extra game to kill off the Red Sox, but perhaps it was my hubris that told me they'd take it in six. Garza was dominant last night and only let up 1 run to the Manny-less Sox lineup for about 7 innings. Then Price pitched out of a hell of a jam in the 8th and the Rays are your new American League Champions.
They'll have their hands full with the Phillies though. The Phils are definitely the best team in the National League. They have great bullpen that doesn't lose a lead heading into the later innings. They get along better as a team and play better as a result (ahem, Cubs). What is surprising, and scary, is that they got to the Series with very little production from Ryan Howard. He's a streaky hitter and he's due at some point to go nuts. I'm sure the World Series provides a little motivation for players to give it their best. Watch out for Ryan Howard. Obviously Chase Utley and James Rollins will bring it every night.
The Rays have offensive punch too. BJ Upton and Evan Longoria have been dropping bombs this entire fall. Pena, Crawford, and Baldelli have been doing their part too. The best aspect of the Rays offense, though, is its speed. They have Upton, Crawford, Bartlett, and Iwamura who can steal bases at any point in the game. They were virtually unstoppable in the ALCS. Its also a defensive advantage too.
I think the make or break here is the starting rotation. The Rays are just deeper than the Phillies. The Phils have the only true ace in this series with Cole Hamels. But the rest of the rotation looks pretty shaky. Jamie Moyer got tagged up pretty badly in both of his starts and Joe Blanton is hit or miss. Whereas Sheilds, Sonnanstine, Kazmir, and Garza have been more than solid all postseason. As a staff, the Rays only gave up 5 runs or more once during the course of the postseason. I think pitching will be the difference here. Plus the DH advantage always goes to the AL team.
This is one rare championship series where I wish both teams could win because the Phillies are very good and I like their players. But the Rays are like children to me at this point, so after much contemplation (5 minutes):
Prediction: Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays in 6
What I Learned This Weekend:
The Browns are Atrocious
Yeah, last weekend I added the caveat that I wouldn't make my final judgment on the Browns until the Redskins game. Well they shit the bed. Why go for two 30 yard bombs when you could have simply went short and made the tying field goal a little easier for your kicker? The coaching staff needs to really take the blame here. They had an enthusiastic team coming off a big win and they allowed the letdown game to happen. That is unacceptable. You have to ride that high into the next game and the next game's preparation. It seems like Romeo just gave the guys the week off! Another aspect of the coaching disaster is poor clock management. Romeo again failed to use timeouts ineffectively to move the ball into field goal range; resulting in a 52 yard attempt for the tie. Ridiculous. Someone UNLEASH THE FUCKING OFFENSE FOR THE SAKE OF MY MENTAL HEALTH!
I can't write anymore about this or I will kill someone.
The Bills Might Win the AFC
I didn't watch this game (and I probably couldn't have if I lived in Buffalo) but the linescore tells me something. These guys can win games and do so in definitive fashion. It looks like Trent Edwards is recovering fine after getting knocked the fuck out a couple of weeks ago. Marshawn, Lee Evans, and the rest of the Buffalo offense seems to be in synch. This is good news especially considering the impact concussions have had on quarterbacks in the past.
The only things that stand in the way of Buffalo and Super Bowl berth are the Steelers and the Titans. The Titans are of the 2000 Ravens and 2002 Bucs mold. They have an a very solid defense and somehow score points with a washed up quarterback to win games. Its pretty impressive. The Steelers, I still consider a flawed team. Roethlisberger might not be alive at the end of the season and their defense is beatable this season. Their corners are doing well and their pass rush is coming around, but I still don't see them being as dominant as Steelers teams of the past.
The Bills have the most well rounded teams of the contenders. Good solid defense and can move the ball either on the ground or through the air. This is HUGE considering the fact that they play in Buffalo and snow season is just around the corner up there. I like the Bills in the East and they may even make me pick them for the AFC in general. With the Browns tanking their season with terrible coaching and staph infections, all I have to say is Lets Go Buffalo.
