We as a site have been slipping a little bit, and with all this wonderful news and on-goings in the world of sports, we should probably have a little more information and opinion out there. Mainly my fault; I just missed the Christmas of football, and outside of the playoffs and super bowl, the most looked-forward to aspect of the NFL as a whole. It's also the biggest game of the season for my favorite football (soccer) club, Manchester United. I have tried to take on soccer as a part time blog, at least until we get a little consistency from that field. So the question begs, which sport do I cover in this edition of the "We're Coming" blog? I suppose I could hit up a little bit of both, but I feel like there isn't much crossover viewership from our fan base so far. I think I gotta do the game, cause the draft already happened. A few quips though about what I thought...
NFL Draft - Indianapolis and Washington both made the smartest decisions of the draft. I don't believe that the #1 and #2 player will be the best players when it's over, if you look at draft history they never are. Only chance from this generation is if Sam Bradford finally pulls it all together along with Ndamoukong Suh. Maybe Michael Vick and Leonard Davis in 2001, but even between those two were just 7 pro bowls appearances. LaDainian Tomlinson had that all by himself. Yet, they would've been complete idiots if they didn't think that this was the year that it was going to happen. Still long-term I believe it will be Luck and Kalil. Kirkpatrick will also be a pro-bowler for years to come. Unless Cincinnati screws him up... Poor Justin Blackmon. I love his game, I absolutely do, but he has no chance as long as Blaine Gabbert is his QB. Not sure what the people in Jacksonville were thinking, but my amateur scouting eyes could tell that Gabbert's game would not translate at all into the pros. Especially in the Jaguars offense. The guy was under center made 8 times at Missouri... Arizona did a nice job grabbing Michael Floyd. All of his problems are going to go away being around Larry Fitzgerald and his professional attitude. There will be no more drinking for Mr. Floyd... Finally, congrats to the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for drafting the best pair of teammates that I have ever seen in college football. They were the reason that Marcell Dareus went #3 last year. Their names are Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw. Both should start right away, both should contribute right away, and both should be teammates again someday. Unless they finally do away with the Probowl.
Manchester United v Manchester City - I honestly can't remember an English soccer match bigger than this. For Manchester United, a win means their 20th league championship in the club's history. It's a chance to knock down the noisy neighbors. A chance to prove that it takes years to build a organizational machine. And one of Sir Alex's most shining moments. For Manchester City, a win means a likely 1st title since 1968. The opportunity to build open a premiership title and become the next dominant team in the English Premier league. The prospect of signing top players. A chance to shut United fans up. Summed up, this match is huge. I think it will be an enlightening moment for the next few years of English football. For all the problems that Mancini (brought on by himself) has had to endure throughout the season, if he can win the title all will be forgotten. On top of that, he can probably keep his position for another couple of seasons, because they don't fire you weeks after you bring home the Premiership trophy (Ancelotti).
I think that it will come down to midfield play. Both sides have had consistency from their front men, and they can pretty much count on their keepers to do their job. United's defense was shaky against Everton, but they had nothing to lose. 7th or 8th notwithstanding. City has it all to lose. They've never been here before. But if the likes of Barry, Ya Ya, and Silva can keep the ball and put the pressure on United's nondescript midfield, they have a chance to win. Looking at how Alex selected though, I think this will be very difficult to achieve and he's going to force Mancini to bring on some extra attackers. This game is going to be fantastic, and to those that get to watch it, do enjoy!
From my own perspective, GGMU!!! And it appears that I said screw it, and decided to cover both anyway.
Sports
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Mike Holmgren's Cleveland Browns
There were always 3 things that I was pretty confident in while following the NFL. 1. The Oakland Raiders weren't going to make the playoffs. 2. The Detroit Lions weren't going to make the playoffs. 3. The Cleveland Browns weren't going to make the playoffs. For most of the last ten years, this was a pretty sure bet. Detroit finally got in this century last season, Oakland hasn't sniffed a game since the Tampa Bay super bowl loss and Cleveland... well...
Mike Holmgren was hired to be President of the Cleveland Browns in December of 2009. He was given full authority to hire whom he wanted for all football related positions and it was expected that within 2-3 years that this team would be competing for AFC North Championships. He won a title in Green Bay, got Seattle to a Super Bowl, and the thinking was it was just a matter of time before Cleveland was doing the same thing.
It hasn't worked out that way. The Detroit Lions under Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz finally got into the playoffs for the first time during the 2011 season. They look to be setup to compete for the next couple of seasons. The Oakland Raiders are still the same organization they have been for the last ten years, but with the addition of Carson Palmer, they might be able to overcome their inadequacies and compete in what might be the weakest division in football (Is Peyton really old Peyton?). Cleveland has not even come close since the arrival of Mike Holmgren. Some may even say that they were a better club under Eric Mangini and Romeo Crennel. Romeo did win 10 games in 2007; they just missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker.
I have gotten in touch with a couple of Cleveland fans to see if they believe that their organization is on the right track since the hiring of Mike Holmgren. Two of the three believe that the upcoming season will be the year that determines Holmgren's fate. The other Browns fan thinks that his organization is cursed, since renaming the team after the old team that is now the current Baltimore Ravens. Very amusing, and perhaps partly true. The first Browns fan that I spoke with thinks that Holmgren has hit on his last two first round picks, and if he can do so again this year, that they might slowly start heading upward. He believes that the team should draft Morris Claiborne; his belief is that the division is heading toward successful passing attacks and its a major priority. Joe Haden is already a star, and potentially having two shut-down cornerbacks would be important. The second believes that they should trade similar to last year, and move down to accumulate more picks. Phil Taylor wasn't a bad selection, but like I told him, they really could have used Julio Jones. Trent Richardson and Justin Blackmon are available; it almost makes sense to select one of those players instead. The other Cleveland Browns fan believes they need to trade down and draft quantity over quality. He cited the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers as examples, and over the years those two teams have drafted well when moving down. He thinks that they could bring in 2 first round picks for the #4 spot, plus maybe a 3rd or 4th as well.
