Before we begin this blog with sports drivel, I want to thank all of the soldiers and people in the service for what they do for us. Without them, things would be much worse and people would have bigger worries then Brad Lidge's blown saves and travelling non-calls in the NBA playoffs. So on this weekend, when you are enjoying your beer and your burgers, remember those who helped it make it a good day.
Interleague play wraps up it's first weekend and I for one have enjoyed it. I get a lot of pleasure from seeing the two leagues play each other. The series in NY, Boston, Houston, Minnesota have all been highly enjoyable and something the sport needs. Heck, do you think Nats park would be as packed as it was on Saturday and Sunday if it wasn't the Orioles? People laugh at the White Sox/Pirates and the Braves/Jays series but they are just as enjoyable as any old Pirates/D-Backs or Padres/Brewers series so why not? I dont mind watching the AL pitchers hit...heck Orioles fans may ask for more of that with Danys Baez and Brad Bergesen getting hits. I'm 110% for Interleague and would love to see more of it. Those who are against it just don't get it. Stop living in the past and enjoy the present and future of baseball.
It's such an awkward time in football. You know it's bubbling deep in the NFL and NCAA fans' bellies which is why the letters O T and A mean something to us. It's amazing how much of a hold it has on us. It's why the NFL Network is a stop for most sports fans nowadays even if it's got nothing on. College Football Live and NFL Live are now regular staples on ESPN even though there is rarely new news. The season is coming.
The playoffs in both sports have been pretty good. I'll give the NBA credit in that these four teams still playing are great but all of these LeBron/Kobe commercials are making me sick. They are falling into the same trap the NHL did with Crosby and Ovechkin. Why aren't they marketing Howard and Carmelo? Those two are highly entertaining and a series featuring Denver and Orlando would be more enjoyable to me and some fans outside of LA and Cleveland. Plus, it's hard to watch a sport where every call is being bitched about. Every NBA player feels like they've never committed a foul. Stop crying and moaning. If you are a superstar, occasionally you do committ a foul.
Admittedly, i've checked out of the NHL playoffs for now. A Pittsburgh-Detroit Stanley Cup final will be exciting but my despise for both teams prevents me from wrapping my arms around it. Both are quality organizations but Cindy Crosby is a crybaby, Evgeni Malkin is ugly and the Red Wings inspire thoughts of Communist Russia.
That's all for now. I'm goin to watch the Twins and Brewers.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Baseball's Time To Shine
The NBA and NHL playoffs are rapidly heading towards their conclusions although the NBA surely has another month or two left. It's baseball's time to shine and so far this season hasn't let us down. Let's take a look at why this season has been very good:
1) Check out the standings...Right now Kansas City and Toronto are in first place and are giving those cities hope of a bright future. Heck, Zack Greinke might put up amazing numbers this year for the Royals bringing them the Cy Young Award. Toronto has Roy Halladay and a bunch of no-name starters making people scurry to baseball-reference.com to find out the difference between Scott Richmond and Richmond Virginia.
2) The Mets and Yankees are struggling. Granted the Bronx Bombers are headed in the right direction but the Mets are a mess. They have superstars but not super leaders. Their rotation is as mediocre as it gets and when they send Johan to the mound, they just don't score. Thank goodness there won't be a Subway Series.
3) The Texas Rangers are no longer a black hole for starting pitching. Scott Feldman and Kevin Millwood have led the charge as the Rangers are atop the AL West. Good for them. Josh Hamilton isn't even hitting much yet but the rest of the team is. I hope they keep it going.
4) The Nationals are a fascinating team. Check out these numbers: Relievers have a 6.68 ERA and are 1-13. Washington is 6-10 when they've scored 6+ runs this season whereas Pittsburgh is 14-0 in the same case. This is one of the best lineups in the NL with quite possibly the worst bullpen in the history of major league baseball. They don't draw but perhaps they should. If people are clamoring for offense so desperately, then why not go patronize the team with some of the best in baseball. Ryan Zimmerman should be in the NL All Star game. And with that, time for me to get on my soapbox. Vote for who belongs not your home team. I love the Marlins but im sure as hell not voting for Emilio Bonafacio or Cody Ross to go. I've got some sort of soul so here's who you SHOULD be voting for
AL
C: Victor Martinez, Cleveland (.401 on that bad team is pretty good) Also Acceptable: Joe Mauer, Mike Napoli
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit (almost hitting .400 and 30 RBI's) Also Acceptable: Kevin Youkilis, Justin Morneau
2B: Aaron Hill, Toronto (leads 2B's in all major categories except SB's) Also Acceptable: Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia.
