tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75275495621127099992024-03-06T00:49:43.653-05:00Meatballs in the MorningA blog about sports (mostly), music, news (rarely), life and whatever else crosses my mind. Written from Ohio with a New York perspective.Jesse and Mikeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04777034057452966831noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-17813441002322488512013-10-15T22:30:00.000-04:002013-10-16T08:58:13.860-04:00Classifying Sports Nicknames<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The MLB, NBA and NHL each have 30 clubs and the NFL has 32 for a total of 122 teams in the four major American pro sports leagues. You would think there would be more diversity than there is, but 115 of them can fit neatly into one of 21 categories. Below is my list of these categories and their members. FUN FACT: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are six common names (Panthers, Cardinals, Giants, Jets, Kings, Rangers) leaving us with 116 unique monikers.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Regional Pride (18)</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, New York Mets, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Islanders, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Vikings</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Birds/Aerial (16)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, Winnipeg Jets, New York Jets, Philadelphia Flyers </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Patriotic (8)</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Philadelphia 76ers, New England Patriots, Columbus Blue Jackets, Washington Nationals, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New York Yankees</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Cats (7)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Florida Panthers</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Western (7)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Rangers, Texas Rangers, Portland Trailblazers</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Wild Animals (6)</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Nashville Predators, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Aquatic/Fish and Boats (6)</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Clippers</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Mystical/Fantasy (5)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, San Francisco Giants, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Colors (5)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Red Wings</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Weather (5)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Miami Heat, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Oklahoma City Thunder</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Native American (5)</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, Chicago Blackhawks, Golden State Warriors</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Spiritual (4)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New Orleans Saints, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, New Jersey Devils</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Professions (4)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pittsburgh Steelers, Milwaukee Brewers, Edmonton Oilers, Green Bay Packers</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Bears (4)</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Boston Bruins, Memphis Grizzlies</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Galactic (4)</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Houston Astros, Dallas Stars</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Regal (3)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Kings, Kansas City Royals</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Pirates (3)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Musical (2)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Utah Jazz, St. Louis Blues</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Equine (2)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Dogs (2)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Coyotes</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Reptiles (2)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Toronto Raptors, Arizona Diamondbacks</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The five that don't fit neatly into one of my categories are: Oakland Athletics, Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Wild, San Diego Chargers. I had trouble with some of them (ex: could have put the Padres in the Professions group or the Blues in the Colors set), but did what I thought was best. What are your thoughts?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Originally published August 16, 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">UPDATED October 16, 2013 after some reclassifying and changed names.</span></div>
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Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-9542506230591109662013-10-08T09:08:00.001-04:002013-10-08T09:08:40.011-04:00Speeding up The Game<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A friend shot an email off to a small group of baseball fans after staying up late for the AL Wild Card game that his Indians had the misfortune of losing. Here's the short chain where we discussed how to speed up the game and the future of baseball.</span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Josh--></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I may be getting old. Scratch that, I am getting old. That said, baseball games get over too late. This, of course, is owed to two main factors; the games are too long and start too late. Now, I love baseball, but am concerned about how games like last night's Cleveland/Tampa tilt affects the future of the game. How does MLB expect to attract young fans when games are ending near <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_386033514" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">midnight</span></span>? It's one thing to let your kid stay up that late on a school night once in a while (tonight's Browns game will likely end similarly late), but the MLB playoffs are EVERY night. I don't have kids (yet), but it's hard to imagine my sister letting my nephew stay up that late to watch every Indians game, had they advanced. She probably didn't let him stay up last night. And that all assumes he actually <em>wanted</em> to stay up. Doesn't MLB want 10 year old boys watching the playoffs? I should think they do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MLB needs to account for the short attention span of the next generation. One of the great things about baseball is it's slow, almost lazy pace. There is ample time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the ballpark, have a conversation, and think strategically about the game unfolding before you. I don't need four hours of that, nor do I want four hours of that. I would rejoice more over an Indians championship than I would any other Cleveland championship, but even I was getting restless during the game last night. Again, sitting there for four hours is tough for me, let alone a ten year old kid raised in a world of constant stimulation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few thoughts, none of which are original I'm sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Start the games earlier. This is an easy one. Why not just start at the standard <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_386033515" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">7pm</span></span>? Ok, it's not in primetime and you can't charge as much for advertising. Don't you make up for that by keeping more casual fans watching longer? Who was watching at the end of last night's game? Tampa fans, Cleveland fans, a few Boston fans, and even fewer plain 'ol fans of the game. I'd even be up for starting games a little earlier (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_386033516" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:30</span></span>?) so kids can actually watch the whole game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Pitch clock similar to a shot clock. Joel Peralta last night was taking a ridiculous amount of time between pitches. Walk around, stretch, resin bag, hyperventilate, pitch, repeat. I wasn't timing it or anything, but I gotta think you could cut down the time between pitches pretty easily. What's reasonable? 10 or 12 seconds?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Limited pitching changes. Last night's game had a nice pace until the pitching changes started and Tito started going with matchups in the 5th inning. I'm least wild about this option, as playoff games are of critical importance and skippers ought to be able to make whatever decisions he thinks will best put his ballclub in a position to win. Plus, it's possible that the second and third order effects of actually making the game longer. Do fewer changes lead to more runs, which in turn take up more time?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What say ye fine gentlemen?</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesse--></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm an 'ol fan of the game, but without a rooting interest, I was lying on the couch rather than sitting up in a chair, hanging on each pitch like I've done in postseasons past when the New York Yankees are competing. As a result of my lounging state, I fell asleep in the 8th and woke up to the post game.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thinking back to Yankee games - as long as they are - playoff baseball isn't a ton of fun when it gets that late. God forbid it goes extra innings! But the stress levels of watching a game as a fan don't immediately evaporate after the final out, so it's not as if I'm passing out as soon as Rivera would ice the game. You're up later than normal watching, then winding down later than normal, so in bed 1-3 hours later. Baseball fans on the east are zombies the morning after playoff games and that's not a fun experience that makes me want to do it when my team isn't playing at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From the business perspective, as you mentioned, it's not primetime, but the bigger piece of it (I think) is people are still at work at 4p PT when a 7p ET game is starting and that's a big concern. Baseball already suffers from enough of an East Coast Bias (more than any othe sport, I believe), so starting the games earlier, while good for us, is bad for the West Coast. HOWEVA (stephen a. smith voice), Colin Cowherd makes a good point (just puked a little saying that), when he says college football is bigger in the South, which is often where better teams are, NBA hotter in the West and MLB more prominent in the northeast/midwest. Now, this is a chicken/egg situation for sure, but maybe it's not that bad if baseball says screw the west (for an ET game) and starts them at 7/730p. The casual fans in the west will still be able to tune in after work when the game is in the 4th or 5th. If I'm honest, that's more likely a time for me to tune into an early round game without my team in contention than I would in the 1st.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As far as accelerating the game, I like the pitch clock, but we need to make sure hitters also abide by those rules. Remember Nomar? Who's idiosyncratic pre-pitch routine involved re-velcroing his gloves, twirling his bat and a lot of gesticulation. There are plenty of guys who take a ton of time between pitches that are as guilty of delays as slow pitchers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No league is going to do that makes them take in less money - no cutting seasons short, no starting games earlier and losing primetime slot, etc. without replacing the $$ elsewhere. So what other ways are there to raise revenue? More in-game ads on the broadcast is one idea. Listening to Yankee games, there is a promotion nearly every AB:</span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 15th out of the game, brought to you by GEICO where you can save 15% on car insurance</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stay tuned for the post game wrapup, sponsored by Reynolds wrap</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">More here: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/19/sports/baseball/radio-broadcasts-balance-baseball-with-advertising.html?pagewanted=all" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/<wbr></wbr>2013/08/19/sports/baseball/<wbr></wbr>radio-broadcasts-balance-<wbr></wbr>baseball-with-advertising.