Friday, April 27, 2007
It's all well and good until the Jets pick the No. 4 punter in the CFL
The draft is one of the most overrated events in all of sports, and I love it anyway. It’s the only event on the NFL calendar that actually provides hope to all teams, and it provides plenty of room for second-guessing, predicting and ripping team management, all of which are fun pursuits for bloggers.
Before we go further, here are a few fun draft notes (courtesy ESPN.com research) as the Raiders choose between JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn:
Since 2000, nine QBs have been drafted in the first round. Only two (Carson Palmer, Michael Vick) have made the Pro Bowl.
Since 1990, 29 QBs have been picked in the first round. Nine have made the Pro Bowl.
Notable busts include Ryan Leaf, Andre Ware, Todd Marinovich, Rick Mirer, Heath Shuler (I’m sorry, make that Rep. Heath Shuler).
Obscure busts include Dan McGwire, Cade McNown, Jim Druckenmiller.
Other first-round busts (1990 and after) to consider:
Running back: The Penn State trio of Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter and Curtis Enis (all picked in the Top 5); Lawrence Phillips, Nebraska.
Wide Receiver: The Colorado duo of Michael Westbrook and Rae Carruth, Peter Warrick, Charles Rogers (who, will sucking, at least never conspired to kill anyone).
O-Line: Tony Mandarich, the Tennessee duo of Charles McCrae and Antone Davis (both Top 10 picks), Robert Gallery.
D-Line: The Alabama trio of Keith McCants, John Copeland and Eric Curry (all Top 6), Mike Mamula, Steve Emtman, Gerard Warren.
LB: Trev Alberts, Andy Katzenmoyer.
DB: Bruce Pickens, Bryant Westbrook.
Moving on, there will be plenty of discussion and about 873 mock drafts, so (because I dig the whole brevity thing) I’ll only focus on the Top 5 because, really, that’s where all the hype is.
1. Oakland Raiders – JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
There are a lot of recent rumors that the Raiders are considering Ga. Tech wideout Calvin Johnson, who is clearly the class of this draft. But that move doesn’t make sense. With Art Shell gone, Jerry Porter should be out of the doghouse and return to form, and the Raiders still have a lot of money invested in Randy Moss. Given, Moss doesn’t do much more than go deep and out-jump corners at this point, but that’s a perfect fit with ultra-talented Russell, who can throw the ball f#^$ing 80 yards. As for Russell, I’m not totally sold on him. He took a while to develop in college and I would have liked to see him repeat his junior season (that is, repeat the performance of his junior year, not actually re-take his third year of college). Still, he and Johnson are the two players in this draft who could be big-time stars (see Reggie Bush and Vince Young of 2006), so I think he’s worth the gamble.
Who They Should Pick: Russell
2. Detroit Lions – Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
Thomas is probably my favorite guy in this draft. Check out Peter King’s SI article on him from last week—he’s totally grounded, humble and immensely talented. Left tackle has become a little hit-and-miss over the years, with Robert Gallery, etc., but I think Thomas will be, at worst, a very solid tackle for 10 years to come and the Lions need that kind of stability right now. Other options for Detroit are Clemson DE Gaines Adams, who apparently they like but I think is a little high for this pick, and Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn.
Who They Should Pick: Calvin Johnson, WR, Ga. Tech. The Lions can’t pick another wideout first (after Charles Rogers and Mike Williams) and they have some good ones in Roy Williams and Furrey, but again, there are two stars in this draft and Johnson is one of them.
3. Cleveland Browns – Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
The Browns need a QB and Quinn wants to play for the Browns, so this is a perfect fit. Right? Well, on paper at least, but I’m not a huge Quinn fan. He’s a solid QB who has played in a pro-style offense and is clearly a first rounder. He’s just not the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. Adrian Peterson would make an awful lot of sense here, since it appears Jamal Lewis is on his last legs, but the way running backs were shopped around the NFL this offseason, it’s hard to see a RB go No. 3.
Who They Should Pick: Calvin Johnson, WR, Ga. Tech. Same reasons as above—he’s just the best player here.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Calvin Johnson, WR, Ga. Tech
Jon Gruden loves offense and the Bucs receiving corps could undoubtedly use a boost, as can Chris Simms, Jeff Garcia, Jake Plummer or whoever else might be throwing in Gruden’s pass happy offense this season.
Who They Should Pick: Johnson. Everything about this pick makes sense.
5. Arizona Cardinals – Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
I’d be lying if I said I knew a whole lot about Adams, but most people are considering him the best defensive player in the draft so I’ll defer to the experts. And the Cardinals, who possess a potent offense, finished last season ranked 29th in defense, so that side of the ball desperately needs an upgrade.
Who They Should Pick: Adams.
Players who should be drafted next: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma; LaRon Landry, S, LSU; Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville; Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal.
Potential Top 10 busts: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan; Levi Brown, OT, Penn State; Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas.
Before we go further, here are a few fun draft notes (courtesy ESPN.com research) as the Raiders choose between JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn:
Since 2000, nine QBs have been drafted in the first round. Only two (Carson Palmer, Michael Vick) have made the Pro Bowl.
