Remember those people who were afraid of the National Football League becoming soft after they implemented the no helmet to helmet contact rule?
Surely those people have gotten more contact than they have asked for in the past few weeks and with the amount of fights and childish acts that have taken place in games recently. We went from Richard Seymour punching Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, to Shaun Hill accusing the New England Patriots defense of trying to re-fracture his arm while he was on the bottom of a pile in Thursday's Thanksgiving game, lastly and maybe the worst of them all was the debactle that took place in Houston over the weekend. The good old fashion hockey fight between Texans receiver Andre Johnson and Titans corner back Cortland Finnegan. These three examples have sent a negative shock-wave through the NFL front office and commissioners desk. There response? A 25,000 dollar fine, are you kidding me?
First of all commissioner Roger Goodell has earned a hard ass reputation around the league due to his enforcement of rules, the handing out of suspensions and the fining of players like hes giving away candy on Halloween all because he is worried about the leagues image off the field. This guy creates a rule to prevent players from players full out on the defensive side of the ball, he fines people anytime they make hard contact with a quarterback and has suspended people for things that have taken place off of the field. These past weeks he has had a golden opportunity to throw down a gauntlet about fighting in the NFL and how that type of behavior would not be tolerated on the field. Instead he handed out a small fine for Richard Seymour sucker punching Ben Roethlisberger and the same small fine for Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan having a UFC fight mid-play.
Now, i'm not completely naive in believing that if Goodell had suspended Seymour the Johnson-Finnegan bout would have never taken place, but at the very least they could have known that they were going to face a suspension and maybe cost there team a football game because of there suspension for the next game. Neither one of these fights were something that happens a lot in the NFL but they were things that will most likely never be forgotten. The Titans play the Texans again later this season, anyone want to take bets on whether or not these two go at it again? Maybe if that happens Goodell will start worrying about things happening on the field rather than his image off the field.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Heat in Deep Water
Remember at the start of the season, when people though this Miami Heat team was going to win the most games ever in the regular season? Here is another question. Did you think that 17 games into the season the Heat would only be one game above .500? The obvious answer is no. The problem lies within the players themselves and the coaches.
In the off season Pat Riley tried to create a monster Eastern Conference, which had three heads, Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. The three players are all stars apart, but together they have been a bust to start this season. The major problem when you have three great players is that each one needs the ball. Bosh has shown the most willingness to share the ball and let the game come to him, but not so much the other two. Wade and James are basically the same player, in the sense that they want to create their own shot and drive the lane at will. Both in other words, are play makers. Riley should have gone after a point guard who likes to distribute the ball, such as a Chris Paul. Although he was not a free agent, he could have been traded for. Unless the ego and selfishness goes away, then this Miami project will go down as the worst bust in NBA history.
Of course the Miami Heat players are not taking responsibility for their mediocre play. They have already started pointing the finger at coach Erik Spolestra. The players are questioning offensive strategies, not letting them be the players they are, and that he panics too much. Sources also say that he is scared to criticize James, Wade, and Bosh. If this is all true then Spolestra should not coach this team. During the off season it was even talked about that Pat Riley should take over because he could handle all the egos. Riley could be better off for this team, but ultimately the players need to be held responsible for the mediocre play. The Miami Heat are currently 9-8, and if the playoffs began today they would be the 6th seed.
In the off season Pat Riley tried to create a monster Eastern Conference, which had three heads, Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. The three players are all stars apart, but together they have been a bust to start this season. The major problem when you have three great players is that each one needs the ball. Bosh has shown the most willingness to share the ball and let the game come to him, but not so much the other two. Wade and James are basically the same player, in the sense that they want to create their own shot and drive the lane at will. Both in other words, are play makers. Riley should have gone after a point guard who likes to distribute the ball, such as a Chris Paul. Although he was not a free agent, he could have been traded for. Unless the ego and selfishness goes away, then this Miami project will go down as the worst bust in NBA history.
Of course the Miami Heat players are not taking responsibility for their mediocre play. They have already started pointing the finger at coach Erik Spolestra. The players are questioning offensive strategies, not letting them be the players they are, and that he panics too much. Sources also say that he is scared to criticize James, Wade, and Bosh. If this is all true then Spolestra should not coach this team. During the off season it was even talked about that Pat Riley should take over because he could handle all the egos. Riley could be better off for this team, but ultimately the players need to be held responsible for the mediocre play. The Miami Heat are currently 9-8, and if the playoffs began today they would be the 6th seed.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
18 Game NFL Season on the horizon?
While most of the owners and front office personnel in the National Football League have already made this decision the Players Association may have something to say before thing become final. The owners and commissioners office have made the decision that an 18 game season would not only provide the league more exposure but it would lead to more revenue for each and every individual team because of the the addition two games for ticket sales and concession stand purchases. While that's all well and good on paper you have to consider the players here, the season already starts with mandatory workouts in June and continues all they way until the beginning of February and now they want to add two more competitive games that will likely replace the final two pre-season games.
Lets take a step back here, would two games help the NFL with exposure? Sure it would but I also feel like the NFL is pursued and watched more often because of the fact that they only have the 16 games and then the playoffs. Once a week for 16 weeks of the season, that is what makes the NFL season special and different from the rest of the sports in the country. Would the extra two games make more money for the given franchise that got to host this game? Of course it would, but at what cost to that teams players. They are asked to perform at a high level from the middle of June on and a lot of the players use the final two pre-season games as a tune up and to get there timing down in game situations. An argument for that could be that the starters barely play in those games and that they will have saved up enough energy in order to participate in two more regular season games. The counter argument to that is that with more games more injuries will take place and the second string players who you will be taking pre-season snaps from will then have to get adjusted in games that matter and will be a little slower to react which leads to injuries in general.
From a players point of view they could get paid a little but more for the 18 games instead of the 16 games, so the Players Association could fight for that but what there main concern should be is how much work the players are doing before the pre-season even begins and the number of reps all players have to take during that time. The PA should also focus on implementing a second bye week so that the teams and players could get a second break during a long season, so instead of playing around 9+ games in a row, you would play right around 6 in a row. Lastly the PA should really just work for more post career benefits with the larger possibility of a player getting injured. Surely they are trying to make the league safer with the no head to head rule but over a full eighteen game season all injuries become more of a possibility, players even get hurt during the pre-season, where according to the owners and commissioner the games don't even matter.
Eighteen games would be great for the sport as long as the players are taken care of and rewarded for doing more work, and providing them the benefits necessary to take care of themselves.
Lets take a step back here, would two games help the NFL with exposure? Sure it would but I also feel like the NFL is pursued and watched more often because of the fact that they only have the 16 games and then the playoffs. Once a week for 16 weeks of the season, that is what makes the NFL season special and different from the rest of the sports in the country. Would the extra two games make more money for the given franchise that got to host this game? Of course it would, but at what cost to that teams players. They are asked to perform at a high level from the middle of June on and a lot of the players use the final two pre-season games as a tune up and to get there timing down in game situations. An argument for that could be that the starters barely play in those games and that they will have saved up enough energy in order to participate in two more regular season games. The counter argument to that is that with more games more injuries will take place and the second string players who you will be taking pre-season snaps from will then have to get adjusted in games that matter and will be a little slower to react which leads to injuries in general.