<wbr></wbr>html?pagewanted=all</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are annoying, but they do two things: bring in new revenue and give advertisers a way to be heard DURING the action, not during commercials when people either A- tune out or B- flip channels/go to the bathroom, etc. Adding these in, along with visual cues in between pitches for TV broadcasts, creates more revenue, which means you might be able to start games earlier if you're pulling in ad dollars DURING the action and not just in breaks. Let's look at soccer. MLB is favorite sport of purists and traditionalists, so I'd never advocate (or think it would happen) SAMSUNG across Indians jerseys and an interlocking TWC for TIME WARNER on Yankees caps, but there are no commercials during the uninterrupted 45 minute halves. There are usually score/ticker sponsors and often visual banners behind the goals that look real until you see a player step through them. Networks could add things like that (more than just the backstop ad) to get in more $$.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm at a 0 on limiting pitching changes. Just be thankful you can't bring pitchers back into games or imagine how annoying that would be.</span></div>
</div>
Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-45587461101032277952013-01-14T10:45:00.002-05:002013-01-14T10:45:19.245-05:00Super Bowl Picks<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">49ers vs. Ravens.THE HARBAUGH BOWL. Whatever will Mr. and Mrs. Harbaugh do?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's my pick, but it's too bad because if it ends up being Falcons vs. Ravens we can call it the Dirty Birds vs. the Murder Birds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">---</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's the first day of classes for spring semester at my alma mater, Miami University. That, coupled with the <a href="http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2013/01/12/n-c-state-fans-rushing-court-after-duke-upset-knocked-over-fan-in-wheelchair/">wheelchair kid</a> Will Privette (@thrill21) rushing the court after NC State beat Duke and dropping this gem: "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was the dumbest thing I've done in college but it was awesome," made me miss college.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love my life, have an awesome job, girlfriend, friends, dog and more. But college was the best wasn't it? I can't imagine how much I'd miss it if I was one of those who hated their jobs and lives and friends. Sucks to suck.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Going to try to blog more in the '13.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-31122063965031173792012-10-04T10:14:00.001-04:002012-10-04T10:14:53.133-04:002012 MLB Playoff Predictions<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>WildCard Showdown</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Man, I almost wish the Yankees were playing in that because it sounds much more exciting than AL Divisional Series. Nah, just kidding, WildCards are for suckers. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rangers over Orioles, 6-4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cardinals over Braves, 3-2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Divisional Series</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or is it Division Series, I'm not really sure. Either way, it will be interesting with the new BBAAA format with B being the lower seed. The previous AABBA schedule was the norm for nearly 20 years of Divisional play. I think a dream scenario for the higher seeds is ABBAA. What do the hotels and airlines think of this with one less flight? The higher seeded teams sure don't like it from a business side because they only have one guaranteed home game in the first round.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Reds over Giants in 5</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cardinals over Nationals in 4</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yankees over Rangers in 4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Athletics over Tigers in 4</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Championship Series </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Should this not actually be called the Pennant Series? You don't win the real Championship, only the League Championship, which is commonly referred to as the Pennant. I guess in the NFL they call it the AFC and NFC Championship Game, but in NHL and NBA it's dubbed the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. I like that better, but Pennant would be unique and baseball loves being unique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yankees over Athletics in 6</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cardinals over Reds in 6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>World Series</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So cocky. Only one team outside of America could possibly play in the series and we've proven over the last few World Baseball Classics that America isn't even the best baseball country on the planet. Whatever, part of being American is being overconfident, so I'm down with it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yankees over Cardinals in 6*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*did you expect me to pick another team to win it???</span></span></div>
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Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-26198123914506200322012-08-22T10:59:00.001-04:002012-08-22T10:59:33.484-04:00How are our Yankee Predictions Doing?<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pelle, Alex, Christian and I made <a href="http://meatballsinthemorning.blogspot.com/2012/04/yankee-predictions.html">2012 season Yankee predictions</a> for a number of different stats and figures in March. Let's take a mid/late season look at where they're at now. Actual number and projected number are below our picks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Wins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pelle: 98</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex: 95</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Christian: 96</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesse: 102</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 72/Projected: 95</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex looks like the closest here, but Christian isn't far off. They'll need a 30-9 run for me to be right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Andy Pettitte Wins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 9</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: 10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 8 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 3/Projected: 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Woof. Dandy Andy would have likely had at least 7-8 by now if not for his broken ankle. With a September return on the horizon, he's got no chance to make any of these numbers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>CC Sabathia Wins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 17</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: 18</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 19</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 21</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 12/Projected: 16</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">CC spent a month on the DL during two stints but should have seven starts remaining beginning this Friday. No chance he gets to my number, doubtful he's at Christian's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Phil Hughes Wins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 13</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 12/Projected: 16</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hughes, as he is wont to do, has been up and down this year. Looks like we were right in the neighborhood with his win total and Pelle and I have the best chance to nail it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Mariano Rivera Saves</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 41</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 43</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 39</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 38</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 5/Projected: 5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With his season over right around the same time the Knicks' was, Mo ended 2012 with 5 saves. His replacement, Rafael Soriano has done excellently this year, with 31 saves thus far, projecting for 41.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Mariano Rivera ERA of 1.50</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: over </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 2.16/Projected: 2.16</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He gave up two runs in 8.1 innings. Looks like we were all correct, but the sample size was too small to accurately judge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Brett Gardner Steals</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 53</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: 44</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 39</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 46</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 2/Projected: 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another Yankee out for the year. GGBG had 2 steals in 9 games before sustaining an injury. In that minuscule sample size, he would have been on pace for 43 if he kept it up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>A-Bombs (Alex Rodriguez home runs)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 28</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 31</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 33</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 33</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 15/Projected: 18</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Woof, again. A-Rod is in the middle of a 4-6 week recovery for a broken wrist. Even while he was healthy, he looked old and didn't have much pop at all. No shot at getting anyone's prediction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Derek Jeter batting average of .310</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: under</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> under</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: under</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: .324/Projected: .324</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jeter was on fire in April (.389), good in May, (.293), awful in June (.232) and scorching again in July (.346) and August (.386). If Mike Trout would just stick to being the future of baseball and not the present as well, Jeter would be competing for a batting title this year with Joe Mauer and Miguel Cabrera. Jeter's career September average is .324 on the nose, so he will look to finish right around where he's at now.