Since 1990, 29 QBs have been picked in the first round. Nine have made the Pro Bowl.
Notable busts include Ryan Leaf, Andre Ware, Todd Marinovich, Rick Mirer, Heath Shuler (I’m sorry, make that Rep. Heath Shuler).
Obscure busts include Dan McGwire, Cade McNown, Jim Druckenmiller.
Other first-round busts (1990 and after) to consider:
Running back: The Penn State trio of Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter and Curtis Enis (all picked in the Top 5); Lawrence Phillips, Nebraska.
Wide Receiver: The Colorado duo of Michael Westbrook and Rae Carruth, Peter Warrick, Charles Rogers (who, will sucking, at least never conspired to kill anyone).
O-Line: Tony Mandarich, the Tennessee duo of Charles McCrae and Antone Davis (both Top 10 picks), Robert Gallery.
D-Line: The Alabama trio of Keith McCants, John Copeland and Eric Curry (all Top 6), Mike Mamula, Steve Emtman, Gerard Warren.
LB: Trev Alberts, Andy Katzenmoyer.
DB: Bruce Pickens, Bryant Westbrook.
Moving on, there will be plenty of discussion and about 873 mock drafts, so (because I dig the whole brevity thing) I’ll only focus on the Top 5 because, really, that’s where all the hype is.
1. Oakland Raiders – JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
There are a lot of recent rumors that the Raiders are considering Ga. Tech wideout Calvin Johnson, who is clearly the class of this draft. But that move doesn’t make sense. With Art Shell gone, Jerry Porter should be out of the doghouse and return to form, and the Raiders still have a lot of money invested in Randy Moss. Given, Moss doesn’t do much more than go deep and out-jump corners at this point, but that’s a perfect fit with ultra-talented Russell, who can throw the ball f#^$ing 80 yards. As for Russell, I’m not totally sold on him. He took a while to develop in college and I would have liked to see him repeat his junior season (that is, repeat the performance of his junior year, not actually re-take his third year of college). Still, he and Johnson are the two players in this draft who could be big-time stars (see Reggie Bush and Vince Young of 2006), so I think he’s worth the gamble.
Who They Should Pick: Russell
2. Detroit Lions – Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
Thomas is probably my favorite guy in this draft. Check out Peter King’s SI article on him from last week—he’s totally grounded, humble and immensely talented. Left tackle has become a little hit-and-miss over the years, with Robert Gallery, etc., but I think Thomas will be, at worst, a very solid tackle for 10 years to come and the Lions need that kind of stability right now. Other options for Detroit are Clemson DE Gaines Adams, who apparently they like but I think is a little high for this pick, and Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn.
Who They Should Pick: Calvin Johnson, WR, Ga. Tech. The Lions can’t pick another wideout first (after Charles Rogers and Mike Williams) and they have some good ones in Roy Williams and Furrey, but again, there are two stars in this draft and Johnson is one of them.
3. Cleveland Browns – Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
The Browns need a QB and Quinn wants to play for the Browns, so this is a perfect fit. Right? Well, on paper at least, but I’m not a huge Quinn fan. He’s a solid QB who has played in a pro-style offense and is clearly a first rounder. He’s just not the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. Adrian Peterson would make an awful lot of sense here, since it appears Jamal Lewis is on his last legs, but the way running backs were shopped around the NFL this offseason, it’s hard to see a RB go No. 3.
Who They Should Pick: Calvin Johnson, WR, Ga. Tech. Same reasons as above—he’s just the best player here.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Calvin Johnson, WR, Ga. Tech
Jon Gruden loves offense and the Bucs receiving corps could undoubtedly use a boost, as can Chris Simms, Jeff Garcia, Jake Plummer or whoever else might be throwing in Gruden’s pass happy offense this season.
Who They Should Pick: Johnson. Everything about this pick makes sense.
5. Arizona Cardinals – Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
I’d be lying if I said I knew a whole lot about Adams, but most people are considering him the best defensive player in the draft so I’ll defer to the experts. And the Cardinals, who possess a potent offense, finished last season ranked 29th in defense, so that side of the ball desperately needs an upgrade.
Who They Should Pick: Adams.
Players who should be drafted next: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma; LaRon Landry, S, LSU; Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville; Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal.
Potential Top 10 busts: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan; Levi Brown, OT, Penn State; Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Sock it to me
By now, you’ve probably read that Gary Thorne believes Curt Schilling’s bloody sock from the 2004 ALCS was a hoax.
Other revelations Thorne has planned for slow moments in this season’s baseball broadcasts:
Rollie Fingers’ mustache was fake.
Jorge Orta was safe.
Chris Sabo’s rec-specs were not prescribed. They were window glass. He just wore them to dispel the notion that nerds can’t play baseball.
The Clue Heywood character in Major League was not based on Steve Balboni. Any resemblance is pure coincidence.
Cal Ripken Jr.’s ironman streak was accomplished with the aid of cloning.
Barry Bonds never used steroids.
Other revelations Thorne has planned for slow moments in this season’s baseball broadcasts:Rollie Fingers’ mustache was fake.
Jorge Orta was safe.