Fuck the Red Sox.
I think this one is self explanatory. I hate "Red Sox Nation". Long live Rays Republic until the beat the Indians in heartbreaking fashion at some point. But until then...Go Rays.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
How it began...
Twenty years ago when I was a precious seven year old in 1988 I got to stay up way past my bedtime. I sat with my Great Uncle Ted and watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Oakland A's in the first game of the World Series. My ginger younger brother had long since fallen asleep dreaming of having a soul like the rest of us, but I sat transfixed by the game.My Great Uncle Ted was a World War II veteran. The kind of man that wore veteran trucker hats in 1988 way before Ashton Kutcher tried to make them cool. He was rooting for the Dodgers so naturally I was rooting for the Dodgers. It did not look good heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. I don't really think I understood the gravity of the Dodgers situation. Only when I was older, and had bought the official 1988 VHS World Series Game One Tape did I truly understand how stunning, unbelievable, and unique the events that were about to transpire would be in the history of baseball.
Two outs in the bottom of the ninth. 4-3 the A's are on top. Dennis Eckersley is on the mound. The pre-eminent closer of the day, and a future hall of famer. When Kirk Gibson came to the plate I remember my Great Uncle Ted saying that he was the Dodgers' best player, but was hurt. I then heard the legendary tale told by Vin Scully, undoubtedly not truly understanding, but hearing it:
"All year long, he answered the demands, until he was physically unable to start tonight——with two bad legs: The bad left hamstring, and the swollen right knee. And, with two out, you talk about a roll of the dice... this is it.”
During the agonizingly long at bat, in which Gibson worked the 0-2 count to full after fouling off numerous pitches, Scully noted Gibson was:
"Shaking his left leg, making it quiver, like a horse trying to get rid of a troublesome fly.”
And then a crappy slider by Eckerlsey and...
“High fly ball into right field, she i-i-i-is... gone!!"
I still get goosebumps when I hear this...
"In a year that has been so improbable... the impossible has happened!”
In the aftermath:
“You know, I said it once before, a few days ago, that Kirk Gibson was not the Most Valuable
Player; that the Most Valuable Player for the Dodgers was Tinkerbell. But, tonight, I think Tinkerbell backed off for Kirk Gibson. And, look at Eckerlsley——shocked to his toes!”
At seven, I knew Tinkerbell as the magical fairy from Peter Pan. And at seven, though not understanding the magnitude or improbability of what I just saw I had a feeling that I saw something magical. Later, I realized that what I had just seen was the magic that transcends sports from simple games to shared moments that bond families and forge friendships.
Magic moments have surely followed in my sports watching lifetime. Sadly far too many being of the shared misery type of voodoo hexed upon Buffalo teams. But in that moment, 20 long long years ago today, I experienced sports ecstasy with my Great Uncle Ted. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Go Dodgers.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
What I Learned This Weekend: Columbus Day
First off, Columbus was an asshole who landed on Hispaniola, not the present day United States. He also enslaved all the people there and led to the eventual exploitation of this land and destruction of its native people. That's for you philistines who believe he discovered America or some shit. Enough of my liberal revisionist propaganda, on with what I learned.
The NFC East is Overrated.
Yeah, I said it. The NFC East, which was touted only a week ago as the best conference in the NFL, is overrated. Now, this isn't based solely on the fact that the Browns beat the Giants last night. It is based on my independent review of the first quarter of the season. Sure B-Rad's opinion is the one that actually matters, but remember, I picked the (Devil) Rays to win the east!
Anyway, where to start? The Giants. The Giants were a big 4 - 0verrated so far. Ok, they had a point differential of +74 or something ridiculous to start the season. But then again, they played 4 teams that had a combined record of 6-16 coming into this week. Now, that point differential is pretty impressive, but considering the opposition it really means nothing. The Giants BARELY beat the Bengals! They needed overtime to beat the winless Bengals! The other wins came over the Seahawks, Rams, and Redskins (when the Redskins were shitty).