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankee with most home runs</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: Cano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Granderson</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: Granderson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: Teixeira</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: Granderson/Projected: Granderson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Grandy Man has 32 bombs this year. Cano is second on the club with 25 (after having just one through Cinco de Mayo). Teix is third with 23. Looks like Alex and Christian are spot on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b># of HR for Yankee leader</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 41</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 38</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 39</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 39</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 32/Projected: 42</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grandy should hit the 40+ plateau for the second straight year if he has an average September. We were all right in the neighborhood but Pelle was the only one with the stones to guess 40+.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankee with most MVP votes</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: Cano (winner)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Cano </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: Cano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: Cano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: N/A/ Projected: Cano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cano leads the club and is third in the league in WAR with 4.3.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Three Gold Glove winners</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: push</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> push</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: push</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: under</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Acutal: N/A/Projected: 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Too early to tell, but a number of Yankees are in the top three of FanGraphs fielding rankings including Teixeira, Cano, Ichiro and CC.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b># of All-Stars</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: seven</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: six</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: seven</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: six</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 4/Projected: 4</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whoops, looks like we were a little too confident. Granderson, Jeter and Cano started with CC also named to the team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankees with 100+ RBI</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: three</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 0/Projected: 1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Only Teixeira, who has 80 now, is on pace for triple digit RBIs. Granderson is close, pacing out to 96 with a current total of 73, but that's it. Cano (68) and Swisher (69) will have to catch fire to come close and may not even break 90.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankees with 100+ runs</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: three</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 0/Projected: 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cano, Jeter and Granderson are all on pace for 100+ runs in 2012. Teix has just 64 and no chance to join the club. I'm going to act like FOX News on election night and declare Pelle an early winner of this category.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankees batting .300+</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: two</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: three</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: one</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: two</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actual: 2/Projected: 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cano (.302) and Jeter (.324) should both be on the good side of .300 at the end of the season, but no one else will be close. Ichiro is batting .312 in pinstripes but just .271 on the year. A-Rod is the next closest regular with a .276 average, but he'll need to RAKE to get to .300 in the few final weeks of the season once he returns. Pelle and I look smart here.</span><br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-15942472337950798772012-08-21T09:06:00.002-04:002012-08-22T10:18:27.979-04:00Numbers from my Trip to the Little League World Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Michael on the field prior to Saturday's game vs. Indiana</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This weekend, we went to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. to watch my youngest cousin, Michael Ghiorzi, and his team from Fairfield American LL in Fairfield, Conn. compete. We left Saturday morning, heading north on I-71, then west on I-76 and I-80 to the small city in the middle of Pennsylvania. The team played in a pair of elimination games (after losing its opener vs. California, Thursday, August 16) while we were there, winning them both. Here are some stats, dollars and other figures from the trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">50,000+- pins traded by kids and adults during any number of formal and informal pin trading sessions throughout our time there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">777- miles from Columbus to Williamsport, around town and back home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">28.1- MPG for the trip. Not terrible, but nothing to write home about...just blog about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">$32- price of the New England jersey I bought as soon as I got there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">$16.87- what I paid for a black velvet blazer at Kohl's originally priced at $225. Guess people from Williamsport don't have anywhere to wear such a thing so it was on mega sale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">12- runs Connecticut scored during the Saturday, August 18 game vs. Nebraska before it was stopped do to the mercy rule in the 5th inning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">11.5- estimated drive time round trip, in hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6'2"- height of Michael's older brother, my cousin Christian. Who we got to hang out with and learned that he's starting at FB for his HS Varsity team as a Sophomore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6- Michael's uniform number.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4th- Fairfield's final ranking on the list of best teams in the country after losing vs. California (again, ugh) on Tuesday, August 21.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2B- position Michael plays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1- nice person from Williamsport that we met in three days and two nights there. Mostly people were curt and just generally mean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">0- runs Connecticut gave up in the two games we saw.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">0- hits allowed by Will Lucas in an elimination game vs. Indiana on Monday, August 20. The 49th no-hitter in LLWS history.</span></div>
Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-16987646048166841782012-07-18T09:19:00.001-04:002012-07-18T09:19:17.229-04:00ConfessLINs [REMIX]<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">These are my confessLINs</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Just when I thought I said all I could say</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Knicks get dumber every single day</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">These are my confessLINs</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Man I'm pissed and I dont know what to do</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I guess I gotta give part 2 of my confessLINs</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">How we ever going to beat the Heat?</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Darn near cried when I saw that last tweet</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I'm so pissed and I don't know what to do</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">But to give you part 2 of my confessLINs</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><i style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">[Verse 1]</i><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Now this gotta be the dumbest thing I think the Knicks ever do</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Letting go of Jeremy Lin and signing a fat number 2</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">'bout that Knick on part 1 I told you who was our hero our hero</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Jimmy Dolan just let him walk out the door for zero for zero</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The first thing that came to mind was why?</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Second thing was is a NBA team about to make me cry?</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Third thing was me wishin' that I never caught Linsanity</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">And how I'm thinking about ending my Knicks relationship</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><i style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">[Chorus]</i><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><i style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">[Verse 2]</i><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Looking at the roster, it's stupid, tryna figure out</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">A drunk point and one who can't stop shoving food in his mouth </span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Said it ain't gon' be easy</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">To move on from Linsanity</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I gotta get over it</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I'm going through my closet</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Looking for your jersey</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Talkin' to myself</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Thinking how can I toss this out</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I pull out the hanger and I just want to put it on</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Hold it close to me, I'll throw it out after this song</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><i style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">[Chorus]</i><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><i style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">[Breakdown]</i><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">This by far is the hardest thing I think I've ever had to do</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">To tell you, the Jeremy I love</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">That my favorite team just kicked you out the door because of spite</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I hope you can accept the fact that Dolan is immature enough to do this</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">And hopefully I can still root for you in H-town</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">This ain't about your career</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">This ain't about your life</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">It's about James Dolan and his ego</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Please</span></span>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-79098098963269660482012-07-17T16:55:00.001-04:002012-07-17T16:55:03.510-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilugFHCCITz6BdT8ZxGytHq6xRHNEL5T1u0vWx-4f1tdHlJ8MZkteQkffaQO-XX5hFvbd9Ge4Yl9oA1-pdI_Am13sxEnfpEcaZg6TZPdBQEpw0kAtps9NLnqD6Wz_eWLNevgBmBgtviJ4I/s1600/knicks+depressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilugFHCCITz6BdT8ZxGytHq6xRHNEL5T1u0vWx-4f1tdHlJ8MZkteQkffaQO-XX5hFvbd9Ge4Yl9oA1-pdI_Am13sxEnfpEcaZg6TZPdBQEpw0kAtps9NLnqD6Wz_eWLNevgBmBgtviJ4I/s320/knicks+depressed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just made this. I'm so upset with James Dolan and the New York Knicks organization. Also upset with the Miami University athletic department at how difficult it makes going to see my RedHawks in Columbus in seven weeks. But back to the Knicks... this is one of the pettiest things I've ever seen happen in athletics. It's been written a thousand places, so I won't bother retelling the story here, but it's heartbreaking to be reminded once again that your team is run by a child, hated both in the cable industry and the sports world.