Chris Sabo’s rec-specs were not prescribed. They were window glass. He just wore them to dispel the notion that nerds can’t play baseball.
The Clue Heywood character in Major League was not based on Steve Balboni. Any resemblance is pure coincidence.
Cal Ripken Jr.’s ironman streak was accomplished with the aid of cloning.
Barry Bonds never used steroids.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
How to host a talk radio program
Rule No. 146: When all else fails, start asking yourself questions.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is a master of the self-Q&A, and apparently it’s not just an on-air thing. In talking about the Mike and the Mad Dog Show’s AM drive-time duty, filling in for the deposed Don Imus, he told The New Yorker’s Nick Paumgarten:
“We’re basically flying by the seat of our pants. This week, I don’t have to worry about preparing, because all I have to do is make sure I know what’s going on with Virginia Tech. I read the Times. I make sure I know what’s cooking. Do I know about the Attorney General? No, I do not. Would I have to know, if I was doing this show regularly? I don’t know if I would. . . . People don’t wanna hear me do that stuff anyway. They wanna hear me do sports. They wanna hear Russo be Russo.”
He's right, of course. Though I like the show, hearing Mike and the Dog break down the "Va-tech" tragedy made me cringe about three times per minute. This morning, they were back on sports, talking about the Yankees. Francesa’s gem of the day: The Yanks need Bernie. NEED him. Gotta have “51.” Apparently, having seven former all-stars in the field and another at DH is not enough. Why do the Yankees need Bernie? The bench is weak. Miguel Cairo is “O-for-the season” (Francesa neglected to mention he only has eight plate appearances, two of which were walks); Mientkiewicz has been miserable. Melky’s not hitting.
The Yankees lead the league in runs scored, batting average, and home runs. They have a lineup that makes bench strength completely irrelevant. But bringing back a beloved, over-the-hill fifth outfielder is going to lead them to the promised land. Brilliant. So I ask myself, why does everyone hate the Yankees? Oh, right.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is a master of the self-Q&A, and apparently it’s not just an on-air thing. In talking about the Mike and the Mad Dog Show’s AM drive-time duty, filling in for the deposed Don Imus, he told The New Yorker’s Nick Paumgarten:
“We’re basically flying by the seat of our pants. This week, I don’t have to worry about preparing, because all I have to do is make sure I know what’s going on with Virginia Tech. I read the Times. I make sure I know what’s cooking. Do I know about the Attorney General? No, I do not. Would I have to know, if I was doing this show regularly? I don’t know if I would. . . . People don’t wanna hear me do that stuff anyway. They wanna hear me do sports. They wanna hear Russo be Russo.”
He's right, of course. Though I like the show, hearing Mike and the Dog break down the "Va-tech" tragedy made me cringe about three times per minute. This morning, they were back on sports, talking about the Yankees. Francesa’s gem of the day: The Yanks need Bernie. NEED him. Gotta have “51.” Apparently, having seven former all-stars in the field and another at DH is not enough. Why do the Yankees need Bernie? The bench is weak. Miguel Cairo is “O-for-the season” (Francesa neglected to mention he only has eight plate appearances, two of which were walks); Mientkiewicz has been miserable. Melky’s not hitting.
The Yankees lead the league in runs scored, batting average, and home runs. They have a lineup that makes bench strength completely irrelevant. But bringing back a beloved, over-the-hill fifth outfielder is going to lead them to the promised land. Brilliant. So I ask myself, why does everyone hate the Yankees? Oh, right.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Rollin' on Dubs
I love my Tivo. From the moment I met it and brought it home to live with me, I've been in love. It makes me laugh. It makes me sad. Its always there for me, even when I neglect it. But there is one thing about my Tivo that I don't like.
It makes me a worse sports fan.
(As an aside, the above one sentence paragraph is a total sportswriter thing to do, and it drives me crazy. Does anyone else hate those one sentence paragraphs? EJ, BBD, do they teach you that in J-School? Either way, I can't stand them.)
I didn't realize that Tivo would make me a worse sports fan. If anything, Tivo can be used to tape games that you won't be able to watch (which I do for some NFL and NCAA hoops games, the occasional boxing match on HBO, and events like th Olympics and World Cup). But Tivo eliminates the channel surfing which often led to sports viewing. I used to park on the couch flipping through the main channels, and I'd stop and watch a few minutes whenever I came across a decent NBA or MLB game. That doesn't happen anymore. Now, I have my Daily Show, Sopranos or Top Chef (don't ask) ready when I am. And there is always more to watch, so no reason to randomly surf to see what is on.
I say this because the NBA playoffs are starting, and I've probably watched a grand total of about one hour of nationally televised NBA games. I know less about the league this year than I have in each of the last 21 years or so. The lone exception to this is the Warriors. I've made a point to tune in to a couple of their games throughout the year.
Which all brings me to the point of the post. Don't sleep on Golden State. I know, this is becoming a somewhat popular sentiment (one that the Sports Guy has been recently pushing), but it is true. These aren't the '94 Nuggets. Their starting five each scored at least 16 per game (Jason Richardson is the low scorer of the starting five) and are all a threat for 25 on any night. Of their top three reserves, two have had 30-point efforts this season (Matt Barnes and Andres Biedrins) and the third has ten 20-point games.
