It's that time of year again. The master needs to come out of hiding and make his picks.
With the risk of being labeled a homer, I must say that I really do like my Tigers chances against the Yankees. New York this year hasn't really impressed as much as they usually do. Are we really gonna fear a .240 hitter that used to play for us? Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball right now and Fister's ground-ball style of pitching should minimize the garbage home runs that Granderson and Co. get (not to mention he's already on a tear). Tigers in 3
Rangers vs. Rays again? With Cliff Lee gone and the way the Rays have been looking, it's only natural to go with Tampa on this one. Don't see it. Rangers in 5
Wow, can't believe Atlanta blew a 9-game lead for the wild card. The good news for St. Louis is that they found a way to get into the postseason despite the fact that the Brewers couldn't stop losing. The bad news is that they have to face the Phillies and their stacked rotation of Lee, Halladay, and Hamels. Phillies in 4
The D-backs and Brewers seemed to both spring into first place out of nowhere. Other than that, there isn't much to be said about this one. I'll go on a hunch. D-backs in 5
Oh yeah, almost forget
My preseason Super Bowl pick was never posted. I went with the Ravens on this one. Joe Flacco went into the season appearing to have a chip on his shoulder. They just had that feel of a charmed team.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Roddick looking dangerous
3 rounds into the U.S. Open, our fellow American managed to capture my attention, and I'm sure that's true for many others.
Today it wasn't the fact the Roddick won in straight sets, it was how he won. Since recovering slightly from his fall from grace, Roddick has been using a more er, defensive style of play.
Not today.
The big American showed power that we haven't seen him showcase in, well quite a long time. And make no mistake, that regained aggression could lead to a very good tournament.
Overall outlook: Even with David Ferrer being his next opponent, look for Roddick to potentially slip in under the radar here. However, my pick is still Rafael Nadal to defend his title. Losing Wimbledon and his #1 ranking- both to Djokovic- should have him hungry. I expect him to take down Novak in the title game, but they should both watch out for Roddick, as well as Andy Murray who has been playing beautiful tennis lately. Nadal over Djokovic in five sets.
I'll make no official prediction on the women's side. It's a bummer to see Sharapova out after such a phenomenal comeback year. With that said, if I had to pick someone at this point, it would be Wozniacki. After all, how long can a player be #1 without winning a Grand Slam?
Today it wasn't the fact the Roddick won in straight sets, it was how he won. Since recovering slightly from his fall from grace, Roddick has been using a more er, defensive style of play.
Not today.
The big American showed power that we haven't seen him showcase in, well quite a long time. And make no mistake, that regained aggression could lead to a very good tournament.
Overall outlook: Even with David Ferrer being his next opponent, look for Roddick to potentially slip in under the radar here. However, my pick is still Rafael Nadal to defend his title. Losing Wimbledon and his #1 ranking- both to Djokovic- should have him hungry. I expect him to take down Novak in the title game, but they should both watch out for Roddick, as well as Andy Murray who has been playing beautiful tennis lately. Nadal over Djokovic in five sets.
I'll make no official prediction on the women's side. It's a bummer to see Sharapova out after such a phenomenal comeback year. With that said, if I had to pick someone at this point, it would be Wozniacki. After all, how long can a player be #1 without winning a Grand Slam?
BCS about more than just conference
As we turn the page and begin yet another season of college football, I suppose it's inevitable that the usual number of Boise State lobbyists will start their shouting once more.
These critics of the system have continually complained about an unfair bias toward certain conferences. But does it?
If that was the case, don't you think that last year, an undefeated Big 10 team (our Spartans!) would have been rewarded with a higher rank than those of the lesser, weaker conferences (Boise and TCU)? Yet for the many weeks that Michigan State remained undefeated, they remained constantly behind them.
...Hey, that's funny.
The reasoning behind such an absurdity is fairly simple: the screaming supporters of lower conferences have been looking at this system in the wrong way entirely. Sure, playing in a bigger conference will always boost your credibility, but there's another factor, perhaps equally big, that they are overlooking. And it's a much sillier one.
Reputation.
