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"BountyGate"

March 3rd 2012 21:52
What a stunning turn of events that have transpired over the last 24 hours.

The spotlight is finally off of Bill Belichick and "SpyGate" and it's now on Gregg Williams, Sean Payton and "BountyGate".

In short, the Saints allegedly had a system that rewarded players for "knock out" hits, and "cart off hits", and even had a special bounty placed on Kurt Warner and Brett Favre during their Super Bowl run.

The man behind implementing this system is speculated to be Jonathan Vilma, who personally placed a $10,000 bounty on Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game back in 2009. Gregg Williams, the former defensive coordinator of the Saints up until this past year knew about this entire system that was being maintained in the Saints locker room.


I'm not interested in getting any deeper, as you get the jist of what went on in New Orleans for the past few years. Just knowing that this system existed within a locker room, and was CONDONED by their defensive coordinator sickens me.

Whenever a wide receiver comes across the middle and gets popped by the safety, the crowd lets out a collective "Ohhh!" until they see he is lying on the floor motionless, and that "Ohhh!" turns into an "Oh no...". These are the type of shots that are now penalized in games, and they are trying to eliminate from the game completely through fines and suspensions to those who deliver the hits.

Safety.

It's what Roger Goodell has preached over his tenure as commissioner. It's what the Saints disregarded as an entire defense.

The most scary injury I have ever seen on a football field was when Austin Collie got nailed over the middle by Kurt Coleman in 2010 game against the Eagles. I saw this injury on live TV, and I still get chills down by spine even as I see the replay today. His arms were frozen above his motionless body. When you see the hit he took, you would think he would never play football again. Thankfully Collie did return to the NFL, but just to think the Saints were gunning to do this to people is sickening.


Another thing I just simply cannot wrap my mind around is how it went on under Sean Payton's watchful eye. To me, Sean Payton is one of the most likable coaches in the NFL. He roots for his players, he's a little bit of a 'rah-rah' guy, but he showed his own toughness this year by coaching through a severe knee injury. I want to believe Payton knew nothing of this system, but I find it very hard to convince myself of this. Surely in the coming days and weeks we will have comments from Payton on this situation, and anything up until that point is pure speculation. However, if Payton knew about this system and did nothing, I would have to assume his job would be in jeopardy.

I personally hope Roger Goodell brings the hammer down on Williams, the Saints organization, Sean Payton, and the players involved. Especially Jonathan Vilma. If Vilma had no problem forking over $10,000 for Brett Favre's head, he should have no problem paying what is sure to be a record fine for a player if these allegations are true. Draft picks will be taken, suspensions will be given, fines will be imposed. This will be the harshest penalty ever given out due to a specific incident. For good reason.
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Posted By: Chris Crockett - Category: No Category
   


All Star Games; Over Hyped or Under Appreciated?

February 27th 2012 02:43
I'm never one to get excited over All Star games. Personally, I'm more intrigued in who makes the rosters as opposed to the game itself. The game is meant to be fun, but many times it turns into a pathetic, half hearted defensive showing. After what was probably the most uninteresting and lifeless football game ever played, commissioner Roger Goodell has said he is considering cancelling the Pro Bowl if it does not become more competitive. Should these All Star games be competitive? Absolutely. Should they be competitive to the point where these athletes risk injury? Certainly not.

I'll start with the NFL, which puts its employees at most risk for injury during its games. Goodell wants the game to be exciting, as do the fans, analysts, media, etc. Do you think the owners of the 32 teams in the NFL really want their most talented players to be giving their all in a game that doesn't mean anything? I certainly wouldn't. Thankfully, there have never been many injuries in the Pro Bowl, due to the fact that players are barely trying. I have no problem with this, as the players just want to get through those three hours unharmed. Cancelling the Pro Bowl would not do any harm to the NFL whatsoever. They generate enough revenue during the regular season, and having one less game cannot hurt. It's one thing to see the the best players in the world on one field, and it's an entirely different thing seeing those players play at 100% effort. Unfortunately, we will never see the latter, but for good reason.

My take on the NBA and NHL are very similar to the one I have on the NFL. Can these leagues do without the games? Yes, but why would they? The NBA All Star game is one of the most exciting to watch, as some of the dunks, passes and overall plays in the game are ridiculous. The skills competitions on the night prior to the game make for entertaining television, with the exception of the Slam Dunk contest (LeBron, are you listening?). The NHL All Star game is very entertaining as well. These games are more exciting to watch simply because the risk of injury is not as high as it is in football.

The MLB Mid-Summer Classic is the cream of the crop when it comes to All-Star festivities. The Home Run Derby is always entertaining. Heck, I even watch the celebrity softball game to get a few laughs. The game itself though is always close, always competitive, and above all, it actually means something! Many disagreed with Bud Selig's decision to have the All Star game determine who gets home field advantage in the World Series, but I'm a fan of the idea. Of course, only two teams from each league will benefit from it, and some teams are out of the race before the All Star break even rolls around, but it makes the game slightly more intense. Be honest, who isn't interested in seeing the inevitable matchup between Roy Halladay and Albert Pujols when the first week of July rolls around? Again, this All Star game is entertaining for the sole fact that effort in baseball rarely results in injury. That is why the MLB All Star game will always be the most entertaining.

As fans, we have to respect the players and their decisions when it comes to the effort put forth in these games. None of these guys want to suffer a season ending injury in a game that is supposed to be strictly for fun. It's an honor for each individual player to be named to an All-Star team, and the majority of them appreciate the support they receive from the fans of their sport. We should all try to enjoy these games (with the exception of the Pro Bowl, that needs to get better, fast) and marvel at how much talent is in the same place at the same time.
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Posted By: Chris Crockett - Category: No Category
   


"The Appeal"

February 24th 2012 19:22
We have things in sports such as "The Catch", "The Decision", well, I'm going to dub this whole situation "The Appeal".