Can they play defense, you ask? Well, no. They can't (see left). But more importantly, they don't want to. This is Nellie-ball baby, and energy spent on defense is wasted energy. Boxing out saps energy from your legs, energy that is needed to launch those critical threes (to which team are those three pointers critical? That's up for debate).
I kid (somewhat) about the defense. The fact is that the current incarnation of this team has been good. "Current incarnation" means post-Pacers robbery and healthy Richardson and Davis. After suffering through a miserable 6 game losing streak that dropped their record to 26-35(by an average margin of 15 points per game), Baron Davis returned from injury and the Dubs won 16 of their final 21. Among those beaten during this final quarter of the season were Detroit, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston and Utah (with an average margin of victory in those 6 games of 15 points - closest of the six was a 5 point win over the Suns). Not coincidentally, that 21-game stretch represents the only 21 games where the full Warrior lineup (with Jackson, Harrington, Davis and Richardson) has been in place.
Am I saying that the Warriors, when healthy, are a team that would win over 75% of their games? No. But they'd win well over 50%. At the rate their playing, I'd say that only the West's Big Three are better (and put the Warriors right there with the Rockets and Jazz). Plus, they have the only Patriot League alum in the NBA (magna cum laude, no less).
What's more, the Warriors have the Mavs' number. Sure, in Monday's game the Mavs sat Nowitzki, Dampier, Howard and Stackhouse, but the Warriors swept the three Dallas games that year, and have won 5 straight going back to last year. The Warriors (with Al Harrington at the 5 and Stephen Jackson at the 4) are playing a similar lineup to the one that the Mavs used successfully in last year's playoffs (when they used Nowitzki as a center for long stretches). And finally, there is just no pressure on the Warriors. They are the 8 seed. Happy to be here. Haven't been in 12 years (which is an utter disgrace in the NBA). The Mavs, meanwhile, have a ton of pressure. 6th best record ever. Expected MVP leading them. Playing against former coach. I'm not saying that the Warriors will win, but I would be shocked if they don't take 2 from the Mavs.
Final Thunder-prediction: Mavs in 7.
It makes me a worse sports fan.
(As an aside, the above one sentence paragraph is a total sportswriter thing to do, and it drives me crazy. Does anyone else hate those one sentence paragraphs? EJ, BBD, do they teach you that in J-School? Either way, I can't stand them.)
I didn't realize that Tivo would make me a worse sports fan. If anything, Tivo can be used to tape games that you won't be able to watch (which I do for some NFL and NCAA hoops games, the occasional boxing match on HBO, and events like th Olympics and World Cup). But Tivo eliminates the channel surfing which often led to sports viewing. I used to park on the couch flipping through the main channels, and I'd stop and watch a few minutes whenever I came across a decent NBA or MLB game. That doesn't happen anymore. Now, I have my Daily Show, Sopranos or Top Chef (don't ask) ready when I am. And there is always more to watch, so no reason to randomly surf to see what is on.
I say this because the NBA playoffs are starting, and I've probably watched a grand total of about one hour of nationally televised NBA games. I know less about the league this year than I have in each of the last 21 years or so. The lone exception to this is the Warriors. I've made a point to tune in to a couple of their games throughout the year.
Which all brings me to the point of the post. Don't sleep on Golden State. I know, this is becoming a somewhat popular sentiment (one that the Sports Guy has been recently pushing), but it is true. These aren't the '94 Nuggets. Their starting five each scored at least 16 per game (Jason Richardson is the low scorer of the starting five) and are all a threat for 25 on any night. Of their top three reserves, two have had 30-point efforts this season (Matt Barnes and Andres Biedrins) and the third has ten 20-point games.
Can they play defense, you ask? Well, no. They can't (see left). But more importantly, they don't want to. This is Nellie-ball baby, and energy spent on defense is wasted energy. Boxing out saps energy from your legs, energy that is needed to launch those critical threes (to which team are those three pointers critical? That's up for debate).I kid (somewhat) about the defense. The fact is that the current incarnation of this team has been good. "Current incarnation" means post-Pacers robbery and healthy Richardson and Davis. After suffering through a miserable 6 game losing streak that dropped their record to 26-35(by an average margin of 15 points per game), Baron Davis returned from injury and the Dubs won 16 of their final 21. Among those beaten during this final quarter of the season were Detroit, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston and Utah (with an average margin of victory in those 6 games of 15 points - closest of the six was a 5 point win over the Suns). Not coincidentally, that 21-game stretch represents the only 21 games where the full Warrior lineup (with Jackson, Harrington, Davis and Richardson) has been in place.