The Cowboys also had a sort of gilded success. They dominated the Browns on opening day and beat the Packers, Bengals, and Eagles. The only problem with those latter wins was that they gave up a ton of yardage to each of those offenses. The Cowboys were prone to get into shootouts and their defense looks like it might not be able to handle the higher octane offenses of the league. Now with Romo out for about a month, life is going to get a little more difficult for the boys.
The Eagles and the Redskins are enigmas to me right now. I still don't understand how the Redskins could have looked like total shit in the first week and then come back to be 4-2. They did it by beating the Cowboys, Saints, and Eagles but lost to the Rams. What the hell is going on? The Eagles are the same way. I'm not sold on the NFC East being the best division in football. They are the best in the NFC but they've struggled against AFC opponents.
The Browns are Alright.
This comes with a huge caveat: the Browns are alright if they play the way they did last night for the rest of the season. The offense was finally unleashed and they did some good things. They had a balanced attack and some trick plays there that really kept the Giants defense on its toes. However, the Browns' defense looked mediocre at best. They contained the Giants offense on some big third downs, but some pressure on Eli, and had some huge picks to take momentum away.
However, there aren't going to be many games where the defense is going to get stops with 3 interceptions. And there aren't going to be many wins when you give up 170 yards rushing. However, the pass defense was pretty good. The corners and safties read Eli perfectly and defended some passes well. They were physical with the receivers and didn't let them get any separation.
I'm going to wait until the Redskins game to make my final judgment on any Browns renaissance this season. However, I am encouraged by what I saw last night.
The Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays are Beasts.
The Rays are beasts. That is all I can say after watching them play the Red Sox over the weekend and catching last night's beatdown. BJ Upton and Evan Longoria just hit bombs. The Rays lineup is relentless in its approach to Red Sox pitching. They sat back and took hack at anything Lester put over the plate that they could drive. It was like watching batting practice. In all honesty, it was only a matter of time before the Rays broke out. They had about 10 years of top 10 picks to cultivate into major leaguers. Look at the roster: Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Longoria, Upton, Crawford, and it just keeps going all the way down to the minors. They made some smart deals (like the ones to get Garza and Kazmir) to help them along the way. And all they have to show for it was a 9-1 smackdown of the fucking Red Sox last night. I like it. Keep on truckin', Rays.
The NFC East is Overrated.
Yeah, I said it. The NFC East, which was touted only a week ago as the best conference in the NFL, is overrated. Now, this isn't based solely on the fact that the Browns beat the Giants last night. It is based on my independent review of the first quarter of the season. Sure B-Rad's opinion is the one that actually matters, but remember, I picked the (Devil) Rays to win the east!
Anyway, where to start? The Giants. The Giants were a big 4 - 0verrated so far. Ok, they had a point differential of +74 or something ridiculous to start the season. But then again, they played 4 teams that had a combined record of 6-16 coming into this week. Now, that point differential is pretty impressive, but considering the opposition it really means nothing. The Giants BARELY beat the Bengals! They needed overtime to beat the winless Bengals! The other wins came over the Seahawks, Rams, and Redskins (when the Redskins were shitty).
The Cowboys also had a sort of gilded success. They dominated the Browns on opening day and beat the Packers, Bengals, and Eagles. The only problem with those latter wins was that they gave up a ton of yardage to each of those offenses. The Cowboys were prone to get into shootouts and their defense looks like it might not be able to handle the higher octane offenses of the league. Now with Romo out for about a month, life is going to get a little more difficult for the boys.
The Eagles and the Redskins are enigmas to me right now. I still don't understand how the Redskins could have looked like total shit in the first week and then come back to be 4-2. They did it by beating the Cowboys, Saints, and Eagles but lost to the Rams. What the hell is going on? The Eagles are the same way. I'm not sold on the NFC East being the best division in football. They are the best in the NFC but they've struggled against AFC opponents.