You probably know deal; Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun wins MVP, Braun learns he has tested positive for some type of banned substance and is facing a 50-game suspension, Braun appeals the ruling as most players would, and now Braun wins the appeal. This is the first appeal of a positive drug test result that has been overturned by the MLB's arbitrator, Shyam Das. It's unfortunate that such a big name will forever have an asterisk next to his name, especially when it comes time to evaluate Braun for the Hall of Fame. I'm not saying Braun is a sure-fire Hall of Famer if he did not fail this drug test, but he was well on his way.

Yesterday and this morning when I was listening to the local sports radio station, everybody was in agreement that Braun was let off on a technicality. I was one of those people. But after listening to what Braun had to say along with some thought on this matter, I'm switching sides. Here's why:

The person who collected the urine sample from Braun did not ship out the sample immediately, like he should have. Instead, there was a huge hiatus (I think Braun said 44 hours to be exact) between the time the test was conducted to the time the sample was shipped via FedEx.

Braun was told that his testosterone levels were three times the normal level, and were the highest that were ever seen from one of these type of tests.

Do you see where I'm going here?

First off, why would the person who conducted the test think it would be a good idea to keep somebodies urine in their refrigerator for 44 hours? Second, the process by which these tests are conducted are laid out and set in stone. If they are not followed step by step, the test could mean nothing, much like in this case.

For those of you who actually watched the Braun press conference, you can't tell me you didn't think at one point "He was set up" or "That wasn't his urine sample", or something close to that. Let's look back to when the test was actually conducted. If you're Ryan Braun, and let's say you were thinking about taking a substance that was banned, wouldn't you want to know exactly what the drug does to you? If one of the side effects of the drug were increased testosterone levels, don't you think Ryan would have known that would show up in a urine test, thus triggering his positive test? It's just common sense. The only possible explanation that would work in Ryan's favor is 1) It wasn't his urine sample or 2) His sample was tampered with.
I hope the reigning MVP would've had enough sense to know what he was putting in his body, and did not knowingly take a banned substance.

Was it justified to overturn the 50 game suspension Braun was facing? Absolutely. If a procedure isn't followed correctly there's no other choice but to void the entire process. Will we ever know the truth? Probably not. Rafael Palmeiro vehemently died his steroid use, and we all know how that turned out. Many people will still say that he only got off on a technicality, which is absolutely true. Unless this goes to court, we will never know if Braun actually did test positive, or if his sample was tampered with. I'm leaning toward the latter.
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MLB Predictions Spring Training Edition: NL Central

February 23rd 2012 02:12
Unlike yesterday's predictions, this division requires a lot less thought than the NL East. This is clearly a two horse race between the Brew Crew and the Pujols-less Cardinals. The Brewers won the division last year, with the Cards eeking into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. There are plenty of story lines to follow in this division, so let's get on with the predictions, then dive into the analysis.

NL Central

1st St. Louis Cardinals 91-71

2nd Milwaukee Brewers 89-73

3rd Cincinnati Reds 85-77

4th Pittsburgh Pirates 76-86

5th Chicago Cubs 74-88

6th Houston Astros 55-107



St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals lost the best player to grace the diamond in the new Busch Stadium and one of the greatest managers of all time in the same offseason. How in the world do they win this division? Pitching, that's how. The Cardinals are one of the few teams who have two legit Cy Young award contenders in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Wainwright is coming off of Tommy John surgery, but look for him to regain his 2010 form. Jake Westbrook and Jaime Garcia make excellent #3 and #4 options, while Kyle Lohse is no slouch at the 5th spot in the rotation. The Cardinals had a rough time in the beginning of last year with their closer situation, as they thought Ryan Franklin was the answer. Franklin was replaced by Fernando Salas and they haven't looked back. Their hitting will be the big question mark, as the giant void left by Pujols will be filled by an aging Lance Berkman. Berkman played spectacular last year, but how much of that was because of the fact he was in the same lineup as Pujols? We will find out early in the season if Berkman is still for real. The signing of Carlos Beltran will help some, but he's another guy at the back end of his career. Beltran was playing well in New York before being injury plagued in San Francisco. He and Berkman will have to be the guys to pick up the slack in the power department. Mike Matheny is getting his first crack at managing this year also, and it seems like the Cardinals have the majority of things working against them, but this is one team I will never count out as long as Carpenter and Wainwright are trotting out there every 5th day.

Breakout Player: Jon Jay, Jay has been a good player for the past couple years, batting .297 and .300 in 2010 and 2011 respectfully. I look for Jay to hit close to .300 again, but pick up his power numbers and cut down on his strikeouts. If he can be more patient at the plate he will be another dangerous bat to add to the good, but not great hitting of the Cardinals.



Milwaukee Brewers

The sole reason I do not have the Brewers winning the division is because of the Ryan Braun suspension. The reigning MVP is facing a 50 game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. There have been talks of his suspension being repealed, but I don't think that will happen. Oh. And one more reason; Prince Fielder. How do you replace production like that? You don't. Luckily, the Brewers have a 1-2 punch to rival the Cardinals in Yovani Gallardo and Zack Greinke. I give the upper hand to the Cardinals and their pitching, as I like Carpenter and Wainwright better, plus I believe Marcum, Wolf and their undetermined fifth starter do not match up to the depth the Cardinals have at the back end of their rotation. If the Brew Crew can hold their own without Braun, look for a strong charge at the end of the season much like they have done in the past, only to fall short by a few games. Aramis Ramirez will be a nice addition for them over at third base. No doubt there will be bad blood between the top two teams of the Central, as everybody still remembers what Nyjer Morgan tweeted last September: "Where still n 1st and I hope those crying birds injoy watching tha Crew in tha Playoffs!!!". Way to create bulletin board material Nyjer, and work on your spelling and grammar while you're at it. Morgan played excellent for the Pirates and Nationals, and I couldn't understand why nobody would want this guy on their team. After seeing his act last year in Milwaukee, I could see exactly why.

Breakout Player: Carlos Gomez, Do I think the Brewers completely sink in their Braun-less first third of the season? No, and a big reason will be Gomez. Carlos has the potential to be a great outfielder. He's got the speed, he's got the glove, he just hasn't had the bat everybody thought he would have. He was originally the main component in the trade from the Mets to the Twins in the Johan Santana deal. He then came to Milwaukee in the deal that sent J.J. Hardy to the Twins. The stolen bases and triples will be there for Carlos, but if he can raise his average to .280 he will be one of the most exciting players to watch in the entire MLB.