</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-76844011083705602702012-05-02T12:00:00.002-04:002012-05-02T12:00:23.338-04:00Top 5 Meatballs of All Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This blog started in fall 2008. Since then, we've had nearly 300 posts of varying length and interest. Some got a few clicks, others got thousands. These are the top five most viewed posts in our history, so read them now, before everyone else on Earth does.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1- <a href="http://meatballsinthemorning.blogspot.com/2009/02/urinal-review.html">Urinal Review</a>, February 2009</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2- <a href="http://meatballsinthemorning.blogspot.com/2009/10/meatballs-alex-bbm-chat-thread-from.html">Meatballs + Alex BBM Chat Transcript ALCS Game 6</a>, October 2009</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3- <a href="http://meatballsinthemorning.blogspot.com/2009/03/our-nate-davis-is-better-than-your-nate.html">Our Nate Davis is Better than Your Nate Davis</a>, November 2009</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4- <a href="http://meatballsinthemorning.blogspot.com/2009/05/guest-post.html">GUEST POST</a> (Lube Tube), May 2009</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5- <a href="http://meatballsinthemorning.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-your-dog-says-about-you.html">What Your Dog Says About You</a>, February 2009</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So did we peak years ago OR have these blogs just been up long enough so good, older stories are going to get more hits? I <strike>think</strike> hope it's the latter.</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-4770176394718517982012-05-01T18:27:00.002-04:002012-05-01T18:27:43.320-04:00Toronto Blue Jays Stadium Review<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJB1uQ-AIouwqOrqwghKwBE4oUWz8EDh4I5HPc7I1ktZDmlpEDYlZwGJokErx_iyful3LOLgkrtQ3x95F8Ag9zs1FKv3oi9gVn_qjKMav4Cq2GccOOyla_E97OpybvW-3Zg8F77vEVnJE/s1600/2012-04-27_18-47-20_93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJB1uQ-AIouwqOrqwghKwBE4oUWz8EDh4I5HPc7I1ktZDmlpEDYlZwGJokErx_iyful3LOLgkrtQ3x95F8Ag9zs1FKv3oi9gVn_qjKMav4Cq2GccOOyla_E97OpybvW-3Zg8F77vEVnJE/s400/2012-04-27_18-47-20_93.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Indoor baseball in front of literally hundreds of Canadians!</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C and I visited Toronto (SNOOOOOOZE) this weekend and one of the highlights of the trip was our visit to the Rogers Centre (Canadian spelling!) - not because it was great, just because it was baseball. Not close to my top five of favorite baseball arenas...of which I've now been to a baker's dozen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Outside: The Rogers Centre - and most of downtown Toronto - looks like it was just jammed in an open city block. Something about the city just felt like it lacked urban planning and buildings were just put wherever there was some space with no care for how they looked or fit. It's a big white dome RIGHT next to the highway, pretty boring. The box office was very attractive though with all the windows connected, avoiding the window/concrete divider/repeat feel that most box offices have.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Inside: The whole time we're walking outside the dome, we know the roof isn't going to be open, we know we're walking inside, yet, when we walked in, it still feels weird. Something in me told me to expect an ice rink or basketball court when we got in, felt the warm temperature, smelled the indoor arena air. I told my brain we're in a baseball stadium, but when we walked to the top of the section behind home plate (pictured above), it was still shocking to see a baseball field. I want to say that indoor baseball is unAmerican, but of course it is, we were in Canada. It just feels dirty watching a baseball game inside, watching a pop fly reach its apex with a backdrop of scaffolding and catwalks is depressing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Food: I had a foot long <i>home run</i> dog with beans, bacon, cheese and something else on it while C had a plain one. Pretty good, though the temperature left something to be desired. The garlic fries were not up to speed with their Yankee Stadium counterparts, but still pretty tasty. All in all, a pretty good range of items with a few Canadian staples like poutine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Beer: Apparently it's not just at the ballpark, but in most of Toronto, where Coors Light, Bud Light, Bud, etc. are considered Domestic, while Molson and LaBatt are premium! What the what? Confusing, but fairly priced for a ballpark in a 'big' city/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seats and Atmosphere: C came through with some great seats (front row in left center) for a decent price ($30) on the day of the event. This should have been a harbinger of the crowd at the game. Let me correct myself. It was pretty lean in there and only a crowd in the old definition of the word where <i>two's a couple and three's a crowd. </i>Pretty pathetic for a team (at the time) tied for 1st place in the best division in baseball on a Friday night with their ace on the mound. The fans behind us were drunk and annoying, but you'll have that anywhere. The dozens in attendance go nuts when Canadian Brett Lawrie bats, which was pretty fun to see. The ushers were normal looking girls in their 20s, which was a nice surprise to the normal surly or senile 80-year-old men working that job at most parks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Overall: Not a place I'd have any interest in going back to, unless the roof was open and the Yankees were in town.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'</span>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-77432231124425974272012-04-13T08:44:00.000-04:002012-04-13T08:44:27.393-04:00Looking Back at Yankees Trades<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Pelican texted this to me the other day. Would the Yankees be better served right now with Ian Kennedy, Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero or with Michael Pineda and Curtis Granderson?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The best hitter and the best overall player in this discussion is Curtis Granderson who won a Silver Slugger last season, hitting 40+ bombs and leading the AL in RBI. Ian Kennedy comes up right behind him with an excellent season in 2011 with 20+ wins and an ERA under 3.00, earning him 4th place in Cy Young voting. After that you're looking at a lot of youth and potential in Jackson (25), Montero (21) and Pineda (21). Jackson has been good in the leadoff role for Detroit with double digit triples and over 20 steals each full season to go with a TON of strikeouts. Montero caught fire last September in pinstripes before begin dealt for Pineda who was lights out in the first half of 2011 and eh in the second.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This season IPK and AJax are the class of this crop, with Kennedy going 2-0 with a 2.84 and almost a K per inning Jackson ripping the ball with four XBH, nine runs and an OBP of .536. Montero hasn't had any XBHs yet and Grandy just drove in his first runs with a bomb vs. Baltimore. Pineda is on the DL, expected to return in May.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">IPK had a (kind of) chance to impress the Yankees and didn't so he was moved in the three-teamer that netted the Bombers Granderson. Grandy was decent in '10 and phenomenal in '11 and a great addition to the lineup and clubhouse. Kennedy is not winning 20 games (maybe he gets 12-13 W) in the AL East and AJax wouldn't have a place in the order with Jeter, Gardner likely better top of the order options than him. So for this part of the trade, the nod goes slightly to the Yankees, but you can bet that all three teams are very happy with their hauls.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The answer to Pelican's lies with Pineda. Montero is going to hit for average and power, but most likely out of the DH spot, catching 30-40 games a year, diminishing his value. If Pineda is first half Pineda for most of his time in pinstripes, this is a win for the NYY and I'd rather have the current pair of Yankees than the three amigos. However, if Pineda is oft-injured or more like second half Pineda, the Mariners stole this one and the Yankees look stupid for trading a masher for basically a high level pitching prospect when they already have two or three in the minors.</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-80751522926375357982012-04-03T19:50:00.016-04:002012-04-05T16:50:26.469-04:00Yankee Predictions<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pelle, Alex and one of my cousins (Christian) and I make our 2012 season Yankee predictions for a number of different stats.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Wins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pelle: 98</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex: 95</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Christian: 96</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesse: 102</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Andy Pettitte Wins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 9</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: 10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>CC Sabathia Wins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 17</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: 18</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 19</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 21</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Phil Hughes Wins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 13</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 15</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Mariano Rivera Saves</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 41</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 43</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 39</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 38</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Mariano Rivera ERA of 1.50</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: over </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Brett Gardner Steals</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 53</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: 44</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 39</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 46</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>A-Bombs (Alex Rodriguez home runs)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 28</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 31</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 33</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 