The Browns are Alright.
This comes with a huge caveat: the Browns are alright if they play the way they did last night for the rest of the season. The offense was finally unleashed and they did some good things. They had a balanced attack and some trick plays there that really kept the Giants defense on its toes. However, the Browns' defense looked mediocre at best. They contained the Giants offense on some big third downs, but some pressure on Eli, and had some huge picks to take momentum away.
However, there aren't going to be many games where the defense is going to get stops with 3 interceptions. And there aren't going to be many wins when you give up 170 yards rushing. However, the pass defense was pretty good. The corners and safties read Eli perfectly and defended some passes well. They were physical with the receivers and didn't let them get any separation.
I'm going to wait until the Redskins game to make my final judgment on any Browns renaissance this season. However, I am encouraged by what I saw last night.
The Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays are Beasts.
The Rays are beasts. That is all I can say after watching them play the Red Sox over the weekend and catching last night's beatdown. BJ Upton and Evan Longoria just hit bombs. The Rays lineup is relentless in its approach to Red Sox pitching. They sat back and took hack at anything Lester put over the plate that they could drive. It was like watching batting practice. In all honesty, it was only a matter of time before the Rays broke out. They had about 10 years of top 10 picks to cultivate into major leaguers. Look at the roster: Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Longoria, Upton, Crawford, and it just keeps going all the way down to the minors. They made some smart deals (like the ones to get Garza and Kazmir) to help them along the way. And all they have to show for it was a 9-1 smackdown of the fucking Red Sox last night. I like it. Keep on truckin', Rays.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Playoff Predictions: LCS Round
Well, that round went well. A respectable 4 f0r 4 lesson in PERFECTION. I mean, maybe I got some of the numbers wrong, but whatever. Its not my fault the Cubs and Angels sucked more than I had anticipated or that the White Sox got one lucky win over the vaunted Rays of Tampa. Anyway, onto the predictions:
Yankees and....oh yeah HAHA! Fuck you New York.
Red Sox and Rays
Wow. Who would have ever thought that the (Devil) Rays would have made it this far into the MLB season? I think you know the answer to that question. The Red Sox took out a formidable Angels team that won about 100 games in the regular season. The series was close and every game was decided by 2 runs or less. The Angels had their chances to oust their nemesis during the course of the series but failed to capitalize on them. Their offense was working, just not at the right times. Their pitching was rendered mediocre by the Red Sox offense which, to be honest, wasn't really hitting on all cylinders. Pedroia might as well have stayed home the way he played at the plate.
The Rays really dominated the White Sox. Yeah, they dropped a game to the Sox in Chicago but won by a margin of 4 runs twice and held the Sox off in the second game of the series. They proved that they could put runs up against a rotation, that in all aspects, is better than Boston's. Their bullpen was lights out in this series and they've been doing it all year. The combination of superior overall pitching and relentless hitting is what's going to get the Rays over the Red Sox. They pitch well, get on base, and drive 'em in. Plus, they don't have to deal with Fenway's awkwardness more than 3 times in this series like the Indians had to last season.
The only argument against the Rays is that they are inexperienced when compared to this Red Sox squad. This iteration of the Sox has a mystique reminiscent of the Yankees dynasty of the late 90s. They're never out of it and they just don't lose. However, baseball is a different game now and I give the edge to the scrappy youth from Tampa.
Prediction: Rays in 6
Dodgers and Phillies
Ah, the NLCS. This is basically the right to play the AL Champ and lose. Sort of like the NFC Championship game for the majority of the decade. The Dodgers are tough to hate. They are a paradox of epic proportions with a star studded lineup and only 84 wins. That is probably due to the fact that their pitching is completely mediocre by normal standards. However, they dominated the Cubs, who have as much firepower as any other team in the NL. The Dodgers also have superior managing than the Phillies. I mean Joe Torre versus Charlie Manuel isn't much of a contest. One is a World Series champ and the other is a glorified cantankerous hitting coach.