My own personal thoughts about the Cleveland Browns are this: they can't miss on the quarterback position. Part of the reason for Mike Holmgren's success was because he had Brett Favre in Green Bay, and Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle. He has yet to have that type of talent in Cleveland. Jake Delhomme was a complete bust of a signing, Seneca Wallace is barely serviceable, and Colt McCoy is just your average NFL starter. He's not horrible, and could be decent with better weapons, but so could half of the league's quarterbacks. There was a rumor that Hasselbeck would be a Browns player if Peyton had gone to Tennessee, but that was finished once Peyton chose Denver. This could've been the year to make a significant move; Mike sat on the 4th and 22nd picks in the first round instead of moving up 2 places to potentially draft Robert Griffin or Andrew Luck. If this team is to begin a trend upward over the next couple of seasons, either this year or next is the time to move. I believe that Colt McCoy is better than every available quarterback baring those top two. They can wait. The talent is still dismal on offense, but I agree that Morris Claiborne might be the right man to draft. His wonderlic score was terrible, but if he can pick-6 a few, it won't matter. Potentially trade the 22nd pick this year, to get some team's first round selection next year. Wait and see. I think that Matt Barkley ranks just under the talents of Andrew Luck and RG3, and could be the next Favre type for Holmgren to work with. They might just be bad enough next season to get him.
The Cleveland Browns certainly have a lot of work to do. They play in a division with two teams that don't lose for very long. They just found out that their state rival drafted a franchise QB and should be competitive for the next 5-6 seasons. Cleveland has had a couple of bright spots (Haden, Adams, J.Thomas). But two defensive backs and an offensive tackle have never been good enough to get to a Super Bowl in the past, and I don't believe things will change anytime soon.
Note: Check out these stats. Any true NFL buff can tell you that Joe Thomas is seriously legit.
Mike Holmgren was hired to be President of the Cleveland Browns in December of 2009. He was given full authority to hire whom he wanted for all football related positions and it was expected that within 2-3 years that this team would be competing for AFC North Championships. He won a title in Green Bay, got Seattle to a Super Bowl, and the thinking was it was just a matter of time before Cleveland was doing the same thing.
It hasn't worked out that way. The Detroit Lions under Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz finally got into the playoffs for the first time during the 2011 season. They look to be setup to compete for the next couple of seasons. The Oakland Raiders are still the same organization they have been for the last ten years, but with the addition of Carson Palmer, they might be able to overcome their inadequacies and compete in what might be the weakest division in football (Is Peyton really old Peyton?). Cleveland has not even come close since the arrival of Mike Holmgren. Some may even say that they were a better club under Eric Mangini and Romeo Crennel. Romeo did win 10 games in 2007; they just missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker.
I have gotten in touch with a couple of Cleveland fans to see if they believe that their organization is on the right track since the hiring of Mike Holmgren. Two of the three believe that the upcoming season will be the year that determines Holmgren's fate. The other Browns fan thinks that his organization is cursed, since renaming the team after the old team that is now the current Baltimore Ravens. Very amusing, and perhaps partly true. The first Browns fan that I spoke with thinks that Holmgren has hit on his last two first round picks, and if he can do so again this year, that they might slowly start heading upward. He believes that the team should draft Morris Claiborne; his belief is that the division is heading toward successful passing attacks and its a major priority. Joe Haden is already a star, and potentially having two shut-down cornerbacks would be important. The second believes that they should trade similar to last year, and move down to accumulate more picks. Phil Taylor wasn't a bad selection, but like I told him, they really could have used Julio Jones. Trent Richardson and Justin Blackmon are available; it almost makes sense to select one of those players instead. The other Cleveland Browns fan believes they need to trade down and draft quantity over quality. He cited the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers as examples, and over the years those two teams have drafted well when moving down. He thinks that they could bring in 2 first round picks for the #4 spot, plus maybe a 3rd or 4th as well.
My own personal thoughts about the Cleveland Browns are this: they can't miss on the quarterback position. Part of the reason for Mike Holmgren's success was because he had Brett Favre in Green Bay, and Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle. He has yet to have that type of talent in Cleveland. Jake Delhomme was a complete bust of a signing, Seneca Wallace is barely serviceable, and Colt McCoy is just your average NFL starter. He's not horrible, and could be decent with better weapons, but so could half of the league's quarterbacks. There was a rumor that Hasselbeck would be a Browns player if Peyton had gone to Tennessee, but that was finished once Peyton chose Denver. This could've been the year to make a significant move; Mike sat on the 4th and 22nd picks in the first round instead of moving up 2 places to potentially draft Robert Griffin or Andrew Luck. If this team is to begin a trend upward over the next couple of seasons, either this year or next is the time to move. I believe that Colt McCoy is better than every available quarterback baring those top two. They can wait. The talent is still dismal on offense, but I agree that Morris Claiborne might be the right man to draft. His wonderlic score was terrible, but if he can pick-6 a few, it won't matter. Potentially trade the 22nd pick this year, to get some team's first round selection next year. Wait and see. I think that Matt Barkley ranks just under the talents of Andrew Luck and RG3, and could be the next Favre type for Holmgren to work with. They might just be bad enough next season to get him.
The Cleveland Browns certainly have a lot of work to do. They play in a division with two teams that don't lose for very long. They just found out that their state rival drafted a franchise QB and should be competitive for the next 5-6 seasons. Cleveland has had a couple of bright spots (Haden, Adams, J.Thomas). But two defensive backs and an offensive tackle have never been good enough to get to a Super Bowl in the past, and I don't believe things will change anytime soon.
Note: Check out these stats. Any true NFL buff can tell you that Joe Thomas is seriously legit.
NFL career statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Starts | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penalty | Yards Lost | False Start | Holding | Sack Allowed | Yards Lost | ||||
| 2007 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 7 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 4.25 | 23.25 |
| 2008 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 6 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 4.50 | 22.50 |
| 2009 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 6 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 6.00 | 40.00 |
| 2010 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 4.00 | 19.00 |
| 2011 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 7 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 3.50 | 25.50 |
| Career | 80 | 80 | 28 | 170 | 20 | 6 | 22.25 | 130.25 | |
Sunday, April 8, 2012
No Lob Required
This Blake Griffen dunk over the intimidating defensive force that is Kendrick Perkins got a little too much credit.