33</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Derek Jeter batting average of .310</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: under</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> under</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: under</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: over</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankee with most home runs</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: Cano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Granderson</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: Granderson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: Teixeira </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b># of HR for Yankee leader</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: 41</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 38</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: 39</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: 39</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankee with most MVP votes</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: Cano (winner)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: Cano </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: Cano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: Cano</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Three Gold Glove winners</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: push</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> push</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: push</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: under</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b># of All-Stars</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: seven</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: six</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: seven</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: six</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankees with 100+ RBI</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: three</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankees with 100+ runs</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: three</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: four</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Yankees batting .300+</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P: two</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A: three</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C: one</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J: two</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-35792929258275253022012-03-29T15:04:00.000-04:002012-03-29T15:04:22.585-04:00Goodbye March, the Best (or Second Best) Sports Month of the Year<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">March,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You came and went so fast, it was hard to truly appreciate you. Each year you compete with October for the crown of best sports month of the year. Let's recap what you meant to the sports universe and my world in 2012.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>NFL</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the one month where the NFL isn't supposed to reign supreme, but man did the shield bring it... Tebow to Jets! Manning to <strike>Miami</strike> <strike>Arizona</strike> <strike>Tennessee</strike> Denver! Payton gone for a year! Revis trashtalking Belichick! Gronk everywhere! The Ginger Hammer once again shows why the NFL is king and runs the one month it's supposed to be dormant. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Miami Dolphins</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, the 'Fins traded their best player in hopes to get another one for worse draft picks than they traded for him two years ago. That's not a good look. The team went hard after Peyton Manning only to get the stiffarm (stiff neck?) from #18. Then they watched the Redskins move up for RG3 while they looked at Matt Flynn and Alex Smith. After both those guys spurned them, Miami fans are headed to a depressing QB battle between Matt Less and David Garrard. Puke. Another terrible offseason for Ross and Ireland.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>NBA</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Dwight Howard saga was wacky but ultimately anticlimactic as he stayed in Orlando. Two guys began the month as NBA coaches but ended it doing something else. The Bulls keep winning with or without D.Rose and look absolutely terrifying come playoffs. The Heat look like they're on cruise control and the Thunder, Spurs and Mavs look daunting out West.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>New York Knicks</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Woodsanity started to overtake Linsanity and the result was the same: winsanity. The Knicks went on a run winning eight of nine games after D'antoni <strike>was fired</strike> "quit." STAT got hurt and we thought he was out for a few days, then several months, then several weeks then a couple weeks now a couple or several weeks. Lin got dinged up but Melo started playing really well and the Knicks look good....for now.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>March Madness</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two 15s upset a pair of deuces. A 13-seeded MAC team went to the Sweet 16. A Bluegrass blood-feud will end the month in a Final Four matchup. Quite the entertaining event, even though there was a lack of </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>My Bracket/Miami RedHawks</b></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Welp, they both sucked. That's all, nothing to see here, let's move on. At least Charlie Coles isn't in power in Oxford anymore.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MLB</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bobby Valentine is bumping his gums like its 1999 all over again. It will be nice to see him vilified when the Rays and Yankees (and maybe Jays) have better records than the Red Sawx this year. Bryce Harper is starting the year in AAA and the Nationals might not be terrible for the first time in the millennium. MLB started its season in Japan this year to resounding boos. I thought it was awesome when the league did this in 2004 because A-it was the Yankees and B-it was televised LIVE and C-I was in college so it was fine to wake up at 5 a.m., eat a dog and drink a couple Natty Lights. Since A, B and C are not true this year, I think the idea sucked.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>New York Yankees</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ANDY PETTITTE'S BACK! That was the major news of the month for the pinstripes. Team now expected to have a seven-man rotation and win 125-140 games this year. Also, the club released an alternate logo featuring the interlocking NY emblazoned on a steamroller. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>NHL</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Blue Jackets continued to suck, Sid Crosby came back and took up exactly where he left off and I don't remember what else happened.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>New York Rangers</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Blueshirts stretched out their lead as the best team in the East/hockey. Lundqvist is a revelation and anything less than a Cup this year is going to be very disappointing. Luckily we know that Torts will flip out after every loss to ensure the team is motivated night in and night out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Other</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was in St. Petersburg for the Honda Grand Prix, the IZOD IndyCar Series season opener. It was warm, sunny and generally awesome. Helio Castroneves won and honored Dan Wheldon in his celebration. Also, C and I went back to NYC where we had our "worst" Sergio Martinez fight seats to date (still not more than a dozen rows back and right behind Omar!). We saw Sergio go wild after getting "knocked down" in the 7th.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was quite the month indeed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">P.S. October, you better step up.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-91225887369432646422012-03-15T12:00:00.000-04:002012-03-15T12:00:11.860-04:00Brackets Baby<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are all my picks for the 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>South</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2nd- Kentucky, UConn, VCU, Indiana, UNLV, Baylor, Notre Dame, Duke</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3rd- Kentucky, VCU, Baylor, Duke</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">S16- Kentucky, Duke</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">E8- Duke</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>West</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2nd- Michigan State, Memphis, Long Beach State, Louisville, Murray State, Marquette, Florida, Missouri</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3rd- Michigan State, Long Beach State, Marquette, Missouri</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">S16- Michigan State, Missouri</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">E8- Michigan State</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>East</b></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2nd- Syracuse, Kansas State, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Florida State, West Virginia, Ohio State</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3rd- Syracuse, Wisconsin, Florida State, Ohio State</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">S16- Wisconsin, Florida State</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">E8- Florida State</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>West</b></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2nd- North Carolina, Creighton, Temple, Michigan, North Carolina State, Georgetown, Purdue, Kansas</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3rd- North Carolina, Michigan, North Carolina State, Kansas</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">S16- North Carolina, Kansas</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">E8- North Carolina</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Final Four</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Michigan State over Duke</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">North Carolina over Florida State</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The 'Ship</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">North Carolina over Michigan State</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This one will not be played on a battleship and will be closer than that affair, with the Tarheels winning 73-69.</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-24502531331765385092012-03-08T14:47:00.002-05:002012-03-08T14:47:56.574-05:00Pro Football Talk Confirms Meatball Report<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In yesterday's blog, I said Peyton Manning probably wants to stay in the AFC due to his familiarity with the conference. Pro Football Talk <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/08/report-peyton-will-pick-team-within-week-prefers-afc-to-nfc/">confirmed that today</a>. Catch up!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Looks like (almost) all signs are pointing Manning to Miami!</span>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-66680982947413389922012-03-07T13:51:00.000-05:002012-03-07T13:51:46.579-05:00Peyton Manning to (Fill in Team Name)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In order to respect myself as a blogger tomorrow morning when I wake up in my mother's basement, I have to crank out a Peyton Manning possibilities breakdown. Since I'm clearly a Dolphins fan, you know who will be at the top of the list, but what about the rest? We'll do this Bill Simmons style, grouping 31 teams (that don't play in Indy) according to how will the team react when Peyton's agent calls them (or they call him).