The Philles, though, have a massive lineup and great starting pitching. They have what the Dodgers lack, a true ace. Cole Hamels is a buzzsaw. The Dodgers will have to rely on their offense this series, because their pitching might not be able to contain the Phils lineup. However, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard had a terrible series against the Brewers. That being said, Rollins and the top of that lineup still carried them to a 4 game win. So don't underestimate this lineup because of a few bad games, they'll explode at some point
The main argument against the Phillies is that they are a Philadelphia team. And you know what happens to those. They'll lose one game, their fans will overreact, Philly talk radio will go nuts, and the team will collapse under insurmountable local pressure. We've seen it before, and its possible we'll see it again. However, these guys have been in the playoffs and they know how to win when it counts (as evidenced by their repeat embarassment of the Mets).
Prediction: Phillies in 5
I know the number of games has changed since the last entry, but I have to reevaluate the teams based on how they were doing in the ALDS. The entire template of the playoffs remains intact and consistent since then.
Yankees and....oh yeah HAHA! Fuck you New York.
Red Sox and Rays
Wow. Who would have ever thought that the (Devil) Rays would have made it this far into the MLB season? I think you know the answer to that question. The Red Sox took out a formidable Angels team that won about 100 games in the regular season. The series was close and every game was decided by 2 runs or less. The Angels had their chances to oust their nemesis during the course of the series but failed to capitalize on them. Their offense was working, just not at the right times. Their pitching was rendered mediocre by the Red Sox offense which, to be honest, wasn't really hitting on all cylinders. Pedroia might as well have stayed home the way he played at the plate.
The Rays really dominated the White Sox. Yeah, they dropped a game to the Sox in Chicago but won by a margin of 4 runs twice and held the Sox off in the second game of the series. They proved that they could put runs up against a rotation, that in all aspects, is better than Boston's. Their bullpen was lights out in this series and they've been doing it all year. The combination of superior overall pitching and relentless hitting is what's going to get the Rays over the Red Sox. They pitch well, get on base, and drive 'em in. Plus, they don't have to deal with Fenway's awkwardness more than 3 times in this series like the Indians had to last season.
The only argument against the Rays is that they are inexperienced when compared to this Red Sox squad. This iteration of the Sox has a mystique reminiscent of the Yankees dynasty of the late 90s. They're never out of it and they just don't lose. However, baseball is a different game now and I give the edge to the scrappy youth from Tampa.
Prediction: Rays in 6
Dodgers and Phillies
Ah, the NLCS. This is basically the right to play the AL Champ and lose. Sort of like the NFC Championship game for the majority of the decade. The Dodgers are tough to hate. They are a paradox of epic proportions with a star studded lineup and only 84 wins. That is probably due to the fact that their pitching is completely mediocre by normal standards. However, they dominated the Cubs, who have as much firepower as any other team in the NL. The Dodgers also have superior managing than the Phillies. I mean Joe Torre versus Charlie Manuel isn't much of a contest. One is a World Series champ and the other is a glorified cantankerous hitting coach.
The Philles, though, have a massive lineup and great starting pitching. They have what the Dodgers lack, a true ace. Cole Hamels is a buzzsaw. The Dodgers will have to rely on their offense this series, because their pitching might not be able to contain the Phils lineup. However, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard had a terrible series against the Brewers. That being said, Rollins and the top of that lineup still carried them to a 4 game win. So don't underestimate this lineup because of a few bad games, they'll explode at some point
The main argument against the Phillies is that they are a Philadelphia team. And you know what happens to those. They'll lose one game, their fans will overreact, Philly talk radio will go nuts, and the team will collapse under insurmountable local pressure. We've seen it before, and its possible we'll see it again. However, these guys have been in the playoffs and they know how to win when it counts (as evidenced by their repeat embarassment of the Mets).