Cincinnati Reds

Here's a team that has loads of potential, and will be a forced to be reckoned with for years to come. I don't think this is the year they put it all together, but boy will they do some damage. Trading for Mat Latos was a great move, as he pitched at a very high level two years ago, and they dumped a headscratcher in Edinson Volquez. I thought Volquez was destined for great things, but an injury and a trip to the minors really shook his confidence. Cueto, Arroyo, Bailey and Leake round out a pitching staff full of promise, perhaps with the exception of Arroyo. I think the Reds can finish as a top 10 run scorer this year as Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and newly acquired Ryan Ludwick can all mash the ball. The question everybody is asking is what will they do with Aroldis Chapman? First he was a starter, then he was a reliever, now he's back to being a future starter again. The Reds will probably change their minds multiple times again, so who knows how this situation will pan out? What I do know for certain is Chapman has electric stuff. If he can ever command his fastball with even the slightest bit of consistency, he can be an excellent pitcher for years to come. Nothing but praise thus far for the Reds, but why are they on the outside looking in? They lack the experience that the Cardinals and Brewers have. Although I think they will miss the playoffs, there will be plenty to build on for 2013 and beyond.

Breakout Player: Zack Cozart, The starting shortstop gig is up for grabs in Cincinnati, but it seems like Cozart will get the nod. He only played in 11 games for the Reds last season, and although a small sample he did hit over .320 with 2 home runs. Cozart played well in the minors last year, and if he finds himself hitting in front of any of the Reds' big bats he will see plenty to hit with sluggers such as Votto and Bruce behind him in the lineup.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Clint Hurdle did an outstanding job last year as the Pirates manager. He found a way to work with what he had and finish with a respectable record for a franchise that is used to finishing at the bottom of the division. The pitching wasn't great for the Pirates last year, just about middle of the road. In fact, every starter with the exception of Kevin Correia (4.79) had an ERA below, or relatively close to 4.00. That's a great starting point. Closer Joel Hanrahan is lights out, and the Pirates should feel very comfortable going into the 9th inning with the lead. Their hitting has great potential. It is headlined with young Andrew McCutchen who will only get better. The Pirates were smart not to give up Garrett Jones for A.J. Burnett, as I feel he will have his best year yet as a pro. Look for Derrek Lee to make some waves and put together a solid season as you have come to expect from the former 40 HR guy. As I mentioned before, A.J. Burnett is now a Pirate and he escapes the bright lights of New York. This is the best thing that could have happened to A.J., as he was much maligned in the New York media. A change of scenery will be good for him as I think he puts up great numbers for an up and coming Pirates ballclub.

Breakout Player: Pedro Alvarez, Pedro was one of the most disappointing players last season in the entire league. After knocking out 16 longballs in just 95 games in 2010, he only managed to hit 4 in 74 games. Focusing more on his stellar 2010 year, he struck out 119 times as opposed to just 38 walks, so it's clear he is a free swinger. It's never okay to strike out that many times in just 95 games, especially if you aren't hitting at least 30 home runs per year. If Pedro can cut down on the strikeouts, be more selective at the plate and regain his confidence, look out. Alvarez has 30 home run potential at the hot corner for Pittsburgh.



Chicago Cubs

Sorry Cub fans, maybe next year? That's been a famous saying among fans in the Windy City for the past century and then some. If there is one thing to be excited about for Chicago its Starlin Castro. This guy is a stud, and he's not going anywhere any time soon. He will be in the same breath as Jose Reyes and Troy Tulowitzki by season's end, and for good reason. Other than Starlin though, there's not much to get excited about. Trading for Anthony Rizzo was a nice addition for the future of the Cubs, but I doubt he will see much major league time this year, if any. There were talks of the Cubs trying to trade Matt Garza during the offseason, and we'll see if that effects his pitching at all. I don't think so, but he isn't a #1 starter to begin with. Look for Garza to post impressive strikeout numbers again, but his run support will fail him start after start. The Cubs will more than likely be sellers at the trade deadline, and Garza might be on the move then. The departure of Aramis Ramirez does not help the cause either. The Cubs will fall just short of the .500 mark for the season, marking another unsuccessful season for the cursed franchise.

Breakout Player: Bryan LaHair, This may be an unfamiliar name, so let me tell you about this kid. The past 3 years in AAA ball, he hit 26, 25, and 38 home runs. Last year he batted .331 with 109 RBI. That was good enough to peg him the frontrunner to start at first base for the Cubbies this year. Bryan has been in the majors before, but only a short stint with the Mariners and the Cubs last year. If Bryan takes the first base job away from prospect Anthony Rizzo, I think he'll run with it.



Houston Astros

Astro fans, if you're out there, I'm probably going to be stating the obvious here. Don't expect much, in fact don't expect anything from this team who is clearly rebuilding for the future. They traded away a great leadoff hitter to the Braves in Michael Bourn last year, as well as letting Berkman walk away. You know your club is in trouble when your starting third baseman is more popular for his identical name to a pretty good football player (Chris Johnson) than for his actual hitting ability. This is the year we will find out if the Astros got enough in return for Roy Oswalt, as J.A. Happ has no more excuses as he is entering his second full season with the 'Stros, after posting an awful 5.35 ERA last season. Wandy Rodriguez is far and away the best pitcher the Astros have, but don't be surprised to see him moved at the trade deadline with Carlos Lee not far behind. Youth is plentiful on this roster, and it will be apparent by the mistakes they will make and the record this club will post. This team is still years away from contention.