From a players point of view they could get paid a little but more for the 18 games instead of the 16 games, so the Players Association could fight for that but what there main concern should be is how much work the players are doing before the pre-season even begins and the number of reps all players have to take during that time. The PA should also focus on implementing a second bye week so that the teams and players could get a second break during a long season, so instead of playing around 9+ games in a row, you would play right around 6 in a row. Lastly the PA should really just work for more post career benefits with the larger possibility of a player getting injured. Surely they are trying to make the league safer with the no head to head rule but over a full eighteen game season all injuries become more of a possibility, players even get hurt during the pre-season, where according to the owners and commissioner the games don't even matter.
Eighteen games would be great for the sport as long as the players are taken care of and rewarded for doing more work, and providing them the benefits necessary to take care of themselves.
Current Chicago Bulls vs 98 Chicago Bulls
After the Chicago Bulls 4th straight victory against the Houston Rockets last night, one can wonder how good this Bulls team is. The factor that comes into the Bulls favor is that their best big man is yet to debut for them, Carlos Boozer. The Bulls have a history of great players, and even better teams. Some of the past teams are so good that they have been tagged as greatest teams of all time. What would happen if the Bulls f 98 met with the Bulls of new? Here is a matchup of the two teams:
Point Guards- Derrick Rose vs Ron Harper- For the 98 Bulls Ron Harper was more a defensive specialist and a passer then anything. He was never a big scorer and could be replaced for this Bulls team. Their is even an argument that sharp shooter Steve Kerr was more important to this team. On the current roster you have one of the best players in the game today in Derrick Rose. Rose is an al out play maker with the ability to drive to the basket better then anyone (yes, even better then Lebron James). Rose also has that "Jordan" ability to turn his game up and down and on and off whenever he needs to. Advantage: Derrick Rose
Shooting Guard- Keith Bogans vs Michael Jordan- There is no argument whatsoever here. Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time. In every last second shot situation you knew it was going in. Jordan is basketball. There is even a statue of Jordan outside of the United Center. Bogans shoots the three ball well. Advantage: Michael Jordan
Small Foward- Luol Deng vs Scottie Pippen- This may be the most unique matchup of all between the two teams. Both players were lanky and could shoot the ball well. Luol Deng has the ability to rise up over his defenders and make the basket. Pippen had the ability to hit the three to go along with exploding to the basket for a monster slam. What seperates these two is on the defensive end. Scottie Pippen is one of the greatest defenders of all time. When the old Bulls would be up against great point guards, Pippen would be on them and lock them down. Pippen is also one of the 50 Greatest Players of All Time. Advantage: Scottie Pippen
Power Foward- Carlos Boozer vs Dennis Rodman- At full strength, Boozer will be the Bulls starting Power Foward. With that Carlos Boozer is a natural scorer, with a great midrange game and good rebounding ability. He also is close to perfection around the basket. Rodman was a mad man with unmatchable intensity. His presence was enough to scare the other team. Rodman although had character issues, was the top rebounder for the league for years, and was key to the Bulls playoff push as he limited Karl Malone in the finals in key spots. Even though his offensive skill was limited... Advantage: Dennis Rodman
Center Joakim Noah vs Luc Longley- Luc Longley for the 98 Bulls was their biggest player at over 7 feet. He defended decent, and blocked plenty of shots in his day. On the offensive end Longley could score down low, but that was it. Noah is one of the more versitile big men in this league. He scores the ball well, and rebounds it even better. Defensively he can stop big men, but because of his weight he can get pushed around at times. What seperates these two is Noah's speed. Joakim runs the floor maybe better then any big man, and gives it his all on every single play. Advantage: Joakim Noah
That was just the starting five, but the teams are closer then you think. As you run down the bench of the current Bulls you see plenty of talent with Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson, and Ronnie Brewer. Ultimatly the 98 Bulls would win a game between the two, because of how dominant Jordan, Rodman, and Pippen were, but expect Derrick Rose and the current Bulls to put up a fight.
Point Guards- Derrick Rose vs Ron Harper- For the 98 Bulls Ron Harper was more a defensive specialist and a passer then anything. He was never a big scorer and could be replaced for this Bulls team. Their is even an argument that sharp shooter Steve Kerr was more important to this team. On the current roster you have one of the best players in the game today in Derrick Rose. Rose is an al out play maker with the ability to drive to the basket better then anyone (yes, even better then Lebron James). Rose also has that "Jordan" ability to turn his game up and down and on and off whenever he needs to. Advantage: Derrick Rose
Shooting Guard- Keith Bogans vs Michael Jordan- There is no argument whatsoever here. Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time. In every last second shot situation you knew it was going in. Jordan is basketball. There is even a statue of Jordan outside of the United Center. Bogans shoots the three ball well. Advantage: Michael Jordan
Small Foward- Luol Deng vs Scottie Pippen- This may be the most unique matchup of all between the two teams. Both players were lanky and could shoot the ball well. Luol Deng has the ability to rise up over his defenders and make the basket. Pippen had the ability to hit the three to go along with exploding to the basket for a monster slam. What seperates these two is on the defensive end. Scottie Pippen is one of the greatest defenders of all time. When the old Bulls would be up against great point guards, Pippen would be on them and lock them down. Pippen is also one of the 50 Greatest Players of All Time. Advantage: Scottie Pippen
Power Foward- Carlos Boozer vs Dennis Rodman- At full strength, Boozer will be the Bulls starting Power Foward. With that Carlos Boozer is a natural scorer, with a great midrange game and good rebounding ability. He also is close to perfection around the basket. Rodman was a mad man with unmatchable intensity. His presence was enough to scare the other team. Rodman although had character issues, was the top rebounder for the league for years, and was key to the Bulls playoff push as he limited Karl Malone in the finals in key spots. Even though his offensive skill was limited... Advantage: Dennis Rodman
Center Joakim Noah vs Luc Longley- Luc Longley for the 98 Bulls was their biggest player at over 7 feet. He defended decent, and blocked plenty of shots in his day. On the offensive end Longley could score down low, but that was it. Noah is one of the more versitile big men in this league. He scores the ball well, and rebounds it even better. Defensively he can stop big men, but because of his weight he can get pushed around at times. What seperates these two is Noah's speed. Joakim runs the floor maybe better then any big man, and gives it his all on every single play. Advantage: Joakim Noah
That was just the starting five, but the teams are closer then you think. As you run down the bench of the current Bulls you see plenty of talent with Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson, and Ronnie Brewer. Ultimatly the 98 Bulls would win a game between the two, because of how dominant Jordan, Rodman, and Pippen were, but expect Derrick Rose and the current Bulls to put up a fight.
49ers find new life under Smith?
After their victory over the St. Louis Rams this past Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves back in playoff contention as they trail division leader Seattle Seahawks by 2 games. A few weeks ago, it did not look good for the 49ers as they started the season 0-5, but have won 3 of their last 4 and two in a row with Troy Smith starting at quarterback. Let’s take a closer look at the 49ers and see if they have what it takes to make a playoff push.
Head Coach Mike Singletary has said that QB Troy Smith will remain the starting quarterback because of his excellent play the past two games. Smith is 2-0 as a starter this season and has yet to turn the ball over this season. Don’t forget, Smith was a winner at Ohio State and a former Heisman Trophy winner as well. Smith did not get much playing time his first four years in the league, but it gave him plenty of time to learn and mature as a backup and now is taking advantage of being the starter. The 49ers are very talented on the offensive side of the ball with WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis being the key standouts. Crabtree and Davis will make Smith’s job easier with their experience as the season progresses forward.
The defense for the 49ers is not that bad either. Anchored by linebacker Patrick Willis, the 49ers defense gives up just over 100 yards on the ground which is good enough for 10th in the NFL. The defense also does a great job keeping their team in the game as for 4 out of their 6 losses this season has come by 3 points or less. The offense was not able to push across enough points to steal a couple victories, but hopefully things have changed now with Troy Smith at quarterback.