Just as Dwight Howard's "Superman" dunk in the Dunk Contest minimal rim contact was achieved. Not to belittle the athletic ability in anyway, but "C'MON MAN"! A dunk is Vince Carter putting his for-arm in the bucket and hanging from his inner elbow.
Blake, you have outdone yourself now
Putting your arch rival's power forward on two posters in one night?
Blake gets tons of hype from the NBA for being a freak.
On the put-back, Pau is in vulnerable soft rebounding position.
The second dunk, Pau took on the bull. He got THE BLAKE!
Even Bynum knew his low post partner was 'posterized'.
Look Right-->
Here she comes...
Hello all,
As ‘AllSportsAlways’ most advocate follower you may already know me but seeing as I am one of few who does often discuss you are likely not familiar. Thanks to all who have been reading, keep reading, and look forward to seeing more of me. This is going to be fun.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Luke Moran, using, but never hiding behind the alias MagicHateBall (MHB). I am an indiscriminately relentless misunderstood ‘Hater’. Do not let any labels fool you, as my passion for sports is second to none. I mean what I say. My circle of love is predictably exclusive. Let me put this into perspective...
Loves:
1. Timberwolves
2. Vikings
3. Twins
4. Fantasy Football
Hates:
1. Philip Rivers
2. Francisco Liriano
3. Everything Wisconsin
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Laura Linny
6. Los Angeles Lakers
7. Gary Anderson
8. Lebron James
I could keep going, but if you do not comprehend the idea close the tab now. I need to contribute my personal blazing spice regarding activities I deem appropriate to classify as sports, i.e WNBA, PGA, Fencing - not sports. Keep your eyes peeled and your Depends near, content soon may come tagged with a Parental Advisory sticker.
The Path to becoming a Richeous Fan
I had this sitting in MyDocuments from not too long ago. I think only my room-ate has read it. Enjoi!
Fan, derived from the English term Fancy, was used by the British to express ones proffered boxer, according to William Henry Nugent. The Latin word fanaticus meaning ‘insanely but divinely inspired’ developed into fanatic describing ‘excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion’. In England, fans of beloved soccer clubs are known as supporters. Showing loyalty towards a team in America is being a fan. The camaraderie and unity formed by a group of individuals regardless of the term is almost unmatched. Whether parents brought together funding their children’s Little League Baseball squad, a town cheering on their students in the High School State Championship or selling out a stadium beyond capacity to gain an edge in Game Seven of the World Series, fans are brought together to help aid achieving the goal of winning. Fans are what make the sporting world clock turn, how does a person transform into a loyal supporter of a specific franchise or club?
There are multiple influences that determine the destination of a fans support. The birthplace and location of upbringing is the biggest factor in deciding whom a fan will designate their allegiance toward. If a fan is born and raised in Minnesota, the Minnesota Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and Wild are the most probable to influence the fan. Local media, stretching from the News Papers, Magazines, Radio Broadcasting Stations and Television Networks are obligated to cover and report the happenings of local sports teams to the highest degree of detail and accuracy. Family and instrumental figures including teachers and friends may also affect direction of a fans support. A young couple moves to Phoenix from Detroit and has a child. There is pressure to support the Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons living in the household. Despite influence at home, the public and the local media all focus on the D-Backs (Diamondbacks), Cardinals, Coyotes and Suns. A fan is born to a couple that did not plan on having the child. Mom lives in Chicago and Dad lives in New York. The fan gains his education while living with Mom in Chicago while spending holidays and summer vacations visiting Dad. The amount of teams and media coverage the fan has exposure too is remarkable. The Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, Whitesox, and Bears are Chicago’s darlings. While in New York, the Knicks, Mets, Yankees, Islanders, Rangers, Giants, Jets, and Bills are the primary focus of American sports media. There is no pure formula to determine how someone becomes a fan of whom. For every fan, there are variables and factors determining the outcome of a supporter’s arrival in the rigorous world of sports.
The long unpredictable route to fanmanship eventually will settle. Every fan knows that the fate of either winning or losing cannot be controlled. Being a fan is riding a roller-coaster that goes up, down, loops around, twists, turns, takes a personal possesion, and occasionally removes dignity. Not all fans chose to endure the stress and emotional toll that comes with the territory. Minnesota has not hoisted a championship banner since the Twins defeated the Atlanta Braves in the 1991 World Series (disregarding the Lynx, 2011 WNBA Champions). Suffering defeats in three NFC Championship games, one NBA Western Conference Finals, six ALDS (American League Divisional Series) early exits and one ALCS (American League Championship Series) defeat. Minnesota teams have only letdown supporters not old enough to remember 1991. The heartbreak of defeat and consecutive undesirable results drain fans emotionally. Heartbroken supporters who have lost faith in clubs ability to achieve the ultimate goal are likely to show less support. Teams betray fans. The Seattle Super Sonics picked up and left Seattle for Oklahoma City. The Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee and became the Titans. The Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns were eventually born again, retaining the name and all previous records and statistics. Consecutive streaks of failure along with a team betraying supporters will decrease loyalty and pride among fans. A Righteous Fan will never stop supporting. It is most important for a Club or Franchise to give back those who exhaust effort, time, conversation, pride, and money to a roller-coaster that is ridden through all the up’s, down’s, twist’s, turn’s and dark tunnels never anticipated.
There will never be a true equation, formula or method to show how support for specific; Clubs, Franchises, Squads, Lineups, Offenses, Defences, Special Teams, Players, Coaches, and Traditions is acquired.
I LOVE SPORTS!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Season Preview - AL West
Technically, the season started today, so there's no further room for delay on a preview. The A's and Mariners kicked things off, so let's start there, the AL West. First, the defending champs...
Texas Rangers
2011: 96-66, AL West Champs, AL Champs
2011 Pythagorean: 98-64
2012 Over/Under: 91.5
My Pick: OVER
Key Additions:
P Yu Darvish
P Joe Nathan
Key Losses:
P C.J. Wilson
P Darren Oliver
2012 Offseason Wrapup
The Rangers have established themselves as the new power in the AL West, as evidenced by their repeat trips to the World Series. They've got the talent at the big league level to compete for rings in the near future, and the farm system to maintain dominance once they get there.