Before you roll your eyes, and try to tell me that "they're not THAT stupid", stop and think for a minute. If Ohio State had been without a loss last year for as long as MSU, do you really think that they would have been trailing behind small-conference Boise State and TCU? Of course not. An undefeated Buckeyes team would be a shoo-in for the top 3, at least. But the Spartans? Those bums in Michigan who have spent years being the "little brother" in the inter-state rivalry?
Why is it that so many times we see teams like Ohio St., Florida, Alabama, LSU, and etc. easily work their way back into the top 10 not too long after their first, second, and sometimes even third losses?
And make no mistake, the reputation factor doesn't exactly hurt Boise St. or TCU either. Everyone's always complaining that these guys never get a fair shake. But why is it that nobody ever points out that these two teams receive top 10, often top 5, rankings despite playing a garbage schedule?
On Friday we saw TCU fall to Baylor, an underling of the Big 12. Some are labeling it an "off-game" for the Horned Frogs, while others claim that Baylor can now be considered a dangerous team. But off-games are unacceptable when you have a 12-game season, and is anyone really afraid of Baylor?
Of course, I'll be accused of "hating on small conferences", but shouldn't that game say something about the difference between conferences in college football? Unless Baylor goes on to win the Big 12, I don't see how people can continue to claim that the likes of TCU would be equally successful in record should they transfer to a bigger conference.
At least letting conference affect rankings is legitimate. Reputation is pure junk.
These critics of the system have continually complained about an unfair bias toward certain conferences. But does it?
If that was the case, don't you think that last year, an undefeated Big 10 team (our Spartans!) would have been rewarded with a higher rank than those of the lesser, weaker conferences (Boise and TCU)? Yet for the many weeks that Michigan State remained undefeated, they remained constantly behind them.
...Hey, that's funny.
The reasoning behind such an absurdity is fairly simple: the screaming supporters of lower conferences have been looking at this system in the wrong way entirely. Sure, playing in a bigger conference will always boost your credibility, but there's another factor, perhaps equally big, that they are overlooking. And it's a much sillier one.
Reputation.
Before you roll your eyes, and try to tell me that "they're not THAT stupid", stop and think for a minute. If Ohio State had been without a loss last year for as long as MSU, do you really think that they would have been trailing behind small-conference Boise State and TCU? Of course not. An undefeated Buckeyes team would be a shoo-in for the top 3, at least. But the Spartans? Those bums in Michigan who have spent years being the "little brother" in the inter-state rivalry?
Why is it that so many times we see teams like Ohio St., Florida, Alabama, LSU, and etc. easily work their way back into the top 10 not too long after their first, second, and sometimes even third losses?
And make no mistake, the reputation factor doesn't exactly hurt Boise St. or TCU either. Everyone's always complaining that these guys never get a fair shake. But why is it that nobody ever points out that these two teams receive top 10, often top 5, rankings despite playing a garbage schedule?
On Friday we saw TCU fall to Baylor, an underling of the Big 12. Some are labeling it an "off-game" for the Horned Frogs, while others claim that Baylor can now be considered a dangerous team. But off-games are unacceptable when you have a 12-game season, and is anyone really afraid of Baylor?
Of course, I'll be accused of "hating on small conferences", but shouldn't that game say something about the difference between conferences in college football? Unless Baylor goes on to win the Big 12, I don't see how people can continue to claim that the likes of TCU would be equally successful in record should they transfer to a bigger conference.
At least letting conference affect rankings is legitimate. Reputation is pure junk.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Time for Mayhew to show a little Dombrowski
Apparently, even ending the season on a 4-game winning streak didn't make a difference. That is, "Lions suck" jokes are evidently still fair game. Following the NFL lockout TBS's Conan O'Brien jeered that Lions fans responded to the news with "Yeah, we were afraid this might happen."
Of course, progress has been gradually made. With the draft pick of Nick Fairley, the Lions now have a strength in their defensive line; made up of Fairley, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril, and, of course, Ndamukong Suh.
And, wait a minute, the Lions potentially have another (gasp) strength in their passing attack, which was further affirmed by the drafting of a strong wide receiver. Not to mention that their special teams have added a superstar kick and punt returner in Stefan Logan, and still have one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL in Jason Hansen.