I believe it is still possible that the 49ers can claim the NFC West title as their schedule is somewhat favorable and the other teams in the division are not that strong. The 49ers have 4 games left in division, two against the Cardinals, one with the Rams, and one versus the Seahawks. If the 49ers take care of business within the division and win a couple games out of conference, do not be surprised if they still atop the NFC West at the end of the season.
Head Coach Mike Singletary has said that QB Troy Smith will remain the starting quarterback because of his excellent play the past two games. Smith is 2-0 as a starter this season and has yet to turn the ball over this season. Don’t forget, Smith was a winner at Ohio State and a former Heisman Trophy winner as well. Smith did not get much playing time his first four years in the league, but it gave him plenty of time to learn and mature as a backup and now is taking advantage of being the starter. The 49ers are very talented on the offensive side of the ball with WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis being the key standouts. Crabtree and Davis will make Smith’s job easier with their experience as the season progresses forward.
The defense for the 49ers is not that bad either. Anchored by linebacker Patrick Willis, the 49ers defense gives up just over 100 yards on the ground which is good enough for 10th in the NFL. The defense also does a great job keeping their team in the game as for 4 out of their 6 losses this season has come by 3 points or less. The offense was not able to push across enough points to steal a couple victories, but hopefully things have changed now with Troy Smith at quarterback.
I believe it is still possible that the 49ers can claim the NFC West title as their schedule is somewhat favorable and the other teams in the division are not that strong. The 49ers have 4 games left in division, two against the Cardinals, one with the Rams, and one versus the Seahawks. If the 49ers take care of business within the division and win a couple games out of conference, do not be surprised if they still atop the NFC West at the end of the season.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Can the San Francisco Giants repeat?
The San Francisco Giants won their first World Series title as a San Francisco franchise and first in over 50 years. The Giants relied heavily on their pitching staff, especially the starting pitching. Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez bolstered the rotation throughout the season and Madison Bumgarner came on strong late, especially in the playoffs. Can pitching alone get it done again for the Giants next season? Let’s find out.
I have no doubt that the Giants starting rotation will have equal success in the 2011 season. Their big 3 will only get better with age, Bumgarner will grow and develop as the season wears on next year and the $126 million man, Barry Zito will have to step up as well. Zito pitched well at times this past season, but nothing like the CY Young winner from the 2002 Athletics. Zito was left off of the postseason roster for all three rounds, so hopefully that struck a cord with him and he will work on re-inventing himself this off-season as he does not throw as hard as he used too.
There are no issues with the bullpen either as they posted one of the leagues lowest ERA’s last season. It would not hurt to put another experienced arm out there like Brian Fuentes or maybe a Kyle Farnsworth. The bullpen is anchored by closer Brian Wilson who had his best season in the majors this year. As long as everyone stays healthy, the bullpen should perform just as well next season.
The hitting lineup is what needs a jolt of energy. The Giants lacked power last season as Aubrey Huff lead the team in RBI’s with 85. Buster Posey is capable of racking in 100 RBI’s as he demonstrated he is a legitimate threat in the middle of the lineup this past season. Pablo Sandoval struggled at the plate this season compared to his 2009 season, but I fully expect him to bounce back next season and anchor the third base position. The Giants need to make a splash in free agency for a power bat to complement Buster Posey. Maybe a Paul Konerko or a Carlos Pena at first base? I strongly believe that they need to get a big bat for their lineup no matter what position they play in the field.
If the Giants are able to sign that big bat in the off-season, look for the Giants to strongly defend their World Series title.
I have no doubt that the Giants starting rotation will have equal success in the 2011 season. Their big 3 will only get better with age, Bumgarner will grow and develop as the season wears on next year and the $126 million man, Barry Zito will have to step up as well. Zito pitched well at times this past season, but nothing like the CY Young winner from the 2002 Athletics. Zito was left off of the postseason roster for all three rounds, so hopefully that struck a cord with him and he will work on re-inventing himself this off-season as he does not throw as hard as he used too.
There are no issues with the bullpen either as they posted one of the leagues lowest ERA’s last season. It would not hurt to put another experienced arm out there like Brian Fuentes or maybe a Kyle Farnsworth. The bullpen is anchored by closer Brian Wilson who had his best season in the majors this year. As long as everyone stays healthy, the bullpen should perform just as well next season.
The hitting lineup is what needs a jolt of energy. The Giants lacked power last season as Aubrey Huff lead the team in RBI’s with 85. Buster Posey is capable of racking in 100 RBI’s as he demonstrated he is a legitimate threat in the middle of the lineup this past season. Pablo Sandoval struggled at the plate this season compared to his 2009 season, but I fully expect him to bounce back next season and anchor the third base position. The Giants need to make a splash in free agency for a power bat to complement Buster Posey. Maybe a Paul Konerko or a Carlos Pena at first base? I strongly believe that they need to get a big bat for their lineup no matter what position they play in the field.
If the Giants are able to sign that big bat in the off-season, look for the Giants to strongly defend their World Series title.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Western Conference Still Elite
It has been said around the NBA and media in recent history that the Western Conference is better then the Eastern Conference. Although the East has gotten better, the West has kept this true. The Western Conference is better based on record, team play, and head to head in the NBA Finals.
If you take a look at the final standings of the 2009-2010 season, the records speak for themselves. The East did have the best record in the league with the Cleveland Cavaliers at 61-21, but after that the West dominates. Every single team that made the playoffs for the West last season had 50 wins last season. Only the top four teams in the East did that. In those playoffs the Lakers and Thunder played in the first round. The Thunder were the youngest team in the league last season, and brought the Lakers all the way to a game six. It shows that the eighth best team in the West competes with the Lakers, who would ultimatly end up winning the NBA Championship. The four lower seeds for the East did not compete well at all with the top four in the conference.
The Eastern Conference arguably has two of the top three players in the game today in, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. They do not however have the better team play. With Lebron James, the Cavaliers were the best team in the league record wise, but got an early exit when they lost in the Celtics in the second round. The same goes for Wade as the Miami Heat lost in the first round. The other player of the top three in the league is Kobe Bryant. He took the Lakers to the NBA Finals and actually did not perform well in the pivitol game seven. Bryant ended up shooting only 6-24 from the field. The difference, which gave the Lakers the title, was the play of his supporting cast. Ron Artest ended up scoring 20 points, and Pau Gasol chimed in with 19 to go along with 18 rebounds. The Los Angeles Lakers team won the NBA Championship, not just Kobe Bryant.
When it comes to the NBA Finals there is no question where dominance lies. Since 1999 the Eastern Conference has only won the championship three times. The San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers have won the other nine. The Eastern Conference has improved as the years have gone on, but the West is where the best is.
If you take a look at the final standings of the 2009-2010 season, the records speak for themselves. The East did have the best record in the league with the Cleveland Cavaliers at 61-21, but after that the West dominates. Every single team that made the playoffs for the West last season had 50 wins last season. Only the top four teams in the East did that. In those playoffs the Lakers and Thunder played in the first round. The Thunder were the youngest team in the league last season, and brought the Lakers all the way to a game six. It shows that the eighth best team in the West competes with the Lakers, who would ultimatly end up winning the NBA Championship. The four lower seeds for the East did not compete well at all with the top four in the conference.