Am I saying that the Warriors, when healthy, are a team that would win over 75% of their games? No. But they'd win well over 50%. At the rate their playing, I'd say that only the West's Big Three are better (and put the Warriors right there with the Rockets and Jazz). Plus, they have the only Patriot League alum in the NBA (magna cum laude, no less).What's more, the Warriors have the Mavs' number. Sure, in Monday's game the Mavs sat Nowitzki, Dampier, Howard and Stackhouse, but the Warriors swept the three Dallas games that year, and have won 5 straight going back to last year. The Warriors (with Al Harrington at the 5 and Stephen Jackson at the 4) are playing a similar lineup to the one that the Mavs used successfully in last year's playoffs (when they used Nowitzki as a center for long stretches). And finally, there is just no pressure on the Warriors. They are the 8 seed. Happy to be here. Haven't been in 12 years (which is an utter disgrace in the NBA). The Mavs, meanwhile, have a ton of pressure. 6th best record ever. Expected MVP leading them. Playing against former coach. I'm not saying that the Warriors will win, but I would be shocked if they don't take 2 from the Mavs.
Final Thunder-prediction: Mavs in 7.
Labels: Adonal Foyle, Mavericks, NBA, Playoffs Basketball, Tivo, Warriors
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Who needs steroids...
... when you have new uniforms!
There's some unintentional comedy here, but all in all, I like the Bolts' choice to incorporate the old school look in their new suits. The old school baby blues are up there on my all-time list of great uniforms.
That list includes, in no particular order:
Early 80's Milwaukee Brewers; early 80's blue Phillies roadies, with zip front; the three-quarter-sleeve Johnny U. Colts jerseys; Georgetown's grays, with gray t-shirts, from the Ewing years; the New York Rangers sweaters with the laces; current Texas football uniforms; and the old L.A. Angles cap with stiched-in halo.
Most definitely not on that list? The "If Goldfinger owned an ABA team" Wizards duds from this year.
There's some unintentional comedy here, but all in all, I like the Bolts' choice to incorporate the old school look in their new suits. The old school baby blues are up there on my all-time list of great uniforms.
That list includes, in no particular order:
Early 80's Milwaukee Brewers; early 80's blue Phillies roadies, with zip front; the three-quarter-sleeve Johnny U. Colts jerseys; Georgetown's grays, with gray t-shirts, from the Ewing years; the New York Rangers sweaters with the laces; current Texas football uniforms; and the old L.A. Angles cap with stiched-in halo.
Most definitely not on that list? The "If Goldfinger owned an ABA team" Wizards duds from this year.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
No thank you, copy editors
From a full-page Nike ad in this morning's New York Times:
"Thank you, ignorance.
Thank you for starting the conversation.
Thank you for making an entire nation listen to the Rutger's team story. And for making us wonder what other great stories we've missed.
..."
[emphasis added]
"Thank you, ignorance.
Thank you for starting the conversation.
Thank you for making an entire nation listen to the Rutger's team story. And for making us wonder what other great stories we've missed.
..."
[emphasis added]
Friday, April 13, 2007
G.O.A.T.
Muhammad Ali (and Kenny Rogers) said it - "I am the Greatest."
Was he right? Many (most?) would say so. However, my question for the day/weekend/early next week is this - for the Sportsmeat audience (the majority of whom are in the 27-32 y.o. age group), how many athletes have we seen in our lifetimes that were "the greatest" at what they do? For semantical purposes, we'll divide athletes in team sports into greatest by position (so 5 greatest basketball players, one at each position, 6 hockey, 8 baseball fielders plus starting pitcher and reliever, etc.). Of course, for some sports, most notably golf and tennis, there can be only one. Wow, that sounds kinda ominous. And to avoid any nitpicking, they most have been active in 1985 or later.
So which of "the greatest" have we had the pleasure of watching? I won't put forth any of my picks yet, but off the top of my head, I can come up with at least 11 athletes that almost undoubtedly meet this description.
Labels: Kenny Rogers, Muhammad Ali, The Greatest
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Chasing Away the Ghost of Rafael Santana
I was going to post this last week, but then we had the Masters so I decided to hold off. And while I contemplated an NHL playoffs preview (in which I would pick the team with the cooler uniform), I decided to stick with baseball. And since we still have some 155 games left, it’s still early enough for a preview.
National League
NL East: Mets, Braves, Phillies, Marlins, Nationals
NL Central: Cardinals, Astros, Brewers, Cubs, Reds, Pirates
NL West: Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rockies, Giants
Wild card: Braves
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt, Astros
Playoffs:
NLDS: Mets over Cardinals; Dodgers over Braves
NLCS: Mets over Dodgers
Mostly, I have no clue what to make of the NL Central, which could unfold in any order without surprising me. If Chris Carpenter is out for a while, the Cards are in major trouble, and the Brewers are very talented but also very young; still; I’m rooting for them to finally come through. Regardless, the best teams are the Mets, Braves and Dodgers, so I expect one of those three to make the World Series. My thinking is that the Mets will be bolstered by the return of Pedro, Mota and Sanchez and will be the most dangerous team come playoff time (even if the Braves win the East).
As to the individual awards, why pick against Pujols when he finishes in the top 3 every year? (Though don’t write off Reyes, especially if he goes 20-20 in triples in homers). And Oswalt is simply the best pitcher in the NL—he’s due for a Cy.