The biggest loss this team suffered is their ace, C.J. Wilson. It's hard to call him a true ace, though he was the best pitcher on the team and obvious leader of the staff. He's very good, but was maybe the 4th best pitcher in the division, much less in the top 5% of the league. To that end, if the scouting reports on this kid Darvish turn out to be true, he should at least provide a value-equal replacement to Wilson. A much more interesting change is the swapping of Ogando and Feliz between the rotation and the bullpen. Feliz was groomed as a starter and pressed into closing duty as team needs dictated. Now that Adams and Nathan are in the fold, the RHRP role is well-filled and Feliz can return to the rotation. He's expected to continue some measure of the dominance he showed in the bullpen, and that will be a bigger story on the pitching staff than anything short of a complete Darvish blow-out.
On offense, they're the same team as last year's that ranked 3rd in the AL in runs scored, which is a good thing, but not without questions. The two biggest are whether Napoli can repeat his breakout season and whether Hamilton can put together anything resembling a complete season. Kinsler, Young, Andrus, and Beltre are among the best at their respective positions, though Young is due for decline, and the outfield of Cruz, Hamilton, and Otherguy (Borbon/Gentry/etc) is not a problem. Good offense is good.
2012 TEX rookie of the year: Darvish is the layup here, and it's kinda dumb that he's rookie-eligible, so I'll disregard him for these purposes. Instead, I'll go with Martin Perez, LHSP. He's one of the guys that made Erlin and Wieland, two quality pitchers flipped for Adams, expendable. He's on the 40-man and is who I think should be the first man up in case of an injury in the major league rotation. Other names to watch for: Tanner Scheppers - RHRP, Leonys Martin - OF, Neil Ramirez - RHSP
Los Angeles Angels
(of Anaheim Orange County California blah blah)
2011: 86-76
2011 Pythagorean: 85-77
2012 Over/Under: 92.5
My Pick: UNDER
Key Additions
1B Albert Pujols
P C.J. Wilson
P LaTroy Hawkins
C Chris Iannetta
Key Losses
P Joel Pineiro
P Fernando Rodney
P Tyler Chatwood
2012 Offseason Overview
I really don't need to say much about the Angels to preface. In one day, they spent the most money in one offseason since the Yanks reeled in CC and Tex in the same offseason. So yes, they'll be better than last year. They have to be. I just don't think it'll be enough.
So maybe you've heard of this Pujols guy. Helped the Cards to two rings and one other NL Championship? Yeah, he's good. Can't argue that. Thing is, I don't think he's enough better than Trumbo or Morales that he'll propel this team right into the playoffs. They still probably get in with the 5th playoff spot in play, but I don't see them actually posing a serious threat to the Rangers' division title hopes. The reason I don't think it's enough is because first base was already their best offensive position - the problem lay with the other 8 offensive players. Wells, Hunter, and Abreu make up a wonderful outfield circa 2005, but they're collectively losing their tasty red center. Bourjos is possibly the best defensive CF in the majors, or is at least top 5, so he'll get playing time, but he's not an offensive asset. The same can be said about the rest of the offense - Callaspo's empty .366 OBP led the team among regulars, and if your 2B has the highest OPS on your team and he's not Cano or Utley, it doesn't speak well of you. When you have a mediocre offense, signing the best offensive player of the generation is never a bad idea, and considering the layout of the rest of the team, it was the only position to upgrade this offseason. But it's not enough.
I think the pitching is much the same story. It never hurts to add the best pitcher available in the offseason, and Wilson will be the second-best #3 starter in the league - sorry, rather have Hamels - but the value over his potential replacement isn't enough to make it worth the money. Weaver, Haren, and Big Erv were already the centerpiece of this team, and were the reason the team won 85 last year. Is Wilson more than a couple wins better than Jerome Williams, Garrett Richards, or Trevor Bell? I don't think so.
2012 LAA rookie of the year: Mike Trout, OF - and there's really no other way to go here. Yeah, Richards might be a nice player, and someone else might step up and make us take notice, but any prognosticator has to take Trout. In any other season, he's be a shoo-in for AL ROY, but this Moore kid in Tampa is a bit of a speed bump on that road. Trout will force himself into the big league lineup sooner than later, and he'll be up to stay. Check back next year for a more challenging pick. Other names to watch: Richards - RHSP, Jean Segura - SS
Oakland Athletics
2011: 74-88
2011 Pythagorean: 77-85
2012 Over/Under: 71.5
My Pick: UNDER
Key Additions
OF Yoenis Cespedes
OF Seth Smith
OF Josh Reddick
DH Manny Ramirez
P Bartolo Colon
Key Losses
P Andrew Bailey
P Gio Gonzalez
P Trevor Cahill
OF Josh Willingham
OF David DeJesus
2012 Offseason Overview
The A's have sent a clear message: it's time to rebuild. Trading Cahill and Gonzalez brought back many nice pieces and replenished the farm system from a middle-bottom level to in the one of the top 6 or 7 systems. And that's great to hear, since being in the middle is a place that's untenable unless you're really on the way up. So they sold off their three most marketable pieces, got younger, and are now going to try to push back toward the top, though LA and TEX will make it hard for many years to come.
The pitching staff was hit the hardest. Gonzalez and Cahill were the two remaining quality healthy members on the staff, and now they're off to the NL. Bailey was a quality reliever and now he replaces Papelbon. Braden and Anderson are the next two best pitchers, and both are recovering from Tommy John. Of course, McCarthy is a quality pitcher, and about any team would have room for him in their rotation, but when he's your #1, that doesn't say much for your present hopes for competing. I'm guessing at least 8 pitchers will have 5 starts for the A's over the course of the year. It's time to experiment. Throw the kids out there and see who wants it.
Offensively, the theme is pretty much the same. Unfortunately, they're a bunch of young guys that are getting into put-up-or-shut-up contract regions. Weeks, Pennington, and Suzuki have got a year or two under their belt, and arbitration looms. Crisp is what he is. It's a shame what happened to Sizemore, but I don't think the team will lose out too badly. The one interesting point on the offense is Cespedes. YouTube phenomenon that he is, he's going to hav67- a chance to live up to the hype right away, despite some evaluators saying he should start the year in AA. He has the talent to bring this team a lot closer to .500 than I'd like to believe, but it's hard to believe he'll make it happen right away. My expectation is that he'll show us - more importantly, San Jose fans - something to get excited about. Next year, he'll be ready to take the league by storm. But not yet.