Prediction: Phillies in 5
I know the number of games has changed since the last entry, but I have to reevaluate the teams based on how they were doing in the ALDS. The entire template of the playoffs remains intact and consistent since then.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
100th Post: Postseason Predictions, Divisional Round
Ahhh, October is in the air. The weather is cooling down, football is in full swing, and the baseball playoffs are underway. The only bad thing about this season is that the girls stop wearing skirts in between now and November. However, Halloween slutiness still looms large! Anyway, on to the picks:
Cleveland and....oh yeah...fuck.
Chicago and Los Angeles
This is a tough series to pick. The Cubs have a great advantage in terms of pitching with Dempster, Zambrano, and Harden as opposed to the Dodgers' Lowe...uh...Lowe? To be completely honest I really can't name anyone besides Lowe off the top of my head right now. However, the Dodgers have Manny Ramirez, Jeff Kent, Rafael Furcal, and.....Andruw Jones. Their offense is explosive and Manny is usually an October beast. Couple that with the Cubs having a history of choking in big situations, and there is a Dodger win. Plus we have to consider Joe Torre's management skills and the fact that the Dodgers really have nothing to lose. They have no expectations coming from the shitfest NL West. The Cubs, however, have been media darlings all this year and barely held off the Brewers in their division.
Prediction: Dodgers in 4
Phillies and Brewers:
Wow, this is a tough series. I love the Brewers because they've been so bad for so long and are chock full of young talent. They got CC Sabathia in a midseason deal and he's pretty much carried them on his back to a wild card berth. They would have had a chance to make a deep run if Sheets weren't on the DL. They still have a pretty balanced pitching staff with Solomon Torres at the back end. Their offense is also pretty solid throughout with Prince Fielder, Bill Hall, Corey Hart, and Ryan Braun. However, I don't think they'll be able to match the Phillies in a 5 game series. The Phillies have a better starting rotation with Hamels, Myers, and Moyer (yeah I said it). Their offense is also pretty potent with Rollins, Howard, and MVP Chase Utley. Its tought not to like the Phillies in this posteason, much less this series. Plus they really fucked the Mets again this year, which is always a plus in my book.
Prediction: Phillies in 4. The Brewers will get a CC win.
Chicago (Fags) and Devil Rays.
Fuck the White Sox, thats why. I've stuck with the Rays since February. No reason to stop now.
Prediction: Devil Rays in 3.
Los Angeles of Anaheim and Boston
This is the toughest series for me to predict. I mean the Angels won 100 games but they haven't been tested really all season. Their division has been a joke the past few years. The Red Sox managed to get into the playoffs from the AL East despite trading Manny and battling (steroid related) injuries all season. I really want to pick the Angels here based on pure statistical reason, but I'm going to go with the Red Sox. They have the pedigree and they beat this same team (sans Torii Hunter) last year. The only real question the Red Sox face is their starting rotation. Does Paul Byrd have enough magic to beat another potent lineup? I'm giving the Teixiera/Hunter version of the Angels full respect here but...
Prediction: Red Sox in 5.
Well those are my divisional picks this postseason. I mean it's worthless for me to engage in an in-depth analysis of potential matchups because all these picks could be wrong (doubt it). I'll do a Championship Series prediction when that bridge needs to be crossed (assuming I have any credibility left). However, I will make further predictions right now for the rest of the postseason:
NLCS: Phillies over Dodgers in 6.
ALCS: Rays over Red Sox in 7.
World Series: Rays over Phillies in 5.
Yes, I am predicting the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays as 2008 Fall Classic champions. If I'm wrong, who cares? If I'm right, I'm a fucking genius.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The First Quarter
So after four weeks I am more perplexed by the NFL than ever. Without Tom Brady and Peyton Manning (I don't recognize the current Colts quarterback as the true Peyton Manning) the NFL is wide open. No team has truly separated themselves, and when the Chiefs beat the Broncos, Redskins beat the Cowboys, and Jets put up 50 plus points after getting rocked by San Diego the old adage that on any given Sunday any team can beat another has never been more true.