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Hit ignore button</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Patriots, Giants, Saints, Steelers, Packers</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These GMs don't even have time to think about Peyton with All-Pro or All-Timers already tossing the pigskin. They might even block his agent's number from calling again.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not answering </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Panthers, Lions, Bengals, Eagles, Falcons, Tampa Bay</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With big money vets (Eagles) or affordable, promising youngsters (everyone else on the list) taking snaps now, there is a small chance any of these teams takes much of a look at #18.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let it go to VM, then call back</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Texans, Bears, Rams, 49ers</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, Cowboys, Ravens, Chargers</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You know just so you can tell your QB that you didn't take the call. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then probably send them a text or call back within 24 hours. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He's not going to the Bears, too cold. The Rams are trading down because they don't want to draft a QB, so I don't think they'll sign one and move Bradford. The Chargers are happy with PHILLIP RIVERS even after a step back last year. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't see the Texans as a big possibility like Mike & Mike were blasting listeners with this morning. They kept saying, if Peyton is 75% of what we're used to him being, you have to do it. Why? Isn't that already what they have in Matt Schaub, at a better price? Why mess with it now? He fits very well down in H-town. Why aren't more people talking about him going to the Ravens? Maybe they don't have the money to do it, but with that defense and Ray Reezy at RB, this team is built to win right now and have a good WR in Anquan Boldin to catch tuddies from Peyton. He would look weird in purple though. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Cowboys present the most interesting option here along with the 49ers. This seems like a classic Jerry Jones move. Romo has gone from unrated to overrated to rated as an above average, but not top, quarterback. Peyton would be the star in the Star at quarterback that Jones has been looking for since Troy Aikman </span><strike style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">walked</strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> was carried away. The 49ers were awesome this year with Alex Smith, imagine how much better they are with Peyton. Yeah, pretty freakin good. They make/win the Super Bowl last year with him tossing bombs, right?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pick up, pretend you didn't recognize the number</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jets, </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Hello this is Mike (Tannebaum). Oh what? Peyton, no we're happy with the Sanchise. He's an All-Pro this year, just wait and see." Then send a text as soon as Sanchez is out of sight saying "call u 2nite when mark leaves". I don't see Peyton wanting to go to NYC or in the same city as his baby bro. Oh wait, the Jets play in both NYC AND his baby bro's town? Yeah, not happening.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Pick up</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bills, Raiders</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two clubs that recently spent big (money and picks, respectively) on QBs that didn't play as well down the stretch as they had hoped. They're definitely taking the call though I don't see Peyton fitting in either place with one too cold and the other too weird and poorly run.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Pick up on first ring</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jaguars, Vikings, Broncos, Chiefs, Titans</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These clubs either have a guy who can take them to the playoffs, or a young gun who they think can do that. However one of these teams has studs (well the Broncos do in my man Timmy Tebow, but Elway wants a traditional passer) and all of them could use a Hall of Famer under center. Imagine the coverage Manning and Tebow would get in Denver, Sal Palantonio and Ed Werder would earn 10,000,000 points on their Holiday Inn members cards from basically living there.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Calling every few minutes like Mikey in Swingers</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dolphins, Redskins, Seahawks, Cardinals, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Browns</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The "Hey, we have nothing at QB" section spans teams bad (Browns) to a piece or two away from being really good (Dolphins, Seahawks). From this group, I like the Fins, Cardinals and Hawks as the best personnel fits, in that order. Seattle has a very good defense and a very good running back, but no one at wideout and play in a cold, rainy city. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The last two parts of that sentence is what takes them out of the running. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Arizona went from a Super Bowl team to below average in the NFC after losing a very good QB in Kurt Warner a couple years back. You plug in a passer of Manning's class into an offense with Larry Fitzgerald and a decent defense with dynamic special teams, you can make the playoffs for sure. It's warm, they play in a below average division and have done this before. There's a lot to like, but the move to the NFC may be a little shaky for Peyton (my conjecture) as he's recovering and may want to stay in the conference where he knows the teams and defenses a little better. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This leaves Miami as the best option. Warm weather for most of the season, good at WR, RB, defense and O-line, the team will be a playoff lock with a top shelf QB at the helm. Miami owner Stephen Ross wanted to make a splash at coach and QB this offseason. He got Joe Philbin for the first part, you can bet he will make sure to cannonball on the second half of that equation. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-77501631077043795902012-03-01T09:22:00.000-05:002012-03-01T09:22:56.955-05:00The Pelican's MLB Picks<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are the Pelican's 2012 MLB season picks! I'll make mine later this month.</span><br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 284px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4644; mso-width-source: userset; width: 95pt;" width="127"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 5741; mso-width-source: userset; width: 118pt;" width="157"></col> </colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 95pt;" width="127"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NL WEST</span></td> <td style="width: 118pt;" width="157"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Giants</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NL C</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cardinals</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NL E</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Phils</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WC 1</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nats</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WC 2</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rockies</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td> <td></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NL CHAMP</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cards def. Nationals</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td> <td></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AL West</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rangers</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AL C</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tigers</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AL E</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yankees</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WC 1</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Red Sox</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WC 2</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Angels</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td> <td></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AL Champ</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yanks def Rangers</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Champ</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yankees</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td> <td></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AL MVP</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cano</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NL</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Posey</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AL CY Young</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Justin Verlander</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NL</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Josh Johnson</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AL Roy</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yu Darvish</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NL</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alex White</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AL MGR</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cito Gaston</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"> <td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NL</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mike Matheny</span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-44497042545857236172012-02-28T16:12:00.001-05:002012-02-28T16:12:59.228-05:00The Oscars...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Suuuuuuuuuuuuck. As a Facebooker commented, isn't it just a televised work banquet? In the world's top 200 people who take themselves too seriously, movie business people have to take up 190+ spots, maybe 195. Just take a step back, realize you're making movies. You give people an escape from their boring, real lives, sure. But movie stars aren't saving lives, pump the brakes.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Billy Crystal, what is he, 70 years old? He was great in the 80s, but really, what has he done to keep him relevant in the last 20 years (besides</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <i>61*</i> which was awesome)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">? Get real. This was soooooo NFLy of Hollywood, a young(ish) duo (Janet/JTLake: Hathaway/Franco) screw up your big show (Super Bowl Halftime: The Oscars) so you go in the opposite direction and have old people who you know will do a decent enough job and not get naked on stage (Madonna, The Who, U2, etc.: Billy Crystal). </span></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't get it. Hollywood is supposed to be liberal and on the forefront of what's cool and new...pushing the envelope, crossing lines, all that. This was a stodgy move that resulted in a handful of good jokes and (probably) a smaller amount of 18-24 year olds tuning in.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Red Carpet isn't really all that fancy. It's pretty much a long line when you break it down. You show up wayyyy before the show, and zig zag through this long line before you can get into the theater. The famous people love it, but it's truly just a line. Shoot, toss a red carpet out in front of any bar or club, you already have the (sometimes) velvet ropes and you can recreate the Red Carpet experience at home! Waiting in lines is the best!