The Eastern Conference arguably has two of the top three players in the game today in, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. They do not however have the better team play. With Lebron James, the Cavaliers were the best team in the league record wise, but got an early exit when they lost in the Celtics in the second round. The same goes for Wade as the Miami Heat lost in the first round. The other player of the top three in the league is Kobe Bryant. He took the Lakers to the NBA Finals and actually did not perform well in the pivitol game seven. Bryant ended up shooting only 6-24 from the field. The difference, which gave the Lakers the title, was the play of his supporting cast. Ron Artest ended up scoring 20 points, and Pau Gasol chimed in with 19 to go along with 18 rebounds. The Los Angeles Lakers team won the NBA Championship, not just Kobe Bryant.
When it comes to the NBA Finals there is no question where dominance lies. Since 1999 the Eastern Conference has only won the championship three times. The San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers have won the other nine. The Eastern Conference has improved as the years have gone on, but the West is where the best is.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Vick - back and better than ever!
Michael Vick might finally be hitting his stride and is playing is best football ever being two years removed from his off the field issues. Vick’s contract ends at the end of the season and with the way he is playing this season, will the Eagles or some other team offer him a contract to be their starter for years to come? Let’s take a look at what we know.
Coming into this season, QB Kevin Kolb was supposed to be the QB of the future for the Philadelphia Eagles hence why the Eagles traded away QB Donavon McNabb, but after a week 1 injury, Vick has been thrown into the starting role.
Vick’s stats this season are really impressive. Vick has thrown for 1017 yards for seven touchdowns and no interceptions coming into week 10 when Vick will take on the Redskins, the team that sidelined him earlier this season. Vick is now more mature at the quarterback position and does not always use his feet every time there is a broken play. Vick now buys time in the pocket and moves laterally behind the line of scrimmage until a receiver is open. Vick uses his legs when he has too and when you see him run, it is like he never left. He still has the same burst up the middle and quick cutting ability that makes him so dangerous as he is more of a complete threat.
This season, Vick is 3-0 as a starter. Vick also played extremely well in the first game of the season when starter Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion against the Green Bay Packers. Vick brought the Eagles back, but fell just short of a victory. Vick has proven that he can lead a team with his arm instead of his legs as this season he is completing just under 61% of his passes which is 6% higher for his career. One thing to mention too, if you have watch Vick play this season, he still has the ability to throw the deep ball.
The big question is, if Vick’s solid play continues throughout the rest of the season, which team will make him their quarterback? I highly doubt the Eagles will re-sign Vick after the season as Andy Reid and upper management has stated the Kolb is the QB of the future. Some teams that need a quarterback for next season are the Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, and the Minnesota Vikings. The Raiders are getting inconsistent play out of Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski. The owner of the Raiders, Al Davis is a big fan of a quarterback with a big arm (the JaMarcus Russell experiment), so do not be surprised if the Raiders try to sign Vick in the off-season. The Cardinals can’t rely on Derek Anderson or Max Hall, so they might be in contention. QB Brett Favre said that this season will be his “final” season and it will be interesting to see if the Vikings will want to make Tavaris Jackson their quarterback for the 2011 season.
I believe that Vick is deserving of a starting job for another ball club next season, especially with the way he has played this season. Vick was ready at a moment’s notice and kept the Eagles on a winning track. He has shown everyone what he is capable of and he is worth signing as a free agent over drafting a quarterback. For now, let’s watch Vick continue to develop and mature at the quarterback position and worry about where he will end up after the season is over.
Coming into this season, QB Kevin Kolb was supposed to be the QB of the future for the Philadelphia Eagles hence why the Eagles traded away QB Donavon McNabb, but after a week 1 injury, Vick has been thrown into the starting role.
Vick’s stats this season are really impressive. Vick has thrown for 1017 yards for seven touchdowns and no interceptions coming into week 10 when Vick will take on the Redskins, the team that sidelined him earlier this season. Vick is now more mature at the quarterback position and does not always use his feet every time there is a broken play. Vick now buys time in the pocket and moves laterally behind the line of scrimmage until a receiver is open. Vick uses his legs when he has too and when you see him run, it is like he never left. He still has the same burst up the middle and quick cutting ability that makes him so dangerous as he is more of a complete threat.
This season, Vick is 3-0 as a starter. Vick also played extremely well in the first game of the season when starter Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion against the Green Bay Packers. Vick brought the Eagles back, but fell just short of a victory. Vick has proven that he can lead a team with his arm instead of his legs as this season he is completing just under 61% of his passes which is 6% higher for his career. One thing to mention too, if you have watch Vick play this season, he still has the ability to throw the deep ball.
The big question is, if Vick’s solid play continues throughout the rest of the season, which team will make him their quarterback? I highly doubt the Eagles will re-sign Vick after the season as Andy Reid and upper management has stated the Kolb is the QB of the future. Some teams that need a quarterback for next season are the Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, and the Minnesota Vikings. The Raiders are getting inconsistent play out of Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski. The owner of the Raiders, Al Davis is a big fan of a quarterback with a big arm (the JaMarcus Russell experiment), so do not be surprised if the Raiders try to sign Vick in the off-season. The Cardinals can’t rely on Derek Anderson or Max Hall, so they might be in contention. QB Brett Favre said that this season will be his “final” season and it will be interesting to see if the Vikings will want to make Tavaris Jackson their quarterback for the 2011 season.
I believe that Vick is deserving of a starting job for another ball club next season, especially with the way he has played this season. Vick was ready at a moment’s notice and kept the Eagles on a winning track. He has shown everyone what he is capable of and he is worth signing as a free agent over drafting a quarterback. For now, let’s watch Vick continue to develop and mature at the quarterback position and worry about where he will end up after the season is over.
Top 5 Trade Candidates
1. Adrian Gonzalez- While the Padres will most likely want to start the season with him don't be surprised when you his name in trade rumors all off-season. GM Jed Hoyer will most likely will be asking for the moon and why shouldn't he Gonzalez has been one of the better hitting first basemen in the league and is still young at 28. He hit 298 with 31 home runs in a stadium that has drawn comparisons to the grand canyon. He also makes a team friendly 5.5 Million this upcoming season.
2. Prince Fielder- Fielder is similar to Gonzalez on the offensive side of the ball but he has had people question his defense since the moment he set foot in the MLB. He is coming off of a year in which he only managed 83 Rbi's after the following numbers of 141, 102, 119. Fielder at 27 is even younger than Gonzalez and has just as much to offer at the plate. Milwaukee's front office have made it clear that they are only willing to accept top tier pitching prospects for Fielder in hopes of rebuilding their rotation. Fielder from a contract stand point is made 11million in 2010 and will be entering his last year of arbitration this winter.
3. Zach Greinke- Coming off of his Cy Young campaign Greinke fell victim to being a member of one of the worst teams in baseball and ended up with a 10-14 record. He is only 60-67 in his career but anyone who has watched this guy can put that mostly on his surroundings and the people who are playing behind him. He has expressed his displeasure with playing for a losing franchise but bigger market teams are afraid of taking the leap but of his "anxiety issues" he has been dealing with. If he can somehow prove that he doesn't crack under big market pressure teams would pay through the nose to get him. Greinke is making 13.5 Million until 2013 when he will then become a free agent.
4. Carlos Beltran- The oft-injured Met can still hit when healthy but his last full season was three seasons ago when he played 161 games and hit 284 with 27 homers and 112 RBIs. Compare this to 81 games in 2009 and 64 games in 2010. While some say that Beltran is finally fully recovered from all of his ailing injuries and is poised for a break out season in 2011. This however is something that new GM Sandy Alderson will have to figure out and convince teams in the league that the above is true. Also if Beltran was dealt now it would go against the classic rule of never selling someone when their value is low. Beltran has one year left on his deal and will make 18.5 Million in 2011.