American League
AL East: Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, Devil Rays
AL Central: Indians, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Royals
AL West: Angels, A’s, Rangers, Mariners
Wild card: Red Sox
AL MVP: Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
AL Cy Young: Johan Santana, Twins
Playoffs
ALDS: Angels over Red Sox; Yankees over Indians
ALCS: Angels over Yankees
The AL is so tough, with all but the O’s, D-Rays, Royals and Mariners having a legit shot at the postseason. I know the Indians are the trendy pick, but they’re also very talented and have more experience than people give them credit for. The Tigers look great but are due to come back to earth. Of course, all predictions could change if either the Yankees or the Red Sox get Clemens, who would be a major factor in the postseason. Still, for now the Angels have the best balance between youth, versatility and strength in the bullpen and in the rotation, so they’re the pick.
As to the individuals, I initially pegged Rich Harden as the Cy and he has the stuff to do it. But Santana has proven to be the best pitcher in baseball over the past three seasons, so I’d be dumb to pick against him now. And Vlad is just an amazing hitter who always seems to get lost in the best right-handed hitter arguments.
World Series: Mets over Angels
I know the AL is the better league, but I’m not going to be a negative Mets’ fan this year. The offense is sick, with both power (Wright, Delgado, Beltran, Alou) and speed (Reyes, plus Wright and Beltran can run), the bench has good depth with Julio Franco, David Newhan and Endy Chavez, and the pitching is due to get some real talent coming in at midseason. Also watch for John Maine and Oliver Perez to have solid seasons, which will offset any potential broken hips suffered by El Duque. Plus, with Pedro coming in at midseason, the Mets should be hitting their stride come October. I’m a believer.
National League
NL East: Mets, Braves, Phillies, Marlins, Nationals
NL Central: Cardinals, Astros, Brewers, Cubs, Reds, Pirates
NL West: Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rockies, Giants
Wild card: Braves
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt, Astros
Playoffs:
NLDS: Mets over Cardinals; Dodgers over Braves
NLCS: Mets over Dodgers
Mostly, I have no clue what to make of the NL Central, which could unfold in any order without surprising me. If Chris Carpenter is out for a while, the Cards are in major trouble, and the Brewers are very talented but also very young; still; I’m rooting for them to finally come through. Regardless, the best teams are the Mets, Braves and Dodgers, so I expect one of those three to make the World Series. My thinking is that the Mets will be bolstered by the return of Pedro, Mota and Sanchez and will be the most dangerous team come playoff time (even if the Braves win the East).
As to the individual awards, why pick against Pujols when he finishes in the top 3 every year? (Though don’t write off Reyes, especially if he goes 20-20 in triples in homers). And Oswalt is simply the best pitcher in the NL—he’s due for a Cy.
American League
AL East: Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, Devil Rays
AL Central: Indians, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Royals
AL West: Angels, A’s, Rangers, Mariners
Wild card: Red Sox
AL MVP: Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
AL Cy Young: Johan Santana, Twins
Playoffs
ALDS: Angels over Red Sox; Yankees over Indians
ALCS: Angels over Yankees
The AL is so tough, with all but the O’s, D-Rays, Royals and Mariners having a legit shot at the postseason. I know the Indians are the trendy pick, but they’re also very talented and have more experience than people give them credit for. The Tigers look great but are due to come back to earth. Of course, all predictions could change if either the Yankees or the Red Sox get Clemens, who would be a major factor in the postseason. Still, for now the Angels have the best balance between youth, versatility and strength in the bullpen and in the rotation, so they’re the pick.
As to the individuals, I initially pegged Rich Harden as the Cy and he has the stuff to do it. But Santana has proven to be the best pitcher in baseball over the past three seasons, so I’d be dumb to pick against him now. And Vlad is just an amazing hitter who always seems to get lost in the best right-handed hitter arguments.
World Series: Mets over Angels
I know the AL is the better league, but I’m not going to be a negative Mets’ fan this year. The offense is sick, with both power (Wright, Delgado, Beltran, Alou) and speed (Reyes, plus Wright and Beltran can run), the bench has good depth with Julio Franco, David Newhan and Endy Chavez, and the pitching is due to get some real talent coming in at midseason. Also watch for John Maine and Oliver Perez to have solid seasons, which will offset any potential broken hips suffered by El Duque. Plus, with Pedro coming in at midseason, the Mets should be hitting their stride come October. I’m a believer.
Monday, April 09, 2007
49ers 55, Broncos 10
All around the country this morning, people are thinking: Who the hell would have thought Zach Johnson would win the Masters? Well, apparently Budds did. Budds' inspired pick of Johnson led a blowout of the First Sportsmeat Masters pool. In fact, Johnson could have missed the cut and Budds still would have cruised to the win.
The victory is Budds' second Sportsmeat title, following his impressive victory in the overall fall football poo,l and gives him as many major titles as Greg Norman and John Daly, and one more than Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Jana Novotna.