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-91307547137301790752012-02-24T08:54:00.000-05:002012-02-24T08:54:06.338-05:00Is Linsanity Over?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No. End of blog, that's it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But really, I'll explain why it's not. Jeremy Lin was awful last night. As one friend texted me during the game, "he looks like a highschooler out there." Eight points, three dimes and eight turnovers on 1-11 shooting. His backup Baron Davis didn't fare much better, making zero out of seven shots with three assists and only one turnover. The Heat are A-the best or second best team in the league right now B-the most dominant home team in the league (15-2) C-the hottest team in the league (eight straight Ws and 11 out of 12) and D-one of the top defensive teams in the league. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Heat planned to shut Lin down, make a statement, take the kid's spot at the top of SportsCenter, etc. And they did. Lin hasn't seen a defense that athletic and aggressive yet. Even against the playoff-contending teams the Knicks have beat in this run (Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Utah?), no one has been this stuck to him and been able to shut him down. It was basically the 12th game of his rookie year. Of course he's not going to put up 20 and 10 every single night. That's crazy to ask. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The good news is the Knicks looked awful, terrible, disgusting at times and really were one bad quarter (really the first five minutes of the 3rd) away from winning this game, or at least making it much closer. Melo was erratic and off all night (7-20) and STAT got the ball a ton early to the tune of 11 first half points, but was un-involved late, finishing with just seven shots. Lin went from DNP-CDs and sparse mop-up minutes game by game to playing 35-45 minutes a night, so of course he's going to be tired. This All-Star break should help the kid freshen up (hoping he plays about three minutes tonight in the Future/Rookie-Sophomore/Rising Stars/Chuck vs. Shaq Challenge game). </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Knicks are deep and very talented. And once again, D'antoni is tasked with the challenge to work new players in on the fly and in this case work in a new system on the fly. Especially tough to do with this smushed together schedule allowing for few practices. The Knicks were a joke for about 10 years, decent last year, then a joke for the first third of this season. They're likely not going to compete with Miami and Chicago in the East this summer, but they will make the playoffs and will do some damage if* they can run at the optimum level they want to by then.</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-15154247160968091242012-02-22T11:14:00.000-05:002012-02-22T11:14:20.269-05:00Stadium Review: Yost Arena<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/06/YOST-ICE-ARENA-thumb-590x392-80562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/06/YOST-ICE-ARENA-thumb-590x392-80562.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C and I hit up Yost Arena for a Miami vs. Michigan hockey game in early February. She put together a group of 50 Miamians through the Alumni Association and we partied at B-Dubs before the game with some fun people and weirdos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Location</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nice campus. I mean it's not the brick-laden picturesque utopia known as Oxford, Ohio that houses Miami University, but it's a nice campus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<b> Parking</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We parked about a quarter-mile away and trooped it past some college houses and people drinking on porches. A couple of students were selling parking spaces on their lawn/in their driveway for $20 a pop adjcent to the rink. Didn't seem to have (m)any takers for this game, but I bet they clean up when State is in town.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Food</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Didn't have any because we filled up at B-Dubs before hand, but the popcorn looked tasty!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Beer</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They don't sell any...And I forgot my flask at C's house. Just a terrible drinking experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Layout</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gorgeous. Just and old school, brick building that looks like it's from another era. Well obviously, because it is. It was built in the 1920s and renovated in the 1970s. Still has that classic feel like a Wrigley Field. I don't see how 7,000 people can fit inside, but that's around the number they claim.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Tickets</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was a sellout! We got them for $25 apiece through the Alumni Association in the End Zone/Corner area. Not too far from what is usually my favorite spot to sit for hockey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Entertainment and Atmosphere</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Electric. Great crowd and as always the Michigan student section is clad in bright yellow. Good cheers and taunts (many of which were stolen from - but probably by - Miami). Nice mix of old stadium and new HD scoreboard and suites, etc. I might have had a better time had the RedHawks not lost.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Overall</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Great arena, fun town. Will head there again when the 'Hawks are in town, but that will be not very often when Michigan leaves for the Big Ten Hockey Conference.</span>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-38881706124493875722012-02-21T15:26:00.001-05:002012-02-22T11:15:26.928-05:00Stadium Review: Palace at Auburn Hills<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cityprofile.com/forum/attachments/michigan/11669-auburn-hills-palace_400_0807311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.cityprofile.com/forum/attachments/michigan/11669-auburn-hills-palace_400_0807311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The home of DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIT BAAAAAAAAASKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL and the site of the Malice at the Palace was arena #327 (approximation) on my list of sports venues. C and I visited it for an early NBA game featuring the hometown Pistons against my squad, the New York Knicks.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Location</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Toss up. It's in a nice neighborhood, so it feels safe and corporate, but that's also it's main issue. It's a pain to get to because is so deep in the burbs and it isn't easy to plan a night around. i.e. park the car, grab drinks here, food there, meet up with friends, then walk to the game. I prefer a potentially shady area in a downtown part of a city than a wide open, safe area (as long as you're not in the stands when Metta World Peace is playing!) 16 times out of 17.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Parking</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cheap and easy. And we got there 20 minutes before tipoff for a FRIDAY night game against a marquee opponent with the Red Wings on the road. Oh wait, I should probably mention the Lions were playing at New Orleans in the NFL Playoffs at the exact same time. This may or may not have been a factor.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Food</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Didn't eat any there, but the nachos looked good. Not much in the way of food options nearby as I mentioned earlier.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Beer</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not badly priced. Had one tall Bud Heavy, I think it was $7 or $8. The blue hairs to the left of us were crushing nachos and beers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Layout</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Very cool concourses. They were wide and filled with big pictures of concerts played there and seminal moments in Pistons history. It </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Tickets</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We paid $38 for each ticket that had a face value of $80. A few factors are in play there. The Pistons are not good at basketball, the Lions were playing at the exact same time (on the road) and Detroit is Hockeytown, not Basketballtown.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Entertainment and Atmosphere</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Typical 2012 NBA game stuff. Fire blasts, strobe lights and blacked out during player intros, cutesy giveaways (every time a Piston drains a 3, they toss out free shirts "Tees for 3s"). Nothing was too inventive or backwards. It was tough to get a real feel of the atmosphere on account of the light crowd. However, they showed Lions clips throughout the game and it got loud when they scored a TD, which was pretty cool to see/hear. I think when the Pistons are good again, it'll be a great arena to watch some ball.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Overall</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The tickets we had were awesome - nine or 10 rows up on the baseline. The Knicks played their best pre-Linsanity game and we sat next to some fun people. We had a great time and I would go again, but probably not for a non-Knicks game. Just not enough of an event/night out feel with it so far in the burbs.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-27714094969802563212012-02-21T13:46:00.000-05:002012-02-21T13:46:51.780-05:00Meatballs All Day Every Day<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don't call it a comeback. No, just kidding - call it a comeback. I've been gone for nearly three months(!!) and that is straight unacceptable. Especially when I have a student (<a href="http://prangeponders.tumblr.com/">http://prangeponders.tumblr.com/</a>) come in for an interview at the track today and he mentions MITM. That leaves me embarrassed that I haven't blogged since THANKSGIVING. No excuses on that one. So here comes a ferocious blogfest this next couple weeks. I'm going to hit on Linsanity, a couple stadium reviews, a baseball preview, a draft preview and also talk about how LOADED the Yankees look this year. Oh snap, we might have also talked Pelle into a brief comeback. First up: a rewrite of an <a href="http://meatballsinthemorning.blogspot.com/2011/10/is-dallas-going-to-become-new-boston.html">older blog</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, I might be switching to Tumblr in the next few weeks. Might = Probably. Blogspot is quickly becoming the MySpace to Tumblr's Facebook...and I'm not trying to be on MySpace like a creep. And while I was gone, it's not like I wasn't writing. I wrote <a href="http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2012/01/18/pinch-hitting-jesse-ghiorzi-3/">this for the LoHud Yankees Blog</a> and had a Sporcle game <a href="http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesseg/superbowlqb_uspresident">published</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">---</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>A Rewrite of an <a href="http://meatballsinthemorning.blogspot.com/2011/10/is-dallas-going-to-become-new-boston.html">Older Blog</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well the answer to that blog's query is unequivocally no. But here's the new question. Is New York about to be the new Boston (vomited on my keyboard after typing that)? Kind of looking like an emphatic yes right now. Boston won 'ships in all four major sports in a seven-year span and a total of seven in 10 years. I've berated the Lube Tube about this on gChat incessantly since Linsanity took over, much to his dismay. Is it THAT crazy to think the four major sports titles could be won this year by teams based in NYC (and one realllllly close to it)? Yes, it is a little, but this is a blog, and it's my blog, so I can afford to be a little crazy. What are the chances this happens? 