5. Dan Uggla- Some teams consider the Marlins the most difficult team in the league to deal with because all of their players are young and up and comers so they always want high priced prospects in return and they want them to come in bunches. On the other hand Uggla did just turn down a 4 year 48 Million dollar extension offer from the Marlins so they may be willing to just unload him due to the fact that they wont be able to keep him. Uggla has had over 30 home runs in the last four seasons and has increased his batting average from the low 200s as a younger player to 287 last season. Uggla's defense is shotty but he has shown the willingness to change from second base to third or even the outfield. Uggla made 7.8 Million this past season and is arbitration eligible until 2012.
2. Prince Fielder- Fielder is similar to Gonzalez on the offensive side of the ball but he has had people question his defense since the moment he set foot in the MLB. He is coming off of a year in which he only managed 83 Rbi's after the following numbers of 141, 102, 119. Fielder at 27 is even younger than Gonzalez and has just as much to offer at the plate. Milwaukee's front office have made it clear that they are only willing to accept top tier pitching prospects for Fielder in hopes of rebuilding their rotation. Fielder from a contract stand point is made 11million in 2010 and will be entering his last year of arbitration this winter.
3. Zach Greinke- Coming off of his Cy Young campaign Greinke fell victim to being a member of one of the worst teams in baseball and ended up with a 10-14 record. He is only 60-67 in his career but anyone who has watched this guy can put that mostly on his surroundings and the people who are playing behind him. He has expressed his displeasure with playing for a losing franchise but bigger market teams are afraid of taking the leap but of his "anxiety issues" he has been dealing with. If he can somehow prove that he doesn't crack under big market pressure teams would pay through the nose to get him. Greinke is making 13.5 Million until 2013 when he will then become a free agent.
4. Carlos Beltran- The oft-injured Met can still hit when healthy but his last full season was three seasons ago when he played 161 games and hit 284 with 27 homers and 112 RBIs. Compare this to 81 games in 2009 and 64 games in 2010. While some say that Beltran is finally fully recovered from all of his ailing injuries and is poised for a break out season in 2011. This however is something that new GM Sandy Alderson will have to figure out and convince teams in the league that the above is true. Also if Beltran was dealt now it would go against the classic rule of never selling someone when their value is low. Beltran has one year left on his deal and will make 18.5 Million in 2011.
5. Dan Uggla- Some teams consider the Marlins the most difficult team in the league to deal with because all of their players are young and up and comers so they always want high priced prospects in return and they want them to come in bunches. On the other hand Uggla did just turn down a 4 year 48 Million dollar extension offer from the Marlins so they may be willing to just unload him due to the fact that they wont be able to keep him. Uggla has had over 30 home runs in the last four seasons and has increased his batting average from the low 200s as a younger player to 287 last season. Uggla's defense is shotty but he has shown the willingness to change from second base to third or even the outfield. Uggla made 7.8 Million this past season and is arbitration eligible until 2012.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Can the Cowboys salvage their season?
The day after the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers 45-7, Jerry Jones made the executive decision to let Head Coach Wade Phillips go and allow Jason Garrett to take over.
Going into week 10, the Cowboys are 1-7 and are sitting dead last in the NFC East. A combination of poor defense, an aging offensive line, and a poor running game this season has contributed to the Cowboys downfall. The Cowboys are currently ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game, which does not help out the passing game. Now that QB Tony Romo is injured, the team is relying on QB Jon Kitna who is starting for the first time since 2008.
Romo is out for another 4-6 weeks with a broken collarbone. Romo was injured back in week 7 against the New York Giants on a play where his running back missed their blocking assignment and allowed for Romo to get sacked. Romo has developed into one of the better quarterbacks in the league since taking this team over in 2006. Romo was relied on this season to keep his team in games since the team struggled running the ball. The Cowboys lost each game by less than 10 points before Romo’s injury and since then, the Cowboys lost their next two games by a total of 56 points.
Can the Cowboys make the playoffs? Technically yes they can still make the playoffs if they win the last 8 remaining games on the schedule and get a little help from other teams in their league as well. The defense is going to need to step up along with the running game to help out Kitna otherwise this team is going to continue to lose games. In reality, the Cowboys need to focus on restoring this proud franchise and gain back some respectability by the end of the season.
Jerry Jones had high hopes for his team coming into this season as the Cowboys Stadium will be the host of the Superbowl this year. At this point, everything for the Cowboys has changed and now Interim Coach Jason Garrett has to get this team back on the winning track. Don’t forget that a few years ago there was a coaching controversy in Dallas between Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett on who should run the team. Garrett was thought of as a better head coaching fit for the Cowboys and now has his chance. Depending on how the Cowboys finish, will Garrett be back as the head coach next season or will Jerry Jones do a complete overhaul on this team?
Going into week 10, the Cowboys are 1-7 and are sitting dead last in the NFC East. A combination of poor defense, an aging offensive line, and a poor running game this season has contributed to the Cowboys downfall. The Cowboys are currently ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game, which does not help out the passing game. Now that QB Tony Romo is injured, the team is relying on QB Jon Kitna who is starting for the first time since 2008.
Romo is out for another 4-6 weeks with a broken collarbone. Romo was injured back in week 7 against the New York Giants on a play where his running back missed their blocking assignment and allowed for Romo to get sacked. Romo has developed into one of the better quarterbacks in the league since taking this team over in 2006. Romo was relied on this season to keep his team in games since the team struggled running the ball. The Cowboys lost each game by less than 10 points before Romo’s injury and since then, the Cowboys lost their next two games by a total of 56 points.
Can the Cowboys make the playoffs? Technically yes they can still make the playoffs if they win the last 8 remaining games on the schedule and get a little help from other teams in their league as well. The defense is going to need to step up along with the running game to help out Kitna otherwise this team is going to continue to lose games. In reality, the Cowboys need to focus on restoring this proud franchise and gain back some respectability by the end of the season.
Jerry Jones had high hopes for his team coming into this season as the Cowboys Stadium will be the host of the Superbowl this year. At this point, everything for the Cowboys has changed and now Interim Coach Jason Garrett has to get this team back on the winning track. Don’t forget that a few years ago there was a coaching controversy in Dallas between Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett on who should run the team. Garrett was thought of as a better head coaching fit for the Cowboys and now has his chance. Depending on how the Cowboys finish, will Garrett be back as the head coach next season or will Jerry Jones do a complete overhaul on this team?
Iverson, Reliving the Dream?
Yesterday Allen Iverson arrived in Istanbul, Turkey to start his international basketball career. The 35 year old guard promised the fans to give them "something they haven't seen before." Iverson is the biggest acquisition of Turkey, as he signed a $4 million, two year deal with Besiktas. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by dozens of basketball fans who are ready to see Iverson's style of play.
Iverson went overseas due to the fact that no NBA team offered him a decent enough contract. Not even his hometown 76ers would give him a deal, most likely because the drafting of Evan Turner. Going to Turkey was a way for Iverson to re tune his skills. After injuries and changes of teams throughout recent years, Iverson says that Turkey is a way of getting his career back on track. This is a good route for some players to go, as it has been proven to work. Current NBA player Josh Childress of the Phoenix Suns, went to Greece for a year or so, but has now returned. He is a key player to the Suns rotation, and has improved his defense vastly.