2012 OAK rookie of the year: Cespedes has already had enough words devoted to him here, and he's the only choice, to be honest. Brad Peacock, Jarrod Parker, and Tom Milone all came over in those offseason trades, and although only Milone made the opening day rotation, he's the least talented of the three. They could be the building blocks of the next big rotation of Oakland lore. Other names: Collin Cowgill - OF, Derek Norris - C
Seattle Mariners
2011: 67-95
2011 Pythagorean: 67-95
2012 Over/Under: 72
My Pick: OVER
Key Additions:
C Jesus Montero
P Hector Noesi
Key Losses:
P Michael Pineda
2012 Offseason Overview
The Mariners have been a dearth of offense ever since their last division title in '01. They've been 13th or worse in the AL in runs scored 7 times in the 11 seasons since then, bottoming out to historic levels in the past two seasons by failing to score even 600 runs. They might reach that lofty plateau this year, but even that assures the Mariners will be continue to be bad. The Mariners have benefited from their pitching-friendly ballpark with a quality staff and solid defense, which will also continue this year. Much like Oakland, this team will be all about developing youngsters and looking toward the future.
There are two names every baseball fan knows on Seattle. The young one is Felix Hernandez, anchor of the staff. While he may be subject of trade rumors - again - as the Yankees continually lust after the best of other team's labors, he is yet still the Mariners' frontman. Without Pineda to back him up for the near future, the staff takes a significant hit, but there is help on the way. Vargas was a solid pitcher last year, and Noesi was underrated for the Yankees last year and will benefit from spacious Safeco. Old Man Millwood is just keeping a spot warm for the youngsters - last year's #2 overall pick Danny Hultzen was drafted there primarily for the speed with which he was expected to reach the majors. There have been no indications that those expectations will not come to fruition, with Hultzen likely to end the year in the rotation, though he may not begin it there. Also on the way is James Paxton, one-time participant in the never-ending battle between the NCAA and amateurism. Both figure to cut their teeth this year with an eye toward making an impact next season and paying off the faith Hernandez has shown in the organization.
Offensively, the biggest story is Montero. The rookie comes over from the Yankees and instantly is the biggest power threat in the offense. Yeah, the stories have persisted that Ichiro could hit for power if he so desired, but his age may make that prohibitive anyway, though he still has a very productive amount of speed. Behind those two, young Ackley needs to take another step forward to prove himself a proper complimentary piece and table-setter for Montero. Aside from those three, the rest of the offense is deplorable. Three players from last year return to the starting lineup after sporting sub-.300 OBP numbers. One of which even batted below the Mendoza line, and is even now going to be leading off in an absolutely baffling decision - I'm looking at you, Chone Figgins. There's a lot of good defense here, but those defenders such as Figgins, Ryan, and Gutierrez need to show a pulse on offense to start winning some games. Finally, it's time for Smoak to step up. The focal point of the Cliff Lee trade a couple years ago, he's gotta start paying off or he will be replaced.
2012 SEA rookie of the year: Montero, C/DH will be expected to carry the offense from day 1 and has the talent to live up to that. He's been the best offensive prospect in the "non-Bryce Harper" category for the past two years and should flex that ability, even in the pitchers' paradise that is Safeco. Other names: Hultzen - RHSP, Paxton - RHSP, Vinny Catricala - 3B
All images were taken from BaseballProspectus.com and are property of Major League Baseball
Texas Rangers
2011: 96-66, AL West Champs, AL Champs
2011 Pythagorean: 98-64
2012 Over/Under: 91.5
My Pick: OVER
Key Additions:
P Yu Darvish
P Joe Nathan
Key Losses:
P C.J. Wilson
P Darren Oliver
2012 Offseason Wrapup
The Rangers have established themselves as the new power in the AL West, as evidenced by their repeat trips to the World Series. They've got the talent at the big league level to compete for rings in the near future, and the farm system to maintain dominance once they get there.
The biggest loss this team suffered is their ace, C.J. Wilson. It's hard to call him a true ace, though he was the best pitcher on the team and obvious leader of the staff. He's very good, but was maybe the 4th best pitcher in the division, much less in the top 5% of the league. To that end, if the scouting reports on this kid Darvish turn out to be true, he should at least provide a value-equal replacement to Wilson. A much more interesting change is the swapping of Ogando and Feliz between the rotation and the bullpen. Feliz was groomed as a starter and pressed into closing duty as team needs dictated. Now that Adams and Nathan are in the fold, the RHRP role is well-filled and Feliz can return to the rotation. He's expected to continue some measure of the dominance he showed in the bullpen, and that will be a bigger story on the pitching staff than anything short of a complete Darvish blow-out.
On offense, they're the same team as last year's that ranked 3rd in the AL in runs scored, which is a good thing, but not without questions. The two biggest are whether Napoli can repeat his breakout season and whether Hamilton can put together anything resembling a complete season. Kinsler, Young, Andrus, and Beltre are among the best at their respective positions, though Young is due for decline, and the outfield of Cruz, Hamilton, and Otherguy (Borbon/Gentry/etc) is not a problem. Good offense is good.
2012 TEX rookie of the year: Darvish is the layup here, and it's kinda dumb that he's rookie-eligible, so I'll disregard him for these purposes. Instead, I'll go with Martin Perez, LHSP. He's one of the guys that made Erlin and Wieland, two quality pitchers flipped for Adams, expendable. He's on the 40-man and is who I think should be the first man up in case of an injury in the major league rotation. Other names to watch for: Tanner Scheppers - RHRP, Leonys Martin - OF, Neil Ramirez - RHSP
Los Angeles Angels
(of Anaheim Orange County California blah blah)
2011: 86-76
2011 Pythagorean: 85-77
2012 Over/Under: 92.5
My Pick: UNDER
Key Additions
1B Albert Pujols
P C.J. Wilson
P LaTroy Hawkins
C Chris Iannetta
Key Losses
P Joel Pineiro
P Fernando Rodney
P Tyler Chatwood
2012 Offseason Overview
I really don't need to say much about the Angels to preface. In one day, they spent the most money in one offseason since the Yanks reeled in CC and Tex in the same offseason. So yes, they'll be better than last year. They have to be. I just don't think it'll be enough.