Breakout Player: Fernando Martinez, Maybe this is the year it all works out for F-Mart. The once highly-touted Mets prospect has never quite made his mark in the MLB, but he should get a chance to do so on this young, rebuilding team. Martinez has been more hype than anything else in his career, as he was given $1.4M at the age of 16 to become a part of the Mets organization. The long marriage between them ended this year as the Astros claimed him off waivers. If Martinez can stay healthy, which is a big if, he could be a solid major leaguer for the first time in his career.
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MLB Predictions Spring Training Edition: NL East

February 22nd 2012 03:16
When the calendar turns to March, that denotes the one-month mark until the MLB season begins. It has been certainly a busy offseason, and that means there may be some unfamiliar faces playing October baseball.

I'm going to assume that the MLB implements the new 10-team playoff system, having two wildcard teams from each respective league rather than the traditional one wildcard per league as we have grown accustomed to.

This entry will focus on the NL East, as I will be analyzing the divisions one by one, culminating with a final prediction at the end of Spring Training including the World Series champion and award winners. I will also point out the one player that can break out in a big way this season.

National League East

1st Philadelphia Phillies (100-62)

2nd Atlanta Braves (93-69)

3rd Miami Marlins (88-74)

4th Washington Nationals (86-76)

5th New York Mets (74-88)

Phillies

Talk about a jam packed division, and that will bode well for others in the National League as the top four teams beat each other to bloody pulps. Nobody can bet against the Phillies here, beginning their second season with the best starting pitching in the MLB with Halladay, Lee, and Hamels. Their number four starter isn't too shabby either, as Vance Worley logged an ERA of 3.01 and an 11-3 record in 2011. Oswalt will be missing from the rotation this year, which gives Joe Blanton the 5th spot back. The addition of Papelbon and Chad Qualls should help provide an adequate bullpen for the Phillies to fend off the other three contending teams. The Phillies found themselves in a lot of close, low scoring games last year, and still logged 102 wins with a middle of the road offense. It was surprising to see them struggle, but Hunter Pence made excellent use of the wiffle-ball park they play in, blasting 11 home runs in just 54 games with the Phils. One more thing, a full season of Chase Utley spells trouble for opposing pitchers. Look for Utley to have an excellent bounce back year.

Breakout Player: Domonic Brown, a highly touted prospect that worked his way through the Phillies farm system, he only played in 56 games last year. Victorino and Pence are locks to start in the outfield for the Phils, and Brown will have to beat out John Mayberry for the final outfield spot. If he does, look for big things from this raw talent.



Atlanta Braves

The Braves never seem to go away. Heading into this year, I see them as the second best team in this division, even ahead of the Marlins who made a big splash this offseason at the expense of a fellow NL East team. They have one of the premiere leadoff hitters in all of the game in Michael Bourn, and with big bats in Uggla, Heyward, and McCann lurking behind him in the order, look for Bourn to score a ton of runs. Their pitching will eventually develop over the years into the best in the division as the Philadelphia rotation gets older and older and their young prospects harness their skills and translate that into major league success. They're not quite there, yet. You know what you get from Hudson, Tommy Hanson is a stud, so long as his recent car crash and concussion to go with it do not affect his health. Venters and Kimbrel were as good as it gets last year as far as 8th/9th inning guys. I expect more of the same this year from the Braves. If you find yourself down to these guys entering the 8th inning, its game, set, match.

Breakout Player: Jason Heyward, I wouldn't call this as much of a breakout as it is a resurgence. Heyward showed off his skills two years ago, batting .277 with 18 home runs and 72 RBI. Last year he was injured, but batted a meager .227, a 50 point decline from his 2010 campaign. If Heyward can stay healthy, look for upward of 25 home runs, close to 100 RBI and potentially a 20 steal season for young Jason.



Miami Marlins

What is it with Miami and their superiority complex they seem to have? Two years after the Heat make a big splash in the NBA signing LeBron James and Chris Bosh, the newly named Miami Marlins followed suit by bringing in the most exciting player in the MLB as well as the most entertaining and hot-headed manager. Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez must find a way to co-exist, as we have already seen how badly an unhappy Hanley Ramirez can perform. The order in which Guillen sets the lineup will be interesting to pay attention to. He's got a speedster in Emilio Bonifacio, but it's clear Reyes will hit leadoff. I see Ozzie filling out the top half of the lineup card as follows: Reyes, Bonifacio, Hanley, Stanton. He could also go Reyes, Hanley, Stanton forming the most lethal 1-2-3 punch in this division, but sticking Bonifacio in the 2 hole will help him as he will get plenty to hit with Hanley waiting in the on deck circle. The pitching for this team is the giant question mark. Few teams will be able to match the firepower the Marlins will have, but ace Josh Johnson is coming off of a injury shortened season in which he looked like a frontrunner for the Cy Young award through his first 9 starts of the season. They have solid, middle of the rotation starters in Mark Buehrle, Ricky Nolasco, and Anibal Sanchez. These three guys are the key to the Marlins season, if they all pitch up to their potential, the Marlins could find themselves deep into October baseball. Do I think they do? No, and I also do not see Josh Johnson making more than 20 starts this year due to his history of injuries. This is a team of egos, and Hanley, Ozzie, and Carlos Zambrano will be sure to clash at some point during the year.

Breakout Player: Anibal Sanchez, Anibal has enjoyed success before, but nothing really sustained. He pitched a no-hitter in the latter part of the 2006 season, and flirted with another last year before giving up a hit in the 9th inning against the Rockies. Sanchez has the stuff to be a top of the rotation starter, but he's never put it all together for a complete season before. Last year he started 32 games with a 3.55 ERA, 13-12 record, and a 1.34 WHIP. Look for the ERA to drop closer to 3.00, the wins to approach 17, the losses to drop to below or just about 10, and the WHIP to decline as well.



Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals will be the best 4th place team in recent memory. I expect them to be the poor-mans version of the Phillies, with an excellent pitching staff but will have trouble scoring runs. If I told you after last season that the Nationals would be contenders in the NL East, you may have called me crazy. The additions of Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson bolsters their pitching staff and propels it into the upper echelon of rotations in the entire MLB. I don't think there is any question Strasburg does not miss a beat coming back from Tommy John surgery, look for him to develop into a pitcher similar to Justin Verlander. The rotation after Strasburg will be rounded out by Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson, and Chien-Ming Wang. If Wang can regain his pre-shoulder injury form, he would be an excellent option as their fifth starter. You can't question the starting pitching, or the bullpen for that matter. The addition of Brad Lidge will help not only their team this year, but will serve as a mentor to closer of the future Drew Storen. Tyler Clippard is as good of a reliever as you will find in the MLB, and pitched lights out the entire 2011 season. Scoring runs consistently will be the biggest challenge for this club, but they certainly have the players to do it with Zimmerman, Morse, and a young middle infield of Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa. Jayson Werth must improve dramatically not only to live up to his $100M contract, but to help these Nationals contend for a potential wild card berth.