AFC EAST
Happily, I believe the Bills are for real. Pundits love to point out that the Bills' opponents have won four games thus far this season. However, a team that experts love, the Titans, have played three of their four games at home, and their opponents have won an aggregate of three games this season. I'm not saying the Titans are bad, but I'm not sold just yet.
The Bills are for real, not only because they are a pretty good team, but because their schedule dictates that they will be at worst 10-6. The Bills still get to play the Cardinals, 49ers, Chiefs, Jets twice, Dolphins twice, Patriots twice, Chargers, Browns, and Broncos. Considering they only have to go .500 to finish 10-6 they will be tough to keep out of the playoffs, and have a legitimate shot at finishing much much better.
As for the rest of the AFC east, a Wild Card team will come out of the AFC East. The second game between the Jets and Patriots will be huge.
AFC NORTH
This division is definitely still up for grabs. The Steelers have one running back on their roster right now and still have one of the roughest schedules ever. The good news for the Steelers, is though the Ravens are frisky, no other team in the division looks to challenge them. I still have some faith in the Browns, but they need to insert Brady Quinn as quarterback ASAP. The NFL has officially figured out Derrick Anderson. Quinn could be just the shot of adrenaline that the Browns need to get back into contention.
AFC SOUTH
My 10-6 Texans prediction looks pretty bad now, but the Texans have exclusively played on the road. They play exclusively in Houston for the next month and could string some wins together. Andre Johnson, who is killing my fantasy teams, is better than this. The Texans may not reach my 10-6 predicted mark, but they are better than their current record. My Colts prediction is looking pretty solid though. Granted, when Peyton Manning comes back they might get things back together, but by that time things might be too late.
AFC WEST
I feel bad for Lane Kiffin. The Raiders are legitimately a couple of plays away from 3-1. Perhaps the firing will bring some stability to the organization, but it was Ryan's defensive unit that collapsed two weeks in a row in the fourth quarter against the Bills and Chargers, not Kiffin's offense. The Chargers are difficult to figure out. They are much more consistent than I thought they would be, but they have the talent to beat any team. I hate the Broncos, I hate the way they play, or refuse to play defense. That kind of nonsense catches up to teams, and hopefully it will the Broncos.
NFC EAST
Sure I predicted that three teams from the NFC East would make the playoffs, but the one team I thought wouldn't make it because of a Super Bowl hangover is the only undefeated team in the NFC. That stat, however, is a little misleading. The Giants beat a Redskins team that was much different than the team that upended the Cowboys, the Bengals, and the Rams. Nothing exactly to write home about. Its still a long season for the G-Men. The Cowboys should be undefeated. The talent the Cowboys have is borderline ridiculous, and when that talent does not translate to wins, as it did against the Redskins then coaching is to blame. I know Tony Romo has a pass play and a run play to choose from every time he goes under center, but it was inexcusable for the Cowboys to abandon the running game. Especially when their best offensive player is Marion Barber, not Terrell Owens.
NFC NORTH
The big surprise here is the Bears are much better than I thought they would be. Kyle Orton hasn't been that bad, and the Bears defense is still one of the best in the league. The Vikings may have started slow, but I still think they can take the division, especially where the Lions just recently rejoined the league after the firing of Matt Millen (check this hilarious song out http://www.heavy.com/video/58983), and Aaron Rodgers seems like he might be coming back down to earth a little bit.
NFC SOUTH
The NFC South realignment streak of last to first may finally come to an end. The Bucs defense has been revitalized and Brian Griese has been solid. The Falcons have been better than advertised though. By beating the Lions and the Chiefs they have thus far displayed that they are the best of the crappy teams.
NFC WEST
The worst division of all time might get a little better with the return of Deion Branch and eventually Bobby Engram to the Seahawks. The winner in this division might finish 7-9. Explaining to the fans of the team that finishes last in the NFC East, with undoubtedly a better record than the NFC West's division winner, that they are not in the playoffs will be difficult.
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