Allen Iverson is known for his great ball handling, flashy moves, and speed. All of those attributes have slowed down throughout the years, as he is one of the only players in the league who plays through most injuries. His body seemed to be worn down in the past year, but going to Turkey may act as a way to recreate his game. His hope is to return to the NBA to finish out his career. In order to be successful in the NBA again Iverson will have to become more of a point guard, rather then a scoring point guard. Iverson is good for a high number of assists per game, but his turnovers are up there as well. As long as the Philadelphia native can work on his decision making, then he can recreate his career, and give the fans a new "Answer".
Iverson went overseas due to the fact that no NBA team offered him a decent enough contract. Not even his hometown 76ers would give him a deal, most likely because the drafting of Evan Turner. Going to Turkey was a way for Iverson to re tune his skills. After injuries and changes of teams throughout recent years, Iverson says that Turkey is a way of getting his career back on track. This is a good route for some players to go, as it has been proven to work. Current NBA player Josh Childress of the Phoenix Suns, went to Greece for a year or so, but has now returned. He is a key player to the Suns rotation, and has improved his defense vastly.
Allen Iverson is known for his great ball handling, flashy moves, and speed. All of those attributes have slowed down throughout the years, as he is one of the only players in the league who plays through most injuries. His body seemed to be worn down in the past year, but going to Turkey may act as a way to recreate his game. His hope is to return to the NBA to finish out his career. In order to be successful in the NBA again Iverson will have to become more of a point guard, rather then a scoring point guard. Iverson is good for a high number of assists per game, but his turnovers are up there as well. As long as the Philadelphia native can work on his decision making, then he can recreate his career, and give the fans a new "Answer".
Monday, November 8, 2010
Top 10 Free Agent Prediction
Cliff Lee
Most would consider Lee a dominant starter in any context despite his falling apart in the World Series which should make him the most expensive and most sought after free agent this off season. This race seems to be a for gone conclusion between one of two destination, New York and Texas. However recent news has involved the Washington Nationals and eve the Red Sox according to some reports even if it’s just to raise the price for the Yankees. Prediction: New York Yankees.
Carl Crawford
Crawford will be close behind Lee in terms of teams interested and dollars spent because he’s both young and still developing power if he moves to the right ballpark. Earliest reports have Crawford going to either the Angels, Red Sox or Yankees, and as hard as it may be for Rays fans to grasp I don’t even think they’ll make Crawford an offer this off season and have already groomed Desmond Jennings to be his replacement. Don’t count out the tigers in this conversation either as Detroit plans to make a strong push for Free Agents this off season. Predictions: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Jason Werth
Crawford may be a little faster but Jason Werth is not far behind Crawford in any category other than that. Look for the Werth market to pick up after Crawford signs as he is a little older and may not demand the dollars that Crawford does. The Red Sox appear to be the front-runner for Werth as they have already contacted his agent and may view him as a better alternative that Mike Cameron. They also may realize that if they sign Crawford they will be too left handed heavy in the outfield. Werth would provide them the power right-hander that they have lacked since Bay and Ramirez. Other teams interested are those listed above for Crawford. Prediction: Boston Red Sox
Adrian Beltre
Beltre should draw interest from a number of clubs and those clubs will most likely be scared away by his price tag and his inability to produce in years outside of his contract seasons. Teams interested should include the Angels, Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. I really see this negotiation starting and ending with how selfish Scott Boras wants to be with the years on this contract. Someone will definitely pay 10-14 Million for his services but not for 5 or 6 years and that’s where they’ll lose most of the interested teams. Prediction: Boston Red Sox
Victor Martinez
V-Mart is the best catcher on the market and with Alex Avila behind the plate in Detroit they have moved in as the front-runners. V-Mart was very displeased with the fact that the Red Sox did not really negotiate with him during the regular season; the Orioles have also been looking to make a splash and may have him platoon with Matt Weiters between first and catcher this season. Prediction: Detroit Tigers
Rafael Soriano
Again Rays fans it seems as though you will lose out on another high priced talent because of the front office and lack of ticket sales but Tampa desperately needs to keep him due to no foreseeable replacement at all. Teams interested will be anyone looking for a lock down closer or reliever. The Red Sox will no doubt try to convince him that a middle relief role will suit him but teams like Anaheim, Chicago (AL) and Arizona need a closer so expect them to be involved. Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
Adam Dunn
Dunn has a three year offer already from the Nationals on the table but don’t be surprised if they pull that off the table soon because it has been pushed to the side for so long. Other teams interested will be both Chicago franchises, Boston if Beltre does not return and Arizona as well is in need of a first basement. Prediction: Chicago Cubs
Vladimir Guerrero
Guerrero’s option for 9 million was declined by the Texas Rangers earlier this off-season and his defensive abilities have really hit a wall but this guy can still hit the baseball hitting at a 300 clip with over 100 RBIs this past season. Teams interested are those in the AL in need of a DH type, look for the Rangers to comeback into the hunt and the Rays to kick around the idea. Prediction: Texas Rangers
Paul Konerko
Konerko to the loser in the Dunn sweepstakes is a forgone conclusion, if Beltre doesn’t return to the Sox keep them on the back burner but Arizona is the front-runner and favorite. Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks.
Mariano Rivera
He’s the 10th best but his location along with Jeter’s may be forgone to the Yankees. Some other teams will make good offers to him but the Yankees will be hard pressed to let him go. Prediction: New York Yankees.
Best Available Free Agents by position
Top 5 Available Starting Pitchers
1. Cliff Lee – 32 –(2010 stats: 12-9 3.18 ERA 185 K)
2. Carl Pavano – 34 – (2010 stats: 17-11 3.75 ERA 117 K)
3. Andy Pettitte – 38 – (2010 stats: 11-3 3.28 ERA 101 K)
4. Brandon Webb – 31 – (2008 stats: 22-7 3.30 ERA 183 K) * made 1 start in 2009 – missed rest of ’09 season and all of 2010 season.
5. Vicente Padilla – 33 – (2010 stats: 6-5 4.07 ERA 84 K)
Top 5 Available Relief Pitchers
1. Mariano Rivera – 40- (2010 stats: 1.80 ERA 33 Saves 45 K)
2. Rafael Soriano – 30 – (2010 stats: 1.73 ERA 45 Saves 57 K)
3. Kerry Wood – 33 – (2010 stats: 3.13 ERA 11 Holds 49 K)
4. Joaquin Benoit – 33 – (2010 stats: 1.34 ERA 25 Holds 75 K)
5. Brian Fuentes – 35 – (2010 stats: 2.81 ERA 24 Saves 47 K)
Top 3 Available Catchers
1. Victor Martinez – 31- (2010 stats: .302 BA 20 HR 79 RBI)
2. John Buck – 30 – (2010 stats: .281 BA 20 HR 66 RBI)
3. A.J. Pierzynski -33- (2010 stats: .270 BA 9 HR 56 RBI)
Top 3 Available 1st Basemen
1. Adam Dunn (1B/OF) - 30- (2010 stats: .260 BA 38 HR 103 RBI)
2. Paul Konerko – 34 – (2010 stats: .312 BA 39 HR 111 RBI)
3. Adam LaRoche – 31 – (2010 stats: .261 BA 25 HR 100 RBI)
Top 3 Available 2nd basemen
1. Orlando Hudson – 32 – (2010 stats: .267 BA 6 HR 37 RBI)
2. Adam Kennedy – 34 – (2010 stats: .249 BA 3 HR 31 RBI)
3. David Eckstein – 35 – (2010 stats: .267 BA 1 HR 29 RBI)
Top 3 Available 3rd basemen
1. Adrain Beltre – 31 – (2010 stats: .321 BA 28 HR 102 RBI)
2. Pedro Feliz – 35 – (2010 stats: .218 BA 5 HR 40 RBI)
3. Felipe Lopez – 30- (2010 stats: .233 BA 8 HR 37 RBI)
Top 3 Available Shortstops
1. Derek Jeter – 36 – (2010 stats: .270 BA 10 HR 67 RBI)
2. Juan Uribe – 31- (2010 stats: .248 BA 24 HR 85 RBI)
3. Orlando Cabrera – 36 – (2010 stats: .263 BA 4 HR 42 RBI)
Top 3 Available Outfielders
1. Carl Crawford – 29 – (2010 stats: .307 BA 19 HR 90 RBI)
2. Jayson Werth – 31 – (2010 stats: .296 BA 27 HR 85 RBI)
3. Jose Guillen -(34) -(2010 stats: .259BA 19 HR 77 RBI) / Magglio Ordonez (36) – (2010 stats: .303BA 12 HR 59 RBI)
1. Cliff Lee – 32 –(2010 stats: 12-9 3.18 ERA 185 K)
2. Carl Pavano – 34 – (2010 stats: 17-11 3.75 ERA 117 K)
3. Andy Pettitte – 38 – (2010 stats: 11-3 3.28 ERA 101 K)
4. Brandon Webb – 31 – (2008 stats: 22-7 3.30 ERA 183 K) * made 1 start in 2009 – missed rest of ’09 season and all of 2010 season.