Breakout Player: Bryce Harper, There are no guarantees Bryce even makes the team out of spring training, but I'm going to say that he does and makes an immediate impact on this team. The only solid outfielder on this team is Werth, and beyond that there is really nobody to challenge Harper for playing time if he does make the team out of spring. Here's an interesting tidbit. Harper got off to an unusual slow start in single A ball last year. He visited an eye doctor who told him that his eyes were one of the worst he had ever seen. After being given contact lenses, he hit a ridiculous .480 with 7 home runs, 10 doubles and 23 RBI in the next 20 games. Of course that is against single A pitching, but there's no reason to think he won't be able to be a force in the middle of the Nationals lineup this season only at age 19. He's a prodigy.



New York Mets

What a tumultuous offseason for the Mets. Amid a Bernie Madoff fueled lawsuit against them, they lost their best player to the Marlins during the offseason. Johan Santana is a big question mark, but it seems like he will be ready by opening day, if not shortly thereafter. The rest of the rotation is mediocre at best, as their #2 starter Jonathon Niese is better suited as a #3 option. Pelfrey hasn't panned out the way the Mets had hoped, the knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey will surely be inconsistent and Dillion Gee is certainly a work in progress. David Wright may find himself wearing a different uniform by the time the trade deadline rolls around, as the Mets will soon be entering full on rebuilding mode. It'll be hard to move Johan for prospects because of the contract that he comes with, and the Mets will most certainly not be willing to eat any of the remaining money as they are cash-strapped at the moment. Fear not Mets fans, for there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If Johan stays with the club until his contract expires (2014 is his last year), he will more than likely top a rotation that will be filled out by Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Jennry Mejia, and a vastly improved Dillion Gee within the next few years. There's alot of variables in the equation for the Mets' success, but they have some of the best pitching prospects in the league, and will more than likely add to it when it comes time to deal players such as Wright. I think the Mets will perform better than they should this year, as their hitting and bullpen is promising, but they are at a disadvantage because they play in one of the toughest divisions in baseball.

Breakout Player: Ruben Tejada, At only 22 years old, the Mets had their shortstop of the future play in 96 games last year, hitting an impressive .284. The Mets knew that Jose Reyes was a longshot to stay in New York, which is why they wanted to get Tejada major league experience last year. Will Tejada ever be the player that Reyes was and still is? No. Can he ease the pain of Mets fans everywhere as he, dare I say, becomes the new face of the franchise after Wright departs? Absolutely. He won't have the power or speed of Reyes, but he's more patient at the plate and knows how to work the count. His fielding ability is terrific and could potentially be a future gold glover.



This is the Phillies division to lose. I don't see them squandering this division title away as they have been in this position so many times in the past. I can see the Braves, Marlins, or Nationals grabbing a wild card spot, but I give the early, slight edge to the Bravos.

Tomorrow look for my analysis on the NL Central; Can the Cardinals overcome the loss of Pujols? Braun and his potential suspension, and 100 something years and counting for the Cubbies.

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'Super' Free Agents

February 22nd 2012 03:10
Hello everybody! My name is Chris and I have taken over this domain name, and the past three posts are mine. Anything before that is not my work and I do not take credit for it.

A championship can do a lot for a player. From a publicity standpoint or a monetary standpoint, a ring solidifies your place in the NFL. One of the hardest things to do for a professional athlete is to walk away from a team they have spent an entire season with, much less one that ran the table and won their respective championship. Here I will take a look at the free agent situation for the New York Giants, as some of their players are in for quite the payday whether it be from the Giants or another suitor.



TE Jake Ballard

2011 Stats: 38 Catches, 604 Yards, 4 TDs

Who can forget the diving catch Ballard made in the corner of the end zone to beat the Patriots in Foxboro? And who can forget the way it all ended for Ballard in the Super Bowl, first suffering an apparent knee injury on the field then collapsing in pain when trying to make a cut on the sidelines. He plays very similar to how Kevin Boss played with the Giants in years past. Turns out his ACL was torn, and will start next year on the Physically Unable to Perform list. He is an exclusive rights free agent, and the Giants have already said they will resign him.

WR Mario Manningham

2011 Stats: 39 Catches, 523 Yards, 4 TDs

"Make 'em go to Manningham", words Bill Belichick will regret for the rest of his life. Although Eli didn't look Manningham's way during the regular season all that often, he sure came up huge in the playoffs. His signature catch was the beautiful sideline grab right in front of the Patriots bench on the final drive of the Super Bowl, with Patriot players and personnel signaling no catch, to no avail. You've seen what spectacular catches on the biggest of stages can do for a player (see Holmes, Santonio), and I wouldn't be surprised if someone threw a big chunk of change at Mario. Giants must do everything they can to retain this guy, but my gut feeling is that he follows the dollar signs elsewhere.

CB Terrell Thomas

2011 Stats: Did not play

Thomas was arguably the best corner the Giants had coming into camp, but his season ended all too soon with a torn ACL during the preseason. You've seen before how the Giants handled players coming off of injuries a la Steve Smith. Look for Thomas to sign a 1-year deal elsewhere for him to prove himself again.

CB Aaron Ross

2011 Stats: 60 Tackles, 4 Interceptions

Ross is a slightly above average corner at best. He had lots of promise coming out of Texas with such a tall, lanky frame. Seemed like a ballhawk in the making, but it really never panned out for Ross. He was drafted back in 2007, the same year as Darrelle Revis. It's pretty clear which New York team got the better cornerback in this draft. The Giants secondary came together during the playoffs, shutting out Matt Ryan, limiting Aaron Rodgers, doing just enough against Alex Smith, and stepping up when it counted against Tom Brady. I think the Giants resign Ross and keep the Ross/Webster tandem together for a few more years.