So maybe you've heard of this Pujols guy. Helped the Cards to two rings and one other NL Championship? Yeah, he's good. Can't argue that. Thing is, I don't think he's enough better than Trumbo or Morales that he'll propel this team right into the playoffs. They still probably get in with the 5th playoff spot in play, but I don't see them actually posing a serious threat to the Rangers' division title hopes. The reason I don't think it's enough is because first base was already their best offensive position - the problem lay with the other 8 offensive players. Wells, Hunter, and Abreu make up a wonderful outfield circa 2005, but they're collectively losing their tasty red center. Bourjos is possibly the best defensive CF in the majors, or is at least top 5, so he'll get playing time, but he's not an offensive asset. The same can be said about the rest of the offense - Callaspo's empty .366 OBP led the team among regulars, and if your 2B has the highest OPS on your team and he's not Cano or Utley, it doesn't speak well of you. When you have a mediocre offense, signing the best offensive player of the generation is never a bad idea, and considering the layout of the rest of the team, it was the only position to upgrade this offseason. But it's not enough.
I think the pitching is much the same story. It never hurts to add the best pitcher available in the offseason, and Wilson will be the second-best #3 starter in the league - sorry, rather have Hamels - but the value over his potential replacement isn't enough to make it worth the money. Weaver, Haren, and Big Erv were already the centerpiece of this team, and were the reason the team won 85 last year. Is Wilson more than a couple wins better than Jerome Williams, Garrett Richards, or Trevor Bell? I don't think so.
2012 LAA rookie of the year: Mike Trout, OF - and there's really no other way to go here. Yeah, Richards might be a nice player, and someone else might step up and make us take notice, but any prognosticator has to take Trout. In any other season, he's be a shoo-in for AL ROY, but this Moore kid in Tampa is a bit of a speed bump on that road. Trout will force himself into the big league lineup sooner than later, and he'll be up to stay. Check back next year for a more challenging pick. Other names to watch: Richards - RHSP, Jean Segura - SS
Oakland Athletics
2011: 74-88
2011 Pythagorean: 77-85
2012 Over/Under: 71.5
My Pick: UNDER
Key Additions
OF Yoenis Cespedes
OF Seth Smith
OF Josh Reddick
DH Manny Ramirez
P Bartolo Colon
Key Losses
P Andrew Bailey
P Gio Gonzalez
P Trevor Cahill
OF Josh Willingham
OF David DeJesus
2012 Offseason Overview
The A's have sent a clear message: it's time to rebuild. Trading Cahill and Gonzalez brought back many nice pieces and replenished the farm system from a middle-bottom level to in the one of the top 6 or 7 systems. And that's great to hear, since being in the middle is a place that's untenable unless you're really on the way up. So they sold off their three most marketable pieces, got younger, and are now going to try to push back toward the top, though LA and TEX will make it hard for many years to come.
The pitching staff was hit the hardest. Gonzalez and Cahill were the two remaining quality healthy members on the staff, and now they're off to the NL. Bailey was a quality reliever and now he replaces Papelbon. Braden and Anderson are the next two best pitchers, and both are recovering from Tommy John. Of course, McCarthy is a quality pitcher, and about any team would have room for him in their rotation, but when he's your #1, that doesn't say much for your present hopes for competing. I'm guessing at least 8 pitchers will have 5 starts for the A's over the course of the year. It's time to experiment. Throw the kids out there and see who wants it.
Offensively, the theme is pretty much the same. Unfortunately, they're a bunch of young guys that are getting into put-up-or-shut-up contract regions. Weeks, Pennington, and Suzuki have got a year or two under their belt, and arbitration looms. Crisp is what he is. It's a shame what happened to Sizemore, but I don't think the team will lose out too badly. The one interesting point on the offense is Cespedes. YouTube phenomenon that he is, he's going to hav67- a chance to live up to the hype right away, despite some evaluators saying he should start the year in AA. He has the talent to bring this team a lot closer to .500 than I'd like to believe, but it's hard to believe he'll make it happen right away. My expectation is that he'll show us - more importantly, San Jose fans - something to get excited about. Next year, he'll be ready to take the league by storm. But not yet.
2012 OAK rookie of the year: Cespedes has already had enough words devoted to him here, and he's the only choice, to be honest. Brad Peacock, Jarrod Parker, and Tom Milone all came over in those offseason trades, and although only Milone made the opening day rotation, he's the least talented of the three. They could be the building blocks of the next big rotation of Oakland lore. Other names: Collin Cowgill - OF, Derek Norris - C
Seattle Mariners
2011: 67-95
2011 Pythagorean: 67-95
2012 Over/Under: 72
My Pick: OVER
Key Additions:
C Jesus Montero
P Hector Noesi
Key Losses:
P Michael Pineda
2012 Offseason Overview
The Mariners have been a dearth of offense ever since their last division title in '01. They've been 13th or worse in the AL in runs scored 7 times in the 11 seasons since then, bottoming out to historic levels in the past two seasons by failing to score even 600 runs. They might reach that lofty plateau this year, but even that assures the Mariners will be continue to be bad. The Mariners have benefited from their pitching-friendly ballpark with a quality staff and solid defense, which will also continue this year. Much like Oakland, this team will be all about developing youngsters and looking toward the future.
There are two names every baseball fan knows on Seattle. The young one is Felix Hernandez, anchor of the staff. While he may be subject of trade rumors - again - as the Yankees continually lust after the best of other team's labors, he is yet still the Mariners' frontman. Without Pineda to back him up for the near future, the staff takes a significant hit, but there is help on the way. Vargas was a solid pitcher last year, and Noesi was underrated for the Yankees last year and will benefit from spacious Safeco. Old Man Millwood is just keeping a spot warm for the youngsters - last year's #2 overall pick Danny Hultzen was drafted there primarily for the speed with which he was expected to reach the majors. There have been no indications that those expectations will not come to fruition, with Hultzen likely to end the year in the rotation, though he may not begin it there. Also on the way is James Paxton, one-time participant in the never-ending battle between the NCAA and amateurism. Both figure to cut their teeth this year with an eye toward making an impact next season and paying off the faith Hernandez has shown in the organization.