'Sgo!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>NFL</b></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Giants already locked this one up with an historic win over the hated New England Patriots. So the chances of that winning are easy to predict. The Giants added the 2011 'ship to one in 2007. ELIte!</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Odds: off the board because it already happened</i></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>NHL</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rangers are the best team in hockey without a doubt right now. With the trade deadline looming, GM Glen Sather may make a drastic move like trading for Freeway Ricky Nash or some other offensive power, but more than likely this loaded team will be in tact for the playoff push. The Rangers ended a five-decade drought in 1994 when Messier led them to a Stanley Cup win.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Odds: 11-2, best in the league</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MLB</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Bronx is home to the most successful franchise in the history of sports, the New York Yankees. With an early playoff exit leaving a sour taste in their mouths, the Yankees reloaded this year with pitching: the 2011 #2 and #3 starters are now off the team and fighting for the 5th spot, respectively. Safe to say this team is going to be a force in 2012. With a powerful offense, upgraded rotation and the best closer ever, the Pinstripes are among the favorites to win it all.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Odds: 13-2, T-second best in the league</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>NBA</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The New York Knickerbockers, linfected with linsanity, are one game under .500 at blog time. However that is with 8 wins in their last 10 games and a top 10 NBA player just returning to the lineup. Due to the 8-15 hole they dug themselves early on, the club will likely be a higher (as in a higher number, or is it a lower seed? I feel like this works both ways) playoff seed than they could be if the team was together all year. Sure, like the other lines, this one is skewed because of all the New York money going heavy on the home team, but hey, in a 66-game sprint, anything can happen.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Odds: 18-1, 8th best in the league</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-23816988342271797402011-11-27T16:18:00.000-05:002011-11-27T16:18:30.725-05:00Return of the MAC<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actually, don't call it a comeback, they been here for years. There are rarely, if ever, any bluechippers going to Mid American Conference programs out of high school and its schools don't often get more than a couple of guys drafted in the first couple rounds of the draft each year. However, if you look around the league, there is an rather high number (relatively) of MAC grads (or non-grads) considered elite at their positions.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is just off the top of my head because I couldn't find a recently updated list of MAC Alums in the NFL. <a href="http://amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=51558">VanDelay Sports</a> has the best one, but it appears to be at least five years old.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">QB- Ben Roetherlisberger, Steelers (Miami)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">RB- Michael Turner, Falcons (Northern Illinois)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WR- Greg Jennings, Packers (Western Michigan)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">DE- James Harrison, Steelers (Kent State)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">TE- Antonio Gates, Chargers (Kent State)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PR- Josh Cribbs, Browns (Kent State)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are also a few guys in recent memory who were among the top at their position such as:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">DE- Jason Taylor, Dolphins (Akron)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WR- Randy Moss, Patriots/Vikings/etc. (Marshall)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">CB- Asante Samuel, Patriots/Eagles (Central Florida)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-13043779960176564402011-11-21T09:38:00.000-05:002011-11-21T09:38:26.631-05:00Why are so Many Quarterbacks Getting Injured this Year?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Out for the season:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chad Henne, torn shoulder muscle</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Matt Schaub, broken foot</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Matt Cassel, broken hand</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jay Cutler, broken thumb</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jason Campbell, broken collarbone</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Peyton Manning, neck</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Missed one or more games:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Michael Vick, broken ribs</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sam Bradford, sprained ankle</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kevin Kolb, turf toe</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Expected to miss one or more games:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Matt Hasselbeck, sprained elbow</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Playing hurt:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Matt Stafford, broken index finger</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Benched for poor play:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Donovan McNabb</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rex Grossman/John Beck</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kyle Orton</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Luke McCown</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kerry Collins</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Six guys are out for the season and four have missed more than one game (or are expected to). Add that to the five scrubs who lost their jobs and almost half the teams in the NFL have trotted out a back-up QB for some or most of the season.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't have an answer to the title of this post, but I wanted to point out this seems like a high percentage of leading men missing a significant amount of time. Especially interesting is the ever-increasing number of rules the NFL makes to protect the QBs, and here we are with almost one-third of them missing games this year due to injury.</span>Jessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10888910484790295221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7527549562112709999.post-79775992121914331752011-11-03T11:14:00.000-04:002011-11-03T11:14:15.379-04:00The Luckstakes, Pt. III<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The legend of Luck continues to grow after Here's round three of the rankings, through Week 8.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">1. Dolphins, 0-7 (Last rank: 1)</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">You can't knock Miami's competitiveness. They dominated the Broncos for 55 minutes only to blow it and Matt Moore looked like a good NFL player for a half against the Giants in Jersey before sucking in the second half. Everyone in the lockerroom keeps saying how pissed they are about the Suck for Luck talk, but being pissed and being good at football aren't the same thing. This team finds ways to lose games and their owner is 100% invested in getting the #1 be it by 'earning it' or making a trade.</span></span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">2. Colts, 0-8 (2)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Absolutely murdered by the Saints, who then went out and got pounded by the Rams. They're terrible, but it's looking like 18 may come back for a few games late to see what he's got left. Peyton will win one or two of the last three games of the year (TEN, HOU @JAX) if he comes back around then.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">3. Cardinals, 1-6 (4)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Kolb is terrible, and now he's hurt. Larry Fitzgerald needs a good QB to be as great as he can be. This team sucks and would be all over Luck.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">4. Broncos, 2-5 (6)</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Tebow has looked unfortunately terrible for most of his two games as starter. I drink the Tebow kool-aid 24/7 and expect him to win enough games to stay out of the top 5 picks in the draft. Watch for Elway to make a trade for #1 to get a stud Stanford QB like himself.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">5. Rams, 1-6 (9)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Bradford misses a game, St. Louis wins against one of the best teams it's played all year. Maybe the Rams QB of the future is AJ FEELEY. Really though, Bradford hasn't played well this year, but if they get Luck and trad Bradford, there won't be much of a market for an injury prone (remember his time at Oklahoma) regressing QB. Good news is they have four games left vs. Seattle and Arizona.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">6. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Seahawks, 2-5 (NR)</span><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">TJax looks decent then awful. However they get to play St. Louis twice and Arizona once more so they'll be able to finish with enough wins to preclude them from getting Lucky, but watch out for Landry Jones or Matt Barkley.</span></span></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">7. Jaguars 2-6, (7)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Blaine Gabbert looks more like a hockey player with that hair. He probably would pronounce his name Gay-Bear or Gah-Bear if he was an NHL center instead of a QB.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">8. Washington, 3-4 (NR)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Beck and Grossman are awful. So have been most of their QBs this decade besides Jason Campbell. Not just this decade... Maybe since Mark Rypien...am I forgetting a good Washington signal caller?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">9. Vikings, 2-6 (3)</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Christian Ponder is looking pretty decent in hanging with the Packers in his first start, then beating the Panthers in his second. They'll win a few games this year and not draft (or need to draft) Luck.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">10. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Panthers, 2-6 (8)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Newton is killing it. No shot they draft the kid from Stanford.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><b>Dropped out</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Eagles 3-4 (10)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Browns, 3-4 (5)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br style="background-color: white; text-align: left;" /></span></span><br />
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