WR Domenik Hixon

2011 Stats: 4 Catches, 50 Yards, 1 TD

Poor Hixon. Two years, two right knee ACL tears. This time he tore it on a juggling catch in the end zone. The former standout kick returner has a long road back to the NFL, but it'll surely not be with the Giants. In fact, Hixon is probably the reason for the emergence of Victor Cruz, as his injury allowed Cruz to climb the depth chart, and the rest is history.

WR Devin Thomas

2011 Stats: 3 Catches, 37 Yards

You may look at these stats and ask yourself, "Why is he even evaluating this guy?!". Well, because Thomas played a huge role in special teams for the G-Men this year. He came up huge with two fumble recoveries in the NFC Championship game thanks to Kyle Williams. Thomas also averaged a respectable 25 yards per kick return, but will probably look for a bigger role in an offense elsewhere. However, if Manningham were to depart, I could see the Giants resigning Thomas to add depth to their receiving core, as Thomas is a former 2nd round pick of the Washington Redskins and certainly had potential coming out of Michigan State.

TE Bear Pascoe

2011 Stats: 12 Catches, 136 Yards

Pascoe was the third tight end on the depth chart heading into Super Sunday. By halftime, he found himself trotting out on the field for just about every play. With the injury bug hitting Travis Beckum followed by Jake Ballard, Pascoe was the only healthy tight end remaining for Tom Coughlin. More of a blocker than pass catcher, the Giants find themselves in a peculiar situation with this position. Both Beckum and Ballard will start the season on the PUP list, and Pascoe is an unrestricted free agent. Will the Giants go for broke and try and sign someone like Jermichael Finley or Fred Davis if they are not franchised by their respective teams? Eli has not had an elite tight end since Jeremy Shockey back in his heyday. Pascoe will more than likely be resigned for his blocking ability.

P Steve Weatherford

2011 Stats: 45.7 Yards per Punt, 25 Inside the 20

This man was an absolute godsend for Coughlin and Giants fans alike. After being spoiled by Jeff Feagles' ability to pin opponents inside their own 10 with ease, Giant fans everywhere held their breath whenever Matt Dodge punted the ball back in 2010, and it culminated with a giant sigh of disappointment thanks to DeSean Jackson in the Miracle at the Meadowlands: Part II. Weatherford is a fan favorite in New York, and how often do you say that about the team's punter? Look for Weatherford to be resigned for the 2012 season and beyond.

OT Kareem McKenzie

An anchor on the offensive line since 2005 for the Giants, Kareem's run in New York may finally end this year. We have seen a minor overhaul of the offensive line before the 2011 season began with the release of Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert. That overhaul may continue with McKenzie entering the latter of his career at the age of 32. The Giants may look to the draft to fill the void left by McKenzie, but don't be surprised if he sticks around with the Giants with a 1 or 2 year deal, taking him to age 33 or 34, respectively.

DE Dave Tollefson

2011 Stats: 21 Tackles, 5 Sacks

Tollefson was the forgotten man along the Giants defensive line, but he certainly played well above average for the fourth defensive end on the depth chart. With Pierre-Paul, Tuck, and Osi ahead of him, Tollefson may look elsewhere to perhaps claim a starting job with another team.

LB Chase Blackburn

2011 Stats: 26 Tackles, 1 Interception

Giants, if you are reading, resign Chase immediately! After being a special teams player for 6 years for the G-Men, he was not resigned after the 2010 season. Blackburn rekindled this defense after being resigned just before the week 13 game against the Packers. He intercepted Aaron Rodgers in his first start, and never looked back. His signature play was boxing out Rob Gronkowski forty-something yards downfield making a leaping interception in the third quarter of the Super Bowl. Chase was considering a career in teaching just last November, now he is a Super Bowl champion for a second time and is looking at a long term deal from the Giants.

LB Jonathan Goff

2011 Stats: Did not play

It seems like every other player analyzed had a torn ACL. Goff was another casualty of the dirtiest three-letter acronym in all of sports. He was the starter before his injury, but there is little reason to believe he will be back with the Giants, especially on a long term deal. As previously mentioned, the Giants are very hesitant to sign players coming off of significant injuries, and that will apply here also.

S Deon Grant

2011 Stats: 64 Tackles, 1 Interception

The elder of the Giants secondary, Deon got his first Super Bowl ring after falling short in Carolina. He's been on four teams during his NFL career, and has never missed a game during his NFL tenure. That's very impressive for someone who entered the league way back in 2000. His endurance cannot be questioned, nor can his leadership abilities as he was one of the emotional leaders of this defense. Being 32, his time in the league is running short, but look for the Giants to try and keep Grant in the short-term.
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The Great Nash Debate

February 20th 2012 22:37
What's that old saying? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm talking to you, Glen Sather.

Rick Nash, the winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets is the big fish to catch on the trade market this year. There always seems to be that one big name that gets moved to a contender before the trade deadline passes, and how often does that translate into a Stanley Cup victory? Almost never.

Last year, one of the biggest names traded was Kris Versteeg moving from the Maple Leafs to the Flyers. The Flyers took a second round exit at the hands of the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Boston Bruins. I would say the Leafs were happy with their 1st and 3rd round picks they acquired for a player who was essentially a rental, as Versteeg was traded to the Panthers for a 2nd and 3rd rounder.

2010, similar situation. Ilya Kovalchuk's name had been on the trade block for some time before the deal to the Devils finally got done. The Thrashers made an attempt to keep him, but Kovalchuk turned down both offers that were proposed to him. The Devils went into the 2010 playoffs riding high, finishing second in the Eastern conference only to lose to the Flyers four games to one in the first round. Unlike the Versteeg situation, Kovalchuk signed a 15 year deal and will be a Devil until he is fourty-something, barring any trade that may happen down the road. Kovalchuk has yet to return to the 50 goal scorer he was in Atlanta, and probably will never regain that form due to the style of hockey the Devils play.