ESPN's Mark Schlereth claimed that with a healthy Matthew Stafford, the Lions had the potential to be the "best team in the NFL". Nope, no typos there. The best. Perhaps (more like probably) that is a bit of a stretch of the imagination, but then again, the Lions do have most pieces in place.
And that's when the smart aleck lets out a fake cough that sounds an awful lot like, "Cornerback!"
Actually, I think a lot of people are unaware that, though mediocre, the Lions secondary is not quite as bad as it seems. Louis Delmas has been by all means a solid safety for them, and Cici Brown has done a nice job as well. Corner Alphonso Smith even emerged as a breakout player last year, nabbing five interceptions in a span of six games, before being lost to injury.
Of course, the situation could still REALLY use some improvement, and that brings me to my main point.
Irregardless of complications, risk, and being labeled as reckless or desperate, Martin Mayhew needs to throw everything and the kitchen sink at signing free agent Nnamdi Asomugha.
Don't preach to me about the virtues of saving cap room, avoiding overspending, and putting too many eggs in one basket. The Lions have a chance to elevate their status from potential playoff contenders and longshot Super Bowl contenders to LIKELY playoff contenders and potential Super Bowl contenders.
Mayhew needs to take a leaf out of Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski's book and start playing aggressive. For years, Dombrowski has gone after players in a fearless, almost reckless fashion. And for years it has mostly paid off.
Sure, there was the failed Renteria trade, and the bonehead idea to give out so much cash to pitchers Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman, and Dontrelle Willis. But Dombrowski has more than compensated for that, by locking up Miguel Cabrera for what proved to be mostly useless prospects. By signing Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Guillen to begin a turnaround. By shipping away that soon-to-be convict Urbina for Placido Polanco. By trading away Curtis Granderson for four players that have now all become key pieces on our team. By plucking Johnny Damon, and this year Victor Martinez from free agency. And by trading for Johnny Peralta.
Not bad, huh? Professional sports is a crazy world. You rarely win by constantly sitting around, only making the "safe" moves. The reality is that the right dose of recklessness is usually what it takes to turn your franchise into a winner.
By adding Asomugha, the Lions would manage to add yet another star on defense, but more importantly, the secondary could possibly become another strength. And if it doesn't, well at least it won't be a liability anymore. Add that to the monster line, strong special teams, and above-average offense and we have ourselves true contenders. And just think, maybe Conan won't even make fun of us anymore.
Isn't that worth the possibility of committing the oh-so-horrible "mortal sin" of overspending?
Of course, progress has been gradually made. With the draft pick of Nick Fairley, the Lions now have a strength in their defensive line; made up of Fairley, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril, and, of course, Ndamukong Suh.
And, wait a minute, the Lions potentially have another (gasp) strength in their passing attack, which was further affirmed by the drafting of a strong wide receiver. Not to mention that their special teams have added a superstar kick and punt returner in Stefan Logan, and still have one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL in Jason Hansen.
ESPN's Mark Schlereth claimed that with a healthy Matthew Stafford, the Lions had the potential to be the "best team in the NFL". Nope, no typos there. The best. Perhaps (more like probably) that is a bit of a stretch of the imagination, but then again, the Lions do have most pieces in place.
And that's when the smart aleck lets out a fake cough that sounds an awful lot like, "Cornerback!"
Actually, I think a lot of people are unaware that, though mediocre, the Lions secondary is not quite as bad as it seems. Louis Delmas has been by all means a solid safety for them, and Cici Brown has done a nice job as well. Corner Alphonso Smith even emerged as a breakout player last year, nabbing five interceptions in a span of six games, before being lost to injury.
Of course, the situation could still REALLY use some improvement, and that brings me to my main point.
Irregardless of complications, risk, and being labeled as reckless or desperate, Martin Mayhew needs to throw everything and the kitchen sink at signing free agent Nnamdi Asomugha.
Don't preach to me about the virtues of saving cap room, avoiding overspending, and putting too many eggs in one basket. The Lions have a chance to elevate their status from potential playoff contenders and longshot Super Bowl contenders to LIKELY playoff contenders and potential Super Bowl contenders.
Mayhew needs to take a leaf out of Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski's book and start playing aggressive. For years, Dombrowski has gone after players in a fearless, almost reckless fashion. And for years it has mostly paid off.