3B: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay (Putting up obscene RBI Numbers) Also Acceptable: Michael Young
SS: Jason Bartlett, Tampa Bay(.384 5 HR, 22 RBI are by far the best here) Also Acceptable: NONE
OF: Adam Jones, Baltimore (.370 8 HR, 26 RBI from a relative unknown before this year), Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay (a terror on the basepaths and hitting over .300), Johnny Damon (.324, 10 HR....someone's benefitting from the new park) Also Acceptable: Jason Bay, Torii Hunter, Nick Markakis
SP: Roy Halladay (If the fate of the world depended on one game, I'd give the ball to this man) Also Acceptable: Zack Greinke
NL
C: Bengie Molina, San Francisco (hitting over .300 and represents the power in a weak Giants lineup) Also Acceptable: NONE really
1B: Albert Pujols, St. Louis (usually one of the few that the fans get right; Prince Albert just keeps rolling) Also Acceptable: Todd Helton (pretty nice numbers for him), Nick Johnson (what he's not hurt?), Joey Votto
2B: Orlando Hudson, Los Angeles (pretty nice pickup at the end of the FA for the Dodgers) Also Acceptable: Chase Utley, Freddy Sanchez, Felipe Lopez
SS: Hanley Ramirez, Florida (.343 6 HR, 20 RBI...i'm a homer so what) Also Acceptable: Cristian Guzman (NL's leading hit guy)
3B: Ryan Zimmerman, Washington (.358 10 HR, 31 RBI...shame he'll lose) Also Acceptable: David Wright, Aramis Ramirez (injured), Chipper
OF: Carlos Beltran (.378...hate rewarding big market guys but he belongs), Ryan Braun (gotta rep the Jews especially when they hit over .300 with power), Raul Ibanez (.357 13 HR...does the guy ever smile? Meanest homerun hitter ever) Also Acceptable: Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence, Manny Ramirez
SP: Johan Santana
1) Check out the standings...Right now Kansas City and Toronto are in first place and are giving those cities hope of a bright future. Heck, Zack Greinke might put up amazing numbers this year for the Royals bringing them the Cy Young Award. Toronto has Roy Halladay and a bunch of no-name starters making people scurry to baseball-reference.com to find out the difference between Scott Richmond and Richmond Virginia.
2) The Mets and Yankees are struggling. Granted the Bronx Bombers are headed in the right direction but the Mets are a mess. They have superstars but not super leaders. Their rotation is as mediocre as it gets and when they send Johan to the mound, they just don't score. Thank goodness there won't be a Subway Series.
3) The Texas Rangers are no longer a black hole for starting pitching. Scott Feldman and Kevin Millwood have led the charge as the Rangers are atop the AL West. Good for them. Josh Hamilton isn't even hitting much yet but the rest of the team is. I hope they keep it going.
4) The Nationals are a fascinating team. Check out these numbers: Relievers have a 6.68 ERA and are 1-13. Washington is 6-10 when they've scored 6+ runs this season whereas Pittsburgh is 14-0 in the same case. This is one of the best lineups in the NL with quite possibly the worst bullpen in the history of major league baseball. They don't draw but perhaps they should. If people are clamoring for offense so desperately, then why not go patronize the team with some of the best in baseball. Ryan Zimmerman should be in the NL All Star game. And with that, time for me to get on my soapbox. Vote for who belongs not your home team. I love the Marlins but im sure as hell not voting for Emilio Bonafacio or Cody Ross to go. I've got some sort of soul so here's who you SHOULD be voting for
AL
C: Victor Martinez, Cleveland (.401 on that bad team is pretty good) Also Acceptable: Joe Mauer, Mike Napoli
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit (almost hitting .400 and 30 RBI's) Also Acceptable: Kevin Youkilis, Justin Morneau
2B: Aaron Hill, Toronto (leads 2B's in all major categories except SB's) Also Acceptable: Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia.
3B: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay (Putting up obscene RBI Numbers) Also Acceptable: Michael Young
SS: Jason Bartlett, Tampa Bay(.384 5 HR, 22 RBI are by far the best here) Also Acceptable: NONE
OF: Adam Jones, Baltimore (.370 8 HR, 26 RBI from a relative unknown before this year), Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay (a terror on the basepaths and hitting over .300), Johnny Damon (.324, 10 HR....someone's benefitting from the new park) Also Acceptable: Jason Bay, Torii Hunter, Nick Markakis
SP: Roy Halladay (If the fate of the world depended on one game, I'd give the ball to this man) Also Acceptable: Zack Greinke
NL
C: Bengie Molina, San Francisco (hitting over .300 and represents the power in a weak Giants lineup) Also Acceptable: NONE really
1B: Albert Pujols, St. Louis (usually one of the few that the fans get right; Prince Albert just keeps rolling) Also Acceptable: Todd Helton (pretty nice numbers for him), Nick Johnson (what he's not hurt?), Joey Votto
2B: Orlando Hudson, Los Angeles (pretty nice pickup at the end of the FA for the Dodgers) Also Acceptable: Chase Utley, Freddy Sanchez, Felipe Lopez
SS: Hanley Ramirez, Florida (.343 6 HR, 20 RBI...i'm a homer so what) Also Acceptable: Cristian Guzman (NL's leading hit guy)
3B: Ryan Zimmerman, Washington (.358 10 HR, 31 RBI...shame he'll lose) Also Acceptable: David Wright, Aramis Ramirez (injured), Chipper
OF: Carlos Beltran (.378...hate rewarding big market guys but he belongs), Ryan Braun (gotta rep the Jews especially when they hit over .300 with power), Raul Ibanez (.357 13 HR...does the guy ever smile? Meanest homerun hitter ever) Also Acceptable: Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence, Manny Ramirez
SP: Johan Santana
Friday, May 8, 2009
Sports World Musings
So much going on across the board so let's go for some musings
MLB
- Manny's on illegal drugs. Oh well. I'm from the camp that I just don't give a crap. I go to baseball for a few things....some cash to spend if I'm doing well in my picks, some entertainment if my team is winning and a diversion if my life isn't going so hot. Yeah, i'd like to tell my kids that the players didn't cheat but is it really cheating if the majority is doing it. And don't think that because they havent been exposed, doesnt mean they didnt cheat. I just don't care anymore.