This brings me to the main point of this entry, should Glen Sather trade away Brandon Dubinsky, Chris Kreider, a first round pick, and possibly more to acquire Rick Nash from Columbus?

The answer is no.

Nash was the first overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, chosen by Columbus. He is only 27 years old, and has had an excellent career thus far. He's netted 40 goals in a season twice, but has only been to the playoffs one time with the Blue Jackets. Will having to face Marian Gaborik and Rick Nash strike fear into opposing goaltenders? Absolutely, but this rationale that I will be using goes beyond the ice, and into the locker room.

The New York Rangers are in first place in the East, and 3 points back of Detroit with 3 games in hand for the best record in the entire NHL. The next closest teams in the East are Boston and New Jersey, both with 72 points, trailing the Rangers' 81 points by a substantial 9 point margin. Let's go back to that saying, "If it ain't broke don't fix it". How can you possibly break up this chemistry that the Rangers have in their locker room? You can make the argument that Nash is an immediate upgrade over Dubinsky in the skill department, that I cannot argue. What I can argue is the intangibles that Dubinsky brings to the table. He fits Tortorella's system perfectly, he's not afraid to get his hands dirty if he needs to, and does an excellent on the forecheck and specifically on the boards.

For you stat geeks, let's see how their numbers stack up:

Brandon Dubinsky: 54 Games, 6 Goals, 19 Assists for a total of 25 points. /- is a 12.

Rick Nash: 59 Games, 19 Goals, 21 Assists for a total of 40 points. Here's the surprising statistic; /- of -23. That's 850th in the league if you were wondering.

The /- stat of Nash is an illusion, as he plays on one of the worst teams in the NHL. Hockey is not a sport that somebody can simply take over, it takes a full 5 man effort to put the puck in the net, and a 6 man effort to stop the puck from going in yours. So what do these stats mean?

Nothing.

Stick with what got you to this point, Mr. Sather. Chris Kreider will one day be an important piece to this organization, Brandon Dubinsky already is an important piece to the current team, and although it may seem enticing to go for broke now, this team can win multiple cups throughout the next ten years if the cards are played correctly. The team that is put on the ice every night for the Rangers is plenty good enough to make a run for the cup.
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Top 10 Most Valuable Players

February 20th 2012 00:12
If there is one thing that really grinds my gears, it's player comparisons. Do I think LeBron is better than Kobe? I think it's unfair to both of them to compare them, because they're two different types of players. I will say this, Kobe will never be LeBron and LeBron will never be Kobe.

Did I lose you?

Kobe and LeBron both have their strengths; LeBron is much more physically imposing, while Kobe is the more cold-blooded, clutch shooter. You can't go wrong with either one of these superstars.

Here I will rank the top 10 most valuable players to their team. This is not a comparison, this is not who is the better player. I rank these players based on their skill, but more importantly where would the teams these players play for be without them?

Let's get into it:

10. Paul Pierce, SF, BOS: This guy might not be a prolific scorer anymore, he might not have the finesse of a LeBron, the shooting ability of a Kobe Bryant, or the defensive prowess of a Dwyane Wade, but this guy makes the list because of a very rare gene that only exists in a handful of people. The clutch gene. The man is a cold-blooded shooter who is a top 3 clutch performer even with his skills diminishing due to his age. Boston is not getting any younger, and their window of opportunity is closing quickly. This team still has another year before father time catches up to them, but hey, that's what we say about the Spurs every year. Without Pierce, this team would be little more than first round fodder for a top team such as Miami or Chicago.

9. Steve Nash, PG, PHX: This guy can do it all. He's shooting at a ridiculous 55% this year, all while still averaging 11 assists and a respectable 14 points a game. However his most important asset is making everybody around him better. Where would the Suns without this guy? We may find out in the next year or so for sure, as he is certainly in the home stretch of his career (He just turned 38 two weeks ago). With the Suns struggling this year with a 12-19 record through the first half of the season, the Suns may be challenging the Bobcats for the worst record if Steve were not suiting up for Phoenix every night.

8. Dwyane Wade, SG, MIA: The Heat are the only team I even gave consideration to for having two players on this list, because Wade is simply too good to be left off of it. Wade can match LeBron punch for punch when it comes to scoring, but LeBron is the better overall player. Wade is the best defensive SG in the league, and can lock down anybody on any given night. Would Miami be as great as they are without Wade? Probably, as it would give LeBron more freedom to take the game over much like he did in Cleveland. He's been banged up so far this season, but watch out. I would not be surprised to see Wade named as the Finals MVP if the Heat make a run to the Finals again this year.

7. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, DAL: Mark Cuban would be nothing without this guy. Dirk surprised us all last year emulating the role of David in the Finals against Goliath, the Miami Heat. Even with torn ligaments in his finger, he got his revenge against Dwyane Wade winning his first ring. It seemed like the guy made every shot he took. He is one of the best shooting big-men to ever step foot on an NBA court, and is one of the most valuable to his team currently. Raise your hand if you think Dallas is even a good team without this guy in the lineup every night. Didn't think so.

6. Dwight Howard, C, ORL: Dwight would also appear on the top 10 most disgruntled players in the league had that list existed. Howard wants out of Orlando in the worst way, and everybody knows it. The Magic went through an absolutely horrific stretch earlier in the season, going 2-6 during an 8 game sample including a laughable 56 point performance in Boston. Even with this, they are still 4th in the Eastern conference as of today. Dwight is easily the most dominant big man in the game since Shaq in his prime, making him one of the most valuable players to his team.

5. Kevin Durant, SF, OKC: It's really a shame this guy doesn't play in a bigger market. In twenty years from now if you were to say 'Oklahoma City Thunder' an immediate thought would be 'Kevin Durant', much like Jordan with the Bulls. Russell Westbrook will always play second fiddle as long as he stays in OKC, because Durant is just a straight up baller. He may not defend as good as you'd like him to, but his scoring ability is almost unparalleled in today's NBA. Probably the most lethal scorer, he's got plenty of more scoring titles to be won in years to come. Oklahoma City is the sexy pick to come out of the West this year, but without K.D. they would be about as sexy as Khloe Kardashian. Sorry Lamar.