Sure, there was the failed Renteria trade, and the bonehead idea to give out so much cash to pitchers Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman, and Dontrelle Willis. But Dombrowski has more than compensated for that, by locking up Miguel Cabrera for what proved to be mostly useless prospects. By signing Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Guillen to begin a turnaround. By shipping away that soon-to-be convict Urbina for Placido Polanco. By trading away Curtis Granderson for four players that have now all become key pieces on our team. By plucking Johnny Damon, and this year Victor Martinez from free agency. And by trading for Johnny Peralta.
Not bad, huh? Professional sports is a crazy world. You rarely win by constantly sitting around, only making the "safe" moves. The reality is that the right dose of recklessness is usually what it takes to turn your franchise into a winner.
By adding Asomugha, the Lions would manage to add yet another star on defense, but more importantly, the secondary could possibly become another strength. And if it doesn't, well at least it won't be a liability anymore. Add that to the monster line, strong special teams, and above-average offense and we have ourselves true contenders. And just think, maybe Conan won't even make fun of us anymore.
Isn't that worth the possibility of committing the oh-so-horrible "mortal sin" of overspending?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Looks to be a special year for Tigers ace
Recently, I published an article on positive things in Detroit sports. On that very list, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander was highlighted, oh, I don't know, about six times in a 17-item list.
Couldn't help it.
The way the season has gone so far, it's hard not to love Verlander. For one thing, the Tigers ace has always been a fan favorite. From the moment he made his debut in 2006 and hurled a 100 mph (102 at its best) fastball, Verlander was the symbol of awe for this team.
Now, from a statistical and psychological standpoint, the franchise player for the Tigers at the time was probably either Pudge Rodriguez or Magglio Ordonez. Now one can make the case that it is Miguel Cabrera. After all, he's the slugger, the top bat, the guy who gets it done. And it is certainly fair to argue that Cabrera is Detroit's most valuable player right now.
But Verlander is the exclamation point.
Verlander is capable of creating more hype than Cabrera. I think it would also be correct to say that Cabrera has, at this point, lost some approval. Granted, fans are starting to grow accustomed to player misbehavior. Getting pulled over while sipping whiskey, after already being drunk before and beating one's wife isn't something everyone just magically forgets. Respect was certainly lost.
How's that for a stat?
Ah, the quality start. In an age of statistical jargon (what's OPS again?), this stat sounds surprisingly, well, simple.
A quality start entails that a starter pitch for six innings or more and allow three runs or less. Pretty good, right? Well, if you are Verlander, that's your everyday stuff this year.
I'm not kidding. And neither is the stat. In Verlander's 9 starts this year, he has 9 quality starts. That was not a typo. 9 for 9. Perfect.
And it doesn't stop there. Verlander's also averaging less than 4 1/2 hits per game. In fact, one's odds of striking out against Verlander are much better than getting a hit. In only two games did he surrender more hits than strikeouts, and he's averaging nearly a strikeout an inning (62 in 65).
Really, it's the quality starts that get you. Consistency in baseball isn't very common. And consistency for pitchers in baseball is even less common. But for Verlander, it's no problem. Really, he set the tone on Opening Day. On a cold day, facing a tough Yankee lineup, and, as he admitted later, being fairly unprepared, disaster struck and Verlander allowed a unthinkable THREE RUNS. As columnist Michael Rosenberg would reason, if that's as bad as it gets for Verlander this year, the rest of the American League is in serious trouble.
Now his theory is starting to appear correct.
Oh, that too
And, oh yeah, Justin also threw the second no-hitter of his career this year.
The no-no just goes to show that, as I said earlier, Verlander is this team's exclamation point. Home runs are nice. Big home runs are nicer. But even big home runs are rarely remembered as long as a no-hitter. That may seem unfair to the hitters, but since when is being a pitcher easy? Hit a walk-off and the crowd loves you for maybe the rest of the week. Throw a no-hitter and the crowd is with you the whole game, goes berserk when you finish, and keeps talking about it long after it happens.
With Cabrera, good hitting is a nice thing. But overall, it's hard to get behind the guy. Too many harsh thoughts. Fans support him, but most support him while feeling somewhat reluctant to do so. Cabrera gave us something to worry about, but Verlander gave us something to get behind, something to feel good about. He gave us a good conflict; he gave us good things to wonder about.