- The Nationals arent the worst team in baseball. Their record may say so but their lineup is better then a lot of teams' with better records. Their pitching staff is going to improve once Zimmermann learns to stop relying on his fast ball. Stephen Strasburg threw a no-no tonight and struck out 17. He'll be on this team in August and September. This will be a ticket you want to get so stay tuned to the show to get your tickets. This team will be around come August and September and won't be an easy win.
- The Yankees won't win the AL East. Their bullpen just isn't good enough for them to do it. Not every SP is CC Sabathia who can throw 130 pitches every time. The Red Sox or Rays will take it and the Jays will hang around the Wild card race too.
NBA
- I'm sorry, i'm just not a LeBron fan. Then again, I'm not an NBA guy so the thought of Kobe/LeBron NBA finals just doesnt interest me. I'd like a Suns/Magic "First to 120" series. I'm not interested in the close game in the 80's with many timeouts and "strategy" You can get me into a game with all these suspensions and all these issues that they've been having.
- Sixers Brass...if you are reading this. Please draft Eric Maynor. We need a point guard who can score and he fits the bill there.
NHL
- Begrudgingly I must give the NHL it's due. This Caps/Pens series has been pretty spectacular despite what it took to get here. I'm also glad that it's bringing new fans to the sport who see that it's pretty fun to watch especially played at it's highest levels. Finally, I'm also glad that they are seeing Sidney Crosby for what he is which is a pampered superstar who needs to get a reality check that there are others out there besides him.
- Finals prediction: Ducks - Caps.
NFL
- Signups are also taken here for my side of the Brett Favre argument. If he comes back AGAIN, do I get credit for calling it a 2nd time? And to play for the Vikings? Do you have any shame Brett? He was bad for the Jets and his wanting to get revenge against Green Bay may mean that the Packers sweep the Vikes. Would that finally end his career? God I hope so. Just stay away Brett.
MLB
- Manny's on illegal drugs. Oh well. I'm from the camp that I just don't give a crap. I go to baseball for a few things....some cash to spend if I'm doing well in my picks, some entertainment if my team is winning and a diversion if my life isn't going so hot. Yeah, i'd like to tell my kids that the players didn't cheat but is it really cheating if the majority is doing it. And don't think that because they havent been exposed, doesnt mean they didnt cheat. I just don't care anymore.
- The Nationals arent the worst team in baseball. Their record may say so but their lineup is better then a lot of teams' with better records. Their pitching staff is going to improve once Zimmermann learns to stop relying on his fast ball. Stephen Strasburg threw a no-no tonight and struck out 17. He'll be on this team in August and September. This will be a ticket you want to get so stay tuned to the show to get your tickets. This team will be around come August and September and won't be an easy win.
- The Yankees won't win the AL East. Their bullpen just isn't good enough for them to do it. Not every SP is CC Sabathia who can throw 130 pitches every time. The Red Sox or Rays will take it and the Jays will hang around the Wild card race too.
NBA
- I'm sorry, i'm just not a LeBron fan. Then again, I'm not an NBA guy so the thought of Kobe/LeBron NBA finals just doesnt interest me. I'd like a Suns/Magic "First to 120" series. I'm not interested in the close game in the 80's with many timeouts and "strategy" You can get me into a game with all these suspensions and all these issues that they've been having.
- Sixers Brass...if you are reading this. Please draft Eric Maynor. We need a point guard who can score and he fits the bill there.
NHL
- Begrudgingly I must give the NHL it's due. This Caps/Pens series has been pretty spectacular despite what it took to get here. I'm also glad that it's bringing new fans to the sport who see that it's pretty fun to watch especially played at it's highest levels. Finally, I'm also glad that they are seeing Sidney Crosby for what he is which is a pampered superstar who needs to get a reality check that there are others out there besides him.
- Finals prediction: Ducks - Caps.
NFL
- Signups are also taken here for my side of the Brett Favre argument. If he comes back AGAIN, do I get credit for calling it a 2nd time? And to play for the Vikings? Do you have any shame Brett? He was bad for the Jets and his wanting to get revenge against Green Bay may mean that the Packers sweep the Vikes. Would that finally end his career? God I hope so. Just stay away Brett.
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