What Kind of World Series Do We Live In?!

Okay, first things first. While its been a while since I've blogged about baseball, and sports in general, I simply want to address the fact that I completely mis-predicted the ALCS/NLCS winners in 2008.

The Phillies hammered the Dodgers in their series and the Rays took care of business against the Red Sox even though it was a very close and entertaining series. I have to give credit where credit is due and congratulate the city of Philadelphia for claiming their first title in more than 20 years. The lowly tv rated World Series this year was dominated by the bats of the Phillies. But take nothing away from Tampa Bay. Although they got smoked, or should I say chilled due to the inclement whether that this years Series encountered in the City of Brotherly Love, the Rays will be every bit as good next year if their front office keeps everyone on payroll and injuries stay at bay.

As for the Dodgers, Los Angeles will need to recover from a disappointing post season and decide on how to handle Manny Ramirez in the off season. Frankly, I would do everything in my power to keep Manny in Dodger blue next season. he is worth the money and too valuable to let another team in the National League steal him away. Manny and L.A. Just seem like a good fit.

Meanwhile, Boston fans are probably the most heart broken of the losing teams in the playoffs this year. Red Sox nation has always embraced a championship-winning culture that never settles for second best performances. Well Beantown, I'm here to tell you that your glory days have come to an end. There is a new sheriff in the American League by way of Tampa Bay and a deputy by the name of the Los Angeles Angels. And don't think for one minute that the Yankees won't be back to contend for the division crown next season. The Big Apple has the same win win win mentality.

In closing, let me say that I was made my 2008 League Championship Series predictions with a slight hint of bias ism. There was no way I would have watched the Phillies and Rays play for the title in the World Series. Turned out I didn't even watch one pitch. In all honesty, I was rooting for the fact that I wanted to be entertained by two heralded baseball franchises in the Dodgers and the Red Sox. Not to mention that keeping up with all of the drama between Manny and his former teammates would have been as easy as putting on my IMAX 3-5 glasses and