Here are the final results. Points earned are next to the names of the golfers, and their finish is in parentheses:
Budds – 214 points
Z. Johnson 100 (1)
Tiger 56.5 (T2)
Goosen 56.5 (T2)
Phil 1 (T24)
Campbell 0 (MC)
Snoop – 67.5 points
Tiger 56.5 (T2)
Vijay 5 (T13)
Furyk 5 (T13)
Phil 1 (T24)
Els 0 (MC)
EJ – 64.5 points
Tiger 56.5 (T2)
P. Casey 7 (T10)
Phil 1 (T24)
Love III 0 (T27)
Scott 0 (T27)
Joseph – 58.5 points
Tiger 56.5 (T2)
Phil 1 (T24)
Ogilvy 1 (T24)
Scott 0 (T27)
Allenby 0 (MC)
Big Thunder – 20 points
Toms 15 (9)
Furyk 5 (T13)
Scott 0 (T27)
Howell III 0 (T30)
Dimarco 0 (MC)
The victory is Budds' second Sportsmeat title, following his impressive victory in the overall fall football poo,l and gives him as many major titles as Greg Norman and John Daly, and one more than Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Jana Novotna.
Here are the final results. Points earned are next to the names of the golfers, and their finish is in parentheses:
Budds – 214 points
Z. Johnson 100 (1)
Tiger 56.5 (T2)
Goosen 56.5 (T2)
Phil 1 (T24)
Campbell 0 (MC)
Snoop – 67.5 points
Tiger 56.5 (T2)
Vijay 5 (T13)
Furyk 5 (T13)
Phil 1 (T24)
Els 0 (MC)
EJ – 64.5 points
Tiger 56.5 (T2)
P. Casey 7 (T10)
Phil 1 (T24)
Love III 0 (T27)
Scott 0 (T27)
Joseph – 58.5 points
Tiger 56.5 (T2)
Phil 1 (T24)
Ogilvy 1 (T24)
Scott 0 (T27)
Allenby 0 (MC)
Big Thunder – 20 points
Toms 15 (9)
Furyk 5 (T13)
Scott 0 (T27)
Howell III 0 (T30)
Dimarco 0 (MC)
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Augusta blows
The bad puns keep coming. With the windy weather and high scores, the pride point pool is still, er, up in the air.
Budds (155 projected pts.)
Tiger + 3, Z. Johnson +4, Phil +6, Goosen +6, Campbell MC
Snoop (115)
Tiger +3, Phil +6, Furyk +6, Vijay +7, Els MC
E.J. (91)
Tiger +3, Phil +6, P. Casey +8, Love III +10, A. Scott +12
Joseph (90)
Tiger +3, Phil +6, Ogilvy +10, A. Scott +12, Allenby MC
Big Thunder (40)
Furyk +6, Toms +6, Howell III +11, A. Scott +12, Dimarco MC
Budds (155 projected pts.)
Tiger + 3, Z. Johnson +4, Phil +6, Goosen +6, Campbell MC
Snoop (115)
Tiger +3, Phil +6, Furyk +6, Vijay +7, Els MC
E.J. (91)
Tiger +3, Phil +6, P. Casey +8, Love III +10, A. Scott +12
Joseph (90)
Tiger +3, Phil +6, Ogilvy +10, A. Scott +12, Allenby MC
Big Thunder (40)
Furyk +6, Toms +6, Howell III +11, A. Scott +12, Dimarco MC
Who knows?
I don't know what to make of the Day 2 leaderboard. No one has selected a player who is under par, but honestly, who even thought about picking Brett Wetterich, Tim Clark, or Vaughn Taylor?
Snoop has some exciting possibilities with three players in the top 25, all major champions. Budds, Joe, E.J., and Big Thunder each have two in that range, but the top scorer in that bunch is Zach Johnson, who three-jacked an easy birdie opportunity Friday. E.J., by the way, gets a golf clap for picking five players who made the cut. Everyone has a shot to win this thing, which is why they call the Sportsmeat Masters Pool "a tradition unlike any other." (cue music)
Snoop
Vijay E, Furyk +2, Tiger +3, Phil +5, Els MC
Budds
Z. Johnson E, Tiger + 3, Phil +5, Goosen +8, Campbell MC
Joseph
Ogilvy +1, Tiger +3, Phil +5, A. Scott +8, Allenby MC
E.J.
P. Casey +3, Tiger +3, Phil +5, Love III +5, A. Scott +8
Big Thunder
Furyk +2, Toms +4, Howell III +8, A. Scott +8, Dimarco MC
Snoop has some exciting possibilities with three players in the top 25, all major champions. Budds, Joe, E.J., and Big Thunder each have two in that range, but the top scorer in that bunch is Zach Johnson, who three-jacked an easy birdie opportunity Friday. E.J., by the way, gets a golf clap for picking five players who made the cut. Everyone has a shot to win this thing, which is why they call the Sportsmeat Masters Pool "a tradition unlike any other." (cue music)
Snoop
Vijay E, Furyk +2, Tiger +3, Phil +5, Els MC
Budds
Z. Johnson E, Tiger + 3, Phil +5, Goosen +8, Campbell MC
Joseph
Ogilvy +1, Tiger +3, Phil +5, A. Scott +8, Allenby MC
E.J.