5. Vicente Padilla – 33 – (2010 stats: 6-5 4.07 ERA 84 K)
Top 5 Available Relief Pitchers
1. Mariano Rivera – 40- (2010 stats: 1.80 ERA 33 Saves 45 K)
2. Rafael Soriano – 30 – (2010 stats: 1.73 ERA 45 Saves 57 K)
3. Kerry Wood – 33 – (2010 stats: 3.13 ERA 11 Holds 49 K)
4. Joaquin Benoit – 33 – (2010 stats: 1.34 ERA 25 Holds 75 K)
5. Brian Fuentes – 35 – (2010 stats: 2.81 ERA 24 Saves 47 K)
Top 3 Available Catchers
1. Victor Martinez – 31- (2010 stats: .302 BA 20 HR 79 RBI)
2. John Buck – 30 – (2010 stats: .281 BA 20 HR 66 RBI)
3. A.J. Pierzynski -33- (2010 stats: .270 BA 9 HR 56 RBI)
Top 3 Available 1st Basemen
1. Adam Dunn (1B/OF) - 30- (2010 stats: .260 BA 38 HR 103 RBI)
2. Paul Konerko – 34 – (2010 stats: .312 BA 39 HR 111 RBI)
3. Adam LaRoche – 31 – (2010 stats: .261 BA 25 HR 100 RBI)
Top 3 Available 2nd basemen
1. Orlando Hudson – 32 – (2010 stats: .267 BA 6 HR 37 RBI)
2. Adam Kennedy – 34 – (2010 stats: .249 BA 3 HR 31 RBI)
3. David Eckstein – 35 – (2010 stats: .267 BA 1 HR 29 RBI)
Top 3 Available 3rd basemen
1. Adrain Beltre – 31 – (2010 stats: .321 BA 28 HR 102 RBI)
2. Pedro Feliz – 35 – (2010 stats: .218 BA 5 HR 40 RBI)
3. Felipe Lopez – 30- (2010 stats: .233 BA 8 HR 37 RBI)
Top 3 Available Shortstops
1. Derek Jeter – 36 – (2010 stats: .270 BA 10 HR 67 RBI)
2. Juan Uribe – 31- (2010 stats: .248 BA 24 HR 85 RBI)
3. Orlando Cabrera – 36 – (2010 stats: .263 BA 4 HR 42 RBI)
Top 3 Available Outfielders
1. Carl Crawford – 29 – (2010 stats: .307 BA 19 HR 90 RBI)
2. Jayson Werth – 31 – (2010 stats: .296 BA 27 HR 85 RBI)
3. Jose Guillen -(34) -(2010 stats: .259BA 19 HR 77 RBI) / Magglio Ordonez (36) – (2010 stats: .303BA 12 HR 59 RBI)
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Can the Vikings make a playoff push?
Going into the 4th quarter against the Cardinals Sunday afternoon, the Vikings were trailing by 14 with less than 13 minutes left to go in the game. Who else but Brett Favre brings this team back and pushes this game into overtime where Favre again leads the team down the field for a game-winning field goal by Ryan Longwell.
After an overtime win against the Arizona Cardinals, the Vikings find themselves 3-5 overall on the season. The big question is could this come from behind victory be the momentum starter the Vikings have been looking for?
It is not like the Vikings have been playing poorly all season long. All of the teams loses this season have been by less than 10 points. The Vikings have yet to click simultaneously on both offense and defense, but with Sunday’s win, the team showed signs of life. The defense held them down in the 4th quarter after a field goal by Jay Feely and both Favre and Adrian Peterson lead the way on offense.
Yes, this season more than year’s past, Favre has really started to show his age especially with his left ankle injury and the hard hits he has taken this year as well. Regardless, Favre is still the same gun slinger at age 41 as he was at age 24 and can still play at a high level. The Vikings are also getting back some players on offense in the name of Sidney Rice. Rice was on of Favre’s favorite target last season and now after Randy Moss has been released, I am sure Rice will play a pivotal role in bringing this Viking team out from the cellar of the NFC North.
The Vikings schedule for the rest of the season is not the easiest, but as long as they beat their division rivals and a few others along the way look for the Vikings to steal a wildcard spot from someone in the NFC.
After an overtime win against the Arizona Cardinals, the Vikings find themselves 3-5 overall on the season. The big question is could this come from behind victory be the momentum starter the Vikings have been looking for?
It is not like the Vikings have been playing poorly all season long. All of the teams loses this season have been by less than 10 points. The Vikings have yet to click simultaneously on both offense and defense, but with Sunday’s win, the team showed signs of life. The defense held them down in the 4th quarter after a field goal by Jay Feely and both Favre and Adrian Peterson lead the way on offense.
Yes, this season more than year’s past, Favre has really started to show his age especially with his left ankle injury and the hard hits he has taken this year as well. Regardless, Favre is still the same gun slinger at age 41 as he was at age 24 and can still play at a high level. The Vikings are also getting back some players on offense in the name of Sidney Rice. Rice was on of Favre’s favorite target last season and now after Randy Moss has been released, I am sure Rice will play a pivotal role in bringing this Viking team out from the cellar of the NFC North.
The Vikings schedule for the rest of the season is not the easiest, but as long as they beat their division rivals and a few others along the way look for the Vikings to steal a wildcard spot from someone in the NFC.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
2010 MLB Playoffs
After a long, exciting month of October baseball, the San Francisco Giants win their first World Series title since 1954. The Giants defeated the Texas Rangers in 5 games to take the title back to San Fran. Let’s quickly recap the Divisional and Championship rounds before we get more in depth into the World Series.
Coming into this postseason, the big stories were how dominant Cliff Lee will be, how will Roy Halladay fair in his first postseason start, can the Rangers win their first postseason series in franchise history, and are the Yankees able to repeat as world champs? These questions helped hype up the excitement of the postseason, so let’s break down some of the things that happened.