4. Chris Paul, PG, LAC: The most prized player on the trade market during the lockout seemed to be heading to Los Angeles. He did indeed end up here, but he is wearing red instead of gold. A Chris Paul/Kobe Bryant marriage would have been a match made in heaven. However, a Chris Paul/Blake Griffin pairing is pretty close. The 'Lob City' title given to this team is well warranted, given their high flying offense style. They are easily the most entertaining team to watch, followed closely by the Miami Heat with all of their stardom. The Clippers were the little brothers to the Lakers for many years, and now the sibling rivalry is more heated than ever after the Pau Gasol/Chris Paul incident last game. A team led by Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chauncey Billups (pre-Achilles injury) seemed formidable, but Paul/Griffin/Jordan gives the Clippers a legit shot at a championship not only this year, but for the foreseeable future.

3. LeBron James, SF, MIA: He rescued a franchise just to throw them back into the depths of the standings last year. He joined forces with D-Wade and Bosh to form the most lethal 'Big Three' in the league bar none. Many would argue that LeBron cannot win another MVP because of his supporting cast. I would be one of them. With Miami sitting atop the Eastern Conference at 25-7, it's safe to say they would still be a top of the conference team without LeBron, assuming Wade is healthy. Would they be a championship contender? Probably not, but we've seen what Wade can do back in 06-07.

2. Kobe Bryant, SG, LAL: The Black Mamba is showing no signs of slowing down. The man is averaging 29 points, 6 boards and 5 assists a night. He isn't having an extremely efficient season only shooting 44%, but I'd say that's pretty good for a guy playing with torn cartilage in his wrist. Bynum is as good of a center there is in the NBA, and that certainly doesn't help his case in these rankings. Kobe often looks frustrated at his teammates with his patented 'What are you doing?' expressions he gives all too often. Take Kobe away from this team and you have just another middle of the pack team clinging to a 7th or 8th seed in the already crowded Western conference.

1. Derrick Rose, PG, CHI: If it were up to me, this guy would win MVP every single year. Why? He single-handedly put Chicago on the brink of a championship berth last year, only to be shut down by LeBron and his Heat. Although the Heat stole the show when it came to preseason hype and predictions, the Bulls actually finished as the top seed in the East with a staggering 62 wins. Sixty-Two, the most wins the 98-99 season when Michael Jordan was still giving headaches to everybody he played against. Rose's supporting cast is good, not great. This would be a playoff team without Rose, but a championship, or even winning a playoff series would be a lot to ask of a team whose biggest offensive threat would be Carlos Boozer.
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Linaugural Post

February 19th 2012 17:53
What a better way to start off a brand spankin' new blog than to write about the most loved, hated, scrutinized and perhaps over-hyped athlete since the savior himself, Tim Tebow. If you didn't know exactly who I was talking about after reading those adjectives, or from the hint I gave you in the title, you probably live under a rock.

Jeremy Lin.

What a meteoric rise for the kid. What a diamond in the rough for the Knicks. What a relief for Mike D'Antoni.

The Knickerbockers were 8-15 and seriously considering firing the Pringles-guy look alike before Linsanity started to sweep across New York City. Being geographically close to the Big Apple, I get the honor, or curse depending on how you look at it, of seeing Jeremy Lin's face on the back cover of every NYC newspaper for the past two weeks. Have the Knicks found their point guard of the future? Most definitely. Will he keep up this torrid pace and join the the argument of who is the best point guard in the league? Most definitely not. Lin will be a good player for years to come, but to say he's the reincarnation of John Stockton is foolish. Let's take a closer look at his first eight games.

Let's not deny what this kid has done. His lowest point total since taking the reins was 10, and he shot 4-6 that night with 13 assists in a thrashing of the Sacramento Kings. Other than that, he has never logged under 20 points in any one of his 8 starts. He had more points in his first five career starts than anybody since the merger. He slayed the Black Mamba in only his fourth start. He is 7-1 as a starter. Very impressive. There is really only one flaw in his game, and those would be the turnovers.

Linsanity, Linsane in the Membrane, Linvincible, how about the Big Apple Turnover?

8 2 6 6 8 6 9. No ladies, that is not my phone number. Those are the number of turnovers Mr. Lin has logged over his past 7 games. As Lin becomes more and more of a focal point in the Knicks offense, he will also be more focused on in an opposing team's defensive game plan. Lin must do everything he can to assure he does not take bad shots in the paint as I have seen him do all too often. He has made many circus type layups with three bodies surrounding him. Lin is an excellent passer, don't get me wrong. He could really thread the needle, but he does not kick it out as often as he should.

Lin has proven he could lead a team himself. He has proven he can play with Amar'e, but there is still one more obstacle to overcome. The ball-hogging tendencies and me-first attitude of Carmelo Anthony. Lin knows his place, he won't be chucking up 20 shots a night upon Melo's return, but should he take a back seat to him completely? I'm probably in the minority on this one, but I firmly believe this offense should be ran and dictated by the excellent driving skills and crisp passes of Jeremy Lin, and not the isolation game that favors Carmelo's skill set.

Lin will attract so much attention some of the open shots Carmelo will have are going to be laughable. Teams cannot completely disregard Melo as he is as established of a scorer as there is in the game. With that being said, teams will not be able to effectively blanket Lin, Amar'e, and Carmelo, it's just too much to defend. Look at the Heat, how often do you see all three of their stars get locked down on a given night? It seems like one of their big three top the 25 points plateau every game, and I expect the same scenario in New York.

Time will tell if Anthony, Lin, and Stoudemire can co-exist successfully, but one thing is for certain, Knick fans will be enjoying Linsanity for years to come.
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Welcome to the Blog

February 19th 2012 16:52
Welcome to my Blog. I cover recent news in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and any other interesting news/factoids that may be of interest to readers. Agree with my opinions and analysis or not, I hope you enjoy what I have to offer.
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