Like, how many more no-nos does this kid have in him?
Silly me, though, I almost forgot the disclaimer. It is after all, still early in the season, so things are unclear a lot can change, blah, blah, blah.
Glad that's out of the way.
Now I can get back to enjoying the season that #35 is having.
Couldn't help it.
The way the season has gone so far, it's hard not to love Verlander. For one thing, the Tigers ace has always been a fan favorite. From the moment he made his debut in 2006 and hurled a 100 mph (102 at its best) fastball, Verlander was the symbol of awe for this team.
Now, from a statistical and psychological standpoint, the franchise player for the Tigers at the time was probably either Pudge Rodriguez or Magglio Ordonez. Now one can make the case that it is Miguel Cabrera. After all, he's the slugger, the top bat, the guy who gets it done. And it is certainly fair to argue that Cabrera is Detroit's most valuable player right now.
But Verlander is the exclamation point.
Verlander is capable of creating more hype than Cabrera. I think it would also be correct to say that Cabrera has, at this point, lost some approval. Granted, fans are starting to grow accustomed to player misbehavior. Getting pulled over while sipping whiskey, after already being drunk before and beating one's wife isn't something everyone just magically forgets. Respect was certainly lost.
How's that for a stat?
Ah, the quality start. In an age of statistical jargon (what's OPS again?), this stat sounds surprisingly, well, simple.
A quality start entails that a starter pitch for six innings or more and allow three runs or less. Pretty good, right? Well, if you are Verlander, that's your everyday stuff this year.
I'm not kidding. And neither is the stat. In Verlander's 9 starts this year, he has 9 quality starts. That was not a typo. 9 for 9. Perfect.
And it doesn't stop there. Verlander's also averaging less than 4 1/2 hits per game. In fact, one's odds of striking out against Verlander are much better than getting a hit. In only two games did he surrender more hits than strikeouts, and he's averaging nearly a strikeout an inning (62 in 65).
Really, it's the quality starts that get you. Consistency in baseball isn't very common. And consistency for pitchers in baseball is even less common. But for Verlander, it's no problem. Really, he set the tone on Opening Day. On a cold day, facing a tough Yankee lineup, and, as he admitted later, being fairly unprepared, disaster struck and Verlander allowed a unthinkable THREE RUNS. As columnist Michael Rosenberg would reason, if that's as bad as it gets for Verlander this year, the rest of the American League is in serious trouble.
Now his theory is starting to appear correct.
Oh, that too
And, oh yeah, Justin also threw the second no-hitter of his career this year.
The no-no just goes to show that, as I said earlier, Verlander is this team's exclamation point. Home runs are nice. Big home runs are nicer. But even big home runs are rarely remembered as long as a no-hitter. That may seem unfair to the hitters, but since when is being a pitcher easy? Hit a walk-off and the crowd loves you for maybe the rest of the week. Throw a no-hitter and the crowd is with you the whole game, goes berserk when you finish, and keeps talking about it long after it happens.
With Cabrera, good hitting is a nice thing. But overall, it's hard to get behind the guy. Too many harsh thoughts. Fans support him, but most support him while feeling somewhat reluctant to do so. Cabrera gave us something to worry about, but Verlander gave us something to get behind, something to feel good about. He gave us a good conflict; he gave us good things to wonder about.
Like, how many more no-nos does this kid have in him?
Silly me, though, I almost forgot the disclaimer. It is after all, still early in the season, so things are unclear a lot can change, blah, blah, blah.
Glad that's out of the way.
Now I can get back to enjoying the season that #35 is having.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Look out Sports! There's a New Sherrif in Town!
Well, they voted and... wow. All of a sudden I am in charge of pro sports. And my first action as universal commissioner is a reform in rules. Here goes:
- Playoff beards must be REAL beards (sorry, Sidney Crosby)
- If after 6 innings, a pitcher has a perfect game, or even a no-hitter intact, replay is fair game for ALL plays.
- If you knock down Joe Thornton, you get a cherry pie and a pat on the back.