ALDS:
Rangers win in 5 over Rays
Rangers took the first two games at Tropicana Field with great baserunning, timely hitting and superb pitching from Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson. The Rays came back to win two out in Texas
Yankees win in 3 over Twins
The Yankees clinched the wildcard in the American League, so they were on the road against the Minnesota Twins who were playing their first postseason series in their new ballpark. The Yankees trailed in each of the first two games, but good enough starting pitching by C.C. Sabathia and Andy Pettitte kept them in the game long enough for the Yankee bats to rally and take a lead. Game 3 was highlighted by a great pitching performance from youngster Phil Hughes as he shutdown the Twins and helped lead the Yankees back to the ALCS.
NLDS:
Phillies win in 3 over Reds
H2O won this series for the Phillies. Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels pitched great this series and shutdown an excellent hitting lineup of the Reds. This series will be most remembered by Roy Halladay pitching a no-hitter in Game 1 of the series, which helped set the tone for the rest of the series. Reds could not get anything going offensively and the Phillies sent them home.
Giants win in 4 over Braves
Both teams spilt at San Francisco as in Game 1 Tim Lincecum pitched a complete game victory with 14 strikeouts and in Game 2 the Braves came back to win in extra innings. When the series went back to Atlanta
ALCS:
Rangers win in 6 over Yankees
The big stories of this series was could the Yankees starting rotation shutdown the potent Ranger offense and will Cliff Lee starting Game 3 instead of Game 1 hurt the Rangers? Well these questions were answered quickly as in Game 1 the Rangers tattooed Sabathia and chased him from the game in the 5th inning, but the Yankees would still prevail in Game 1 as their bats pushed across enough run against the Rangers bullpen. Game 2 was won by the Rangers behind strong starting pitching from Colby Lewis. The Rangers took Games 3 and 4 with an offensive outburst against the Yankees bullpen. Yankees bounced back in Game 5 to push the series back to Texas
Giants win in 6 over Phillies
Going into this series, all the experts thought this would be a match-up of pitching duels. Both teams have 3 top tier pitchers in their starting rotations, but the pitching did not live up to all the hype. Game 1 was won by the Giants as Lincecum out dueled Halladay 4-3. Game 2 was the Roy Oswalt show as he pitched 8 strong innings of 1 run ball. Matt Cain turned in another stellar performance in Game 3 as he did not allow a run and led the Giants to victory. Game 4 was won by the Giants and in Game 5 the Phillies squeaked out enough runs to earn a victory and push the series back to Philadelphia
World Series:
Giants win in 5 over Rangers
This series featured great pitching by the Giants, but no offensive outbursts from the Rangers. The Giants pitched proved to be too much for the Rangers to handle as they only managed to score 10 runs off 29 hits during the series. Game 1 was supposed to be a pitching match-up of the ages between Lee and Lincecum, but both we tattooed and chased from the game. The Giants offense scored 11 runs to take Game 1. Game 2 featured a shutout performance by Matt Cain as he pitched the Giants to a 9-0 victory. Once again, Colby Lewis rose to the occasion and pitched a masterpiece against the Giants to steal Game 3 from the Giants. The story of Game 4 was the pitching performance turned in by 21 year old Madison Bumgarner for the Giants. Bumgarner tossed 8 shutout innings in the victory. Game 5 was a re-match of Lee and Lincecum and for the first six innings, it was the pitching duel we all expected it to be. When the 7th inning came around, Edgar Renteria stepped up to the plate and belted a 3-run home run, which eventually would prove to be the game winning runs as Brian Wilson closed the door on the World Series with a save in the 9th inning.
Most Memorable Moments of the Postseason:
5. San Francisco Giants clinch series victory wins on the road. This is a really hard feat to accomplish by the Giants played well together as a team and have a good head coach in Bruce Bochy.
4. Cliff Lee’s pitching performances prior to the World Series. In those three games he complied over 40 K’s. Lee baffled both the Rays and Yankees as he made them look like little leaguers.
3. Roy Halladay’s No Hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS. If you missed this performance then I am sorry for you because Halladay was literally un-hittable this game. He had all his pitches working and made the Reds hitter look silly. Halladay tossed the first no-no since Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series.
2. Giants salute and say farewell to Bobby Cox. After the Giants clinched the Divisional series in Game 4 with a win at Turner Field, the Giants stop mid celebration and turn towards the Braves dugout and salute Manager Bobby Cox who was in his last season as a manger in the majors. That was a heartwarming moment to watch that and it show how unselfish the Giants as a team are because they took the time to pay tribute to a coaching legend.
1. Rangers celebrate with
To Ortiz or not to Ortiz
Although I am a Red Sox fan this blog will cover various sports and teams across the country, however today we are going to discuss whether or not the Red Sox should bite the bullet and accept David Ortiz's 12.5 Million Dollar team option for the 2011 season. Ortiz has come out and said publicly that he does not feel comfortable with a one year deal and would like some long term security, but on the other hand he has also come out and adamantly said that he isn't going anywhere and that Boston is the place for him and his family. Could he be playing games with the team here and almost making it look like it would be the Red Sox fault if he didn't sign because he continuously says he wants to comeback? Or did the team move the bullpen wall in eight feet in right in order to make sure that there investment would not go to waste if they do accept this option, and lastly is Ortiz even worth the 12.5 Million in the first place.
Well work back to front here for the answers, Ortiz no doubt had the numbers last season to say that he deserves the money. He hit .270 with 32 homers and 102 runs batted in. Even in his off year he had 28 and 99 for home runs and runs batted in. However could get this production from someone cheaper? Is Ortiz even going to accept the one year deal and play without putting up a fight about it through the media. As far as moving the fences in this approach could be a little far fetched given the fact that if you've been to Fenway recently you know that those bullpens are probably the smallest in the league and definitely needed to be widened. So lastly the media approach is one played often by players in Boston and the Red Sox front office is no stranger to using it wither as they have become perfectionists at getting players like Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez removed because of there in house problems being "leaked" through the press, so Ortiz's approach of making it seem like there fault is not a bad plan but i highly doubt Theo is sitting in his office reading the press clippings.
If you take everything for what its worth I think there is enough mutual interest here to get deal done that will make both sides happy, I feel as though the Red Sox want him back but not at 12.5 and I know Ortiz wants to comeback but not for one year. My ultimate prediction is that the Red Sox will re-sign Ortiz for somewhere in the neighborhood of a 2 year 17-19 Million dollar deal with performance incentives.
Well work back to front here for the answers, Ortiz no doubt had the numbers last season to say that he deserves the money. He hit .270 with 32 homers and 102 runs batted in. Even in his off year he had 28 and 99 for home runs and runs batted in. However could get this production from someone cheaper? Is Ortiz even going to accept the one year deal and play without putting up a fight about it through the media. As far as moving the fences in this approach could be a little far fetched given the fact that if you've been to Fenway recently you know that those bullpens are probably the smallest in the league and definitely needed to be widened. So lastly the media approach is one played often by players in Boston and the Red Sox front office is no stranger to using it wither as they have become perfectionists at getting players like Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez removed because of there in house problems being "leaked" through the press, so Ortiz's approach of making it seem like there fault is not a bad plan but i highly doubt Theo is sitting in his office reading the press clippings.
If you take everything for what its worth I think there is enough mutual interest here to get deal done that will make both sides happy, I feel as though the Red Sox want him back but not at 12.5 and I know Ortiz wants to comeback but not for one year. My ultimate prediction is that the Red Sox will re-sign Ortiz for somewhere in the neighborhood of a 2 year 17-19 Million dollar deal with performance incentives.
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