P. Casey +3, Tiger +3, Phil +5, Love III +5, A. Scott +8
Big Thunder
Furyk +2, Toms +4, Howell III +8, A. Scott +8, Dimarco MC
Friday, April 06, 2007
Leaderboard
Just looking at scores, not places, Big Thunder is our Day 1 leader, with a combined score of 9-over, thanks in part to David Toms' -2 round. Budds is second at +13. In third, E.J. (+14) would have had a great day if Paul Casey hadn't put a 79 on the board, and in fourth, Snoop (+15) was saddled with a 78 by the Big Easy. But Joseph takes the prize for the day's largest number: +19, thanks in large part to a stellar 81 from Robert Allenby. Allenby finished in the top 25 in all four majors last year, but this year, it looks like he's kicking things off with an MC. As they say in golf, some days the course wins.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Masters of Your Domain ...
Other bad titles include:
Masters and Servant (anyone remember that Depeche Mode song. Weird song. Anyone? Anyone ....)
Masters of the Universe
Masters of Disaster
Masters of the Fairway (like Monsters of the Midway, but not really)
I could probably go on, but I think we're good here. No matter what, it's Masters season, which coincides with Easter Sunday, which is never good if you're going to be celebrating Easter with a non-sports watching family. But alas, it will all work out -- I'll just explain that I have pride on the line.
That's right, the pride points are back for their fourth competition. Budds wrapped up the big title for the entire football season, while I took the college football pool and Maxipriest came through in college hoops. Now we're on to the least athletic pool -- golf, which means everyone can participate.
The pool goes as such. Pick any 5 golfers -- points will be decided on how they finish, first place through 25th place. Lower than 25th place, your golfer gets no points and you get no pride. None!
The points will be divvied (sp?) up as follows:
1st place (ie, winner) = 100 points (to the winner go the spoils)
2nd = 70 (the official Greg Norman Award)
3rd = 55
4 = 45
5 = 35
6 = 30
7 = 25 (the official Colin Montgomerie Award)
8 = 20
9 = 15
10 = 10
11-16 = 5 (Top 16 qualify for the 2008 Masters)
17-25 = 1 (this is where Trevor Immelman finishes)
Basically, if your dude isn't in the Top 10, he wasn't much of a threat to win the tournament. And if it's not in the Top 25, he's irrelevant. Also, there is no penalty if your golfer misses the cut -- he simply collects zero points along with his zero prize money.
OK. That's it. Submit your pick and try to become the Masters-mind of the 2007 tournament (these puns are awful, I know. And to think, McCord got bounced for saying the greens got a bikini wax. Good thing I don't work for CBS).
Masters and Servant (anyone remember that Depeche Mode song. Weird song. Anyone? Anyone ....)
Masters of the Universe
Masters of Disaster
Masters of the Fairway (like Monsters of the Midway, but not really)
I could probably go on, but I think we're good here. No matter what, it's Masters season, which coincides with Easter Sunday, which is never good if you're going to be celebrating Easter with a non-sports watching family. But alas, it will all work out -- I'll just explain that I have pride on the line.
That's right, the pride points are back for their fourth competition. Budds wrapped up the big title for the entire football season, while I took the college football pool and Maxipriest came through in college hoops. Now we're on to the least athletic pool -- golf, which means everyone can participate.
The pool goes as such. Pick any 5 golfers -- points will be decided on how they finish, first place through 25th place. Lower than 25th place, your golfer gets no points and you get no pride. None!
The points will be divvied (sp?) up as follows:
1st place (ie, winner) = 100 points (to the winner go the spoils)
2nd = 70 (the official Greg Norman Award)
3rd = 55
4 = 45
5 = 35
6 = 30
7 = 25 (the official Colin Montgomerie Award)
8 = 20
9 = 15
10 = 10
11-16 = 5 (Top 16 qualify for the 2008 Masters)
17-25 = 1 (this is where Trevor Immelman finishes)
Basically, if your dude isn't in the Top 10, he wasn't much of a threat to win the tournament. And if it's not in the Top 25, he's irrelevant. Also, there is no penalty if your golfer misses the cut -- he simply collects zero points along with his zero prize money.
OK. That's it. Submit your pick and try to become the Masters-mind of the 2007 tournament (these puns are awful, I know. And to think, McCord got bounced for saying the greens got a bikini wax. Good thing I don't work for CBS).
Monday, April 02, 2007
Huh, eh?
I've promised numerous people I'd try to get a little hockey on this site, meaning other than when one player tries to take off his skate and kill someone else (or just slashes them across the throat). Also, I know more about reupholstering a mushroom stool than I know about hockey, so we're talking a serious deficit in knowledge here.
So how do the Devils fire their coach when they've won 4 of 5 and are in second place in the East? With three games to go?? How does this make sense??? (notice the added exclamation points to emphasize my incredulity).
Seems like a Pat Riley move to me -- maybe Lamoriello thinks this team can win a title and wants to be the coach when it happens. Hmmm, kind of like Clemmens waiting to see who he wants to pitch for.
Hockey people -- explain??!!
So how do the Devils fire their coach when they've won 4 of 5 and are in second place in the East? With three games to go?? How does this make sense??? (notice the added exclamation points to emphasize my incredulity).
Seems like a Pat Riley move to me -- maybe Lamoriello thinks this team can win a title and wants to be the coach when it happens. Hmmm, kind of like Clemmens waiting to see who he wants to pitch for.
Hockey people -- explain??!!