- NFL players who whine about safety rules will be blindfolded and placed in a junkyard with at least ten angry dogs with no exit, then asked for their opinion on safety.
- If a manger leaves the pitcher in after he lets up 6 runs or more, the fans get to storm the field and take him out themselves.
- Good-bye Lebron James.
- When ESPN talks about baseball they MUST spend at least half of the time talking about something other than the Yankees.
- If a soccer player takes a fall, you get to hang him from the net by his shorts.
- Every athlete must take a large dose of truth serum, then appear before the press and admit to whether or not they used steroids.
- Slam dunks cannot be part of ESPN's top 10.
- And there goes Michael Vick
- If a hockey ref gives a team three power plays in a row, all on blown, easy calls, he has to fight with one of the players he put in the box for 20 seconds.
- All closers have to be as cool as Jose Valverde. Or at least almost as cool.
- If an analyst calls a certain athlete the "best player in the world" and that athlete hasn't won MVP or a championship within the past four years, it's a $500 fine.
- If a player takes a cheap shot while the ref's back is turned, he must tap the ref on the shoulder, admit what he did, and finish every sentence with, "And I'm a stinking coward" for the rest of the week.
- No sport can allow more than three timeouts (no more marathon college basketball games)
- If Rex Ryan talks smack before a game, then fails to back it up, he must spend five hours explaining to a press conference why his team is so much worse than the other team and how he is a terrible coach.
- SportsCenter must spend at least 10 minutes a day talking about the NHL during hockey season, 20 during the playoffs.
- If you get sucker punched by another player, you get to toss him in the bleachers, allowing the fans to discipline him.
- BOTH guys on PTI have to be at the studio for the same show at least three times a week.
- In baseball: ONE cup adjustment/glove tightening/digging of cleats per inning.
- Referees can no longer try to eliminate the Red Wings from the playoffs.
- The Norris trophy is now the Lidstrom trophy.
- 9 goals in a game really is an Ovechtrick
- NBA and NFL players must spend more time playing and practicing than shooting commercials.
- If a player or players hit/spray the goalie, the goalie can stuff him in an equipment back, zip it shut (with air holes), and drive around for four hours with the bag in the back of his pickup truck.
Not all is lost
So the Wings are out. But, hey, there's still plenty to be happy about.
Like:
1. The Chicago Blackhawks are out.
2. The Pittsburgh Penguins are out.
3. The Yzerman-led Lightning are still in.
4. The Sharks were forced into by far the shortest amount of rest time heading into the upcoming round.
5. Someone other than Niklas Kronwall was called "gutless" (Patrick Marleau)
6. We got to see Kris Draper's beard again.
7. Justin Verlander is incredible.
8. Justin Verlander's fastball is incredible.
9. Justin Verlander's other pitches are incredible.
10. Justin Verlander's beard is incredible.
11. Sidney Crosby is NOT an MVP finalist.
12. Neither are any Penguins, Blackhawks, or Sharks.
13. Pavel Datsyuk was actually talked about on Versus.
14. The Lions (hopefully) drafted very well.
15. Nicklas Lidstrom is a Norris Trophy finalist.
16. Red Wings players other than Datsyuk were actually talked about on Versus.
17. Justin Verlander's cleats are incredi... never mind.
Like:
1. The Chicago Blackhawks are out.
2. The Pittsburgh Penguins are out.
3. The Yzerman-led Lightning are still in.
4. The Sharks were forced into by far the shortest amount of rest time heading into the upcoming round.
5. Someone other than Niklas Kronwall was called "gutless" (Patrick Marleau)
6. We got to see Kris Draper's beard again.
7. Justin Verlander is incredible.
8. Justin Verlander's fastball is incredible.
9. Justin Verlander's other pitches are incredible.
10. Justin Verlander's beard is incredible.
11. Sidney Crosby is NOT an MVP finalist.
12. Neither are any Penguins, Blackhawks, or Sharks.
13. Pavel Datsyuk was actually talked about on Versus.
14. The Lions (hopefully) drafted very well.
15. Nicklas Lidstrom is a Norris Trophy finalist.
16. Red Wings players other than Datsyuk were actually talked about on Versus.
17. Justin Verlander's cleats are incredi... never mind.
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