Offensively, the biggest story is Montero. The rookie comes over from the Yankees and instantly is the biggest power threat in the offense. Yeah, the stories have persisted that Ichiro could hit for power if he so desired, but his age may make that prohibitive anyway, though he still has a very productive amount of speed. Behind those two, young Ackley needs to take another step forward to prove himself a proper complimentary piece and table-setter for Montero. Aside from those three, the rest of the offense is deplorable. Three players from last year return to the starting lineup after sporting sub-.300 OBP numbers. One of which even batted below the Mendoza line, and is even now going to be leading off in an absolutely baffling decision - I'm looking at you, Chone Figgins. There's a lot of good defense here, but those defenders such as Figgins, Ryan, and Gutierrez need to show a pulse on offense to start winning some games. Finally, it's time for Smoak to step up. The focal point of the Cliff Lee trade a couple years ago, he's gotta start paying off or he will be replaced.
2012 SEA rookie of the year: Montero, C/DH will be expected to carry the offense from day 1 and has the talent to live up to that. He's been the best offensive prospect in the "non-Bryce Harper" category for the past two years and should flex that ability, even in the pitchers' paradise that is Safeco. Other names: Hultzen - RHSP, Paxton - RHSP, Vinny Catricala - 3B
All images were taken from BaseballProspectus.com and are property of Major League Baseball
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Eastern Conference and Finals Prediction
As promised, The Eastern Conference.
Keep in mind I am very West Coast Bias.
1. Chicago Bulls
Old school basketball is working as a charm would for the Bulls, I don't think there has been a point in this season where they haven't possessed the best record in the league (not a fact).
Despite the returning MVP really being absent the Bulls play hard defense, run an extremely organized offensive system, and are very well disciplined by Head Coach Tom Thibodeau.
vs.
8. New York Knicks
Nobody wants the Bulls in any round of the playoffs. These two teams would make for a very entertaining opening round. Carmello, Amare, J.R. Smith, Baron Davis, and yes, Linsanity all make for quality scoring options if an offense is implemented to make them all happy. Buckets will not come easy, as the Bulls pride themselves on their defense. Tyson Chandler will have to motivate the rest of the team to put forth matching efforts on the defensive end in order to be competitive.
2. Miami Heat
I loath this team. We know about the "Big Three". Is Mario Chalmers going to play at the level his Jayhawks are playing? Can Shane Battier hit clutch three's and continue to play great defense? Can the streaky James Jones get hot at the right time? Popular opinion states that this is their year, we'll see if they live up to their own expectations and come away with a championship.
vs.
7. Boston Celtics
This is the last team Boston wants. Getting older and fading away from the recent glory years, this seems to be the end of the line for the NBA's most recent dynasty. Boston will need to find a way to change the rules to make every basket double in points for them to win this series.
To the Boston Celtics and Fans,
You only won one title, you are not the best team ever as you seem to personify yourself to be. You can thank the beloved Kevin Garnett for the rings you possess. Please return KG to the Timberwolves so he may lead a young team to a championship and fade away into the sunset that is basketball royalty.
Many thanks,
Wolves Fans.
3. Orlando Magic
The Magic will be abiding by the 'Live by the three, and die by the three' policy.
Lets list shooters:
J.J. Redick and Chris Duhon both are former Duke Blue Devils who have made a living behind the ark.
Ryan Anderson is a poor mans Kevin Love with a solid ability to hit from distance.
Quentin and Jason Richardson are both players who need to hang it up soon. Both players are not hesitant to pull the trigger.
Hedu Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson will be responsible for distributing, as well as Dwight Howard. Dwight remains a presence on the defensive end to go along with his stagnant offensive skill set. Teams are finding success in letting the leagues biggest mouth get his points, rather than doubling so he may kick out to any of the listed spot up shooters.
vs.
6. Atlanta Hawks
Can anyone tell if this team cares about winning? Josh Smith wanted out earlier in the season. Joe Johnson called out Hawks fans for not showing up to playoff games. Teague is on the rise as a scoring point guard. Atlanta will need to be in rare mental form to compete. Depth is a question with this team as well. Johnson has the talent to be a top five superstar in the league. Johnson, Smith, and Teague have heavy responsibility to put the ball in the basket. If Atlanta comes together as a team on both ends of the floor and the city shows up to support them I believe they could be a sleeping giant in the playoffs. Winners of four in a row, I place the Wildcard label here.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Very young, very talented, and very dangerous the 76ers have played great basketball all season long.
I have a man crush on Jrue Holiday's game. Jrue is a relentless point guard on both ends of the floor and has an uncanny feel for the game. We've seen Lou Williams ability to provide 6th man of the year type of scoring. If not for James Harden, Lou wins the award hands down. Andre Iguodala (University of Arizona) continues to be flashy. 'Iggy's scoring numbers aren't anything eye opening, he makes up for it with solid defensive play. Evan Turner, Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young, and Jodie Meeks all help make Philly a very complete squad. A noticeable flaw with the 76ers is their lack of veteran leadership. Limited post-season experience may haunt this up-and-coming Eastern Conference power.
vs.
5. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have quietly paced their way to a very impressive season. David West is showing that he can still ball with the best of them in his eighth year. Mid-season acquisition Leandro Barbosa has a 6th man of the year award under his belt. His ability to score and run an offense will be pivotal, the team lacks depth at the floor general position. No, I do not think Darren Collison is ready to get it done at a high level, yet. Paul George has exploded and will get his buckets.
The Pacers and 76ers will both benefit greatly from going head to head in the opening round. Both teams are very young, on the rise, and will be able to take away valuable basketball lessons that cannot be taught at the college level or during the regular season.
A Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference Finals is expected out of almost everyone in the world that is the NBA. It may be due to my desire to really dissect the match-ups out east, which is none, but i believe that this is more of a wide open race than it would appear. Orlando may make it rain from behind the ark. A young team like the 76ers may find their place on the big stage. The Knicks could magically come together as a team and play on both ends of the floor. There seems to be a growing amount of parody surging all around the league and I expect it to show come playoff time.
I like the Heat and the Thunder meeting in the finals. The Bulls are a team likely to choke under a strenuous six or seven game series. I don't notice a killer instinct that will allow them to blow teams out and make things easier on themselves. Oklahoma City is just too talented to pick against. Since the team moved from Seattle the Thunder have been a great organization for the NBA. The Thunder are built to play the role of 'The Hero' matched up against 'The Villain' Miami Heat. I am a LeBron hater. I do not want to see the Heat celebrating at the end of what has been a fantastic season.
By the way, 3 of 4 final four teams in my bracket. Ohio State winning it all would make it look REAL good.
I Love Basketball
Keep in mind I am very West Coast Bias.
1. Chicago Bulls
Old school basketball is working as a charm would for the Bulls, I don't think there has been a point in this season where they haven't possessed the best record in the league (not a fact).
Despite the returning MVP really being absent the Bulls play hard defense, run an extremely organized offensive system, and are very well disciplined by Head Coach Tom Thibodeau.
vs.
8. New York Knicks
Nobody wants the Bulls in any round of the playoffs. These two teams would make for a very entertaining opening round. Carmello, Amare, J.R. Smith, Baron Davis, and yes, Linsanity all make for quality scoring options if an offense is implemented to make them all happy. Buckets will not come easy, as the Bulls pride themselves on their defense. Tyson Chandler will have to motivate the rest of the team to put forth matching efforts on the defensive end in order to be competitive.
2. Miami Heat
I loath this team. We know about the "Big Three". Is Mario Chalmers going to play at the level his Jayhawks are playing? Can Shane Battier hit clutch three's and continue to play great defense? Can the streaky James Jones get hot at the right time? Popular opinion states that this is their year, we'll see if they live up to their own expectations and come away with a championship.
vs.
7. Boston Celtics
This is the last team Boston wants. Getting older and fading away from the recent glory years, this seems to be the end of the line for the NBA's most recent dynasty. Boston will need to find a way to change the rules to make every basket double in points for them to win this series.
To the Boston Celtics and Fans,
You only won one title, you are not the best team ever as you seem to personify yourself to be. You can thank the beloved Kevin Garnett for the rings you possess. Please return KG to the Timberwolves so he may lead a young team to a championship and fade away into the sunset that is basketball royalty.
Many thanks,
Wolves Fans.
3. Orlando Magic
The Magic will be abiding by the 'Live by the three, and die by the three' policy.
Lets list shooters:
J.J. Redick and Chris Duhon both are former Duke Blue Devils who have made a living behind the ark.
Ryan Anderson is a poor mans Kevin Love with a solid ability to hit from distance.
Quentin and Jason Richardson are both players who need to hang it up soon. Both players are not hesitant to pull the trigger.
Hedu Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson will be responsible for distributing, as well as Dwight Howard. Dwight remains a presence on the defensive end to go along with his stagnant offensive skill set. Teams are finding success in letting the leagues biggest mouth get his points, rather than doubling so he may kick out to any of the listed spot up shooters.
vs.
6. Atlanta Hawks
Can anyone tell if this team cares about winning? Josh Smith wanted out earlier in the season. Joe Johnson called out Hawks fans for not showing up to playoff games. Teague is on the rise as a scoring point guard. Atlanta will need to be in rare mental form to compete. Depth is a question with this team as well. Johnson has the talent to be a top five superstar in the league. Johnson, Smith, and Teague have heavy responsibility to put the ball in the basket. If Atlanta comes together as a team on both ends of the floor and the city shows up to support them I believe they could be a sleeping giant in the playoffs. Winners of four in a row, I place the Wildcard label here.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Very young, very talented, and very dangerous the 76ers have played great basketball all season long.
I have a man crush on Jrue Holiday's game. Jrue is a relentless point guard on both ends of the floor and has an uncanny feel for the game. We've seen Lou Williams ability to provide 6th man of the year type of scoring. If not for James Harden, Lou wins the award hands down. Andre Iguodala (University of Arizona) continues to be flashy. 'Iggy's scoring numbers aren't anything eye opening, he makes up for it with solid defensive play. Evan Turner, Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young, and Jodie Meeks all help make Philly a very complete squad. A noticeable flaw with the 76ers is their lack of veteran leadership. Limited post-season experience may haunt this up-and-coming Eastern Conference power.
vs.
5. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have quietly paced their way to a very impressive season. David West is showing that he can still ball with the best of them in his eighth year. Mid-season acquisition Leandro Barbosa has a 6th man of the year award under his belt. His ability to score and run an offense will be pivotal, the team lacks depth at the floor general position. No, I do not think Darren Collison is ready to get it done at a high level, yet. Paul George has exploded and will get his buckets.
The Pacers and 76ers will both benefit greatly from going head to head in the opening round. Both teams are very young, on the rise, and will be able to take away valuable basketball lessons that cannot be taught at the college level or during the regular season.
A Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference Finals is expected out of almost everyone in the world that is the NBA. It may be due to my desire to really dissect the match-ups out east, which is none, but i believe that this is more of a wide open race than it would appear. Orlando may make it rain from behind the ark. A young team like the 76ers may find their place on the big stage. The Knicks could magically come together as a team and play on both ends of the floor. There seems to be a growing amount of parody surging all around the league and I expect it to show come playoff time.
I like the Heat and the Thunder meeting in the finals. The Bulls are a team likely to choke under a strenuous six or seven game series. I don't notice a killer instinct that will allow them to blow teams out and make things easier on themselves. Oklahoma City is just too talented to pick against. Since the team moved from Seattle the Thunder have been a great organization for the NBA. The Thunder are built to play the role of 'The Hero' matched up against 'The Villain' Miami Heat. I am a LeBron hater. I do not want to see the Heat celebrating at the end of what has been a fantastic season.
By the way, 3 of 4 final four teams in my bracket. Ohio State winning it all would make it look REAL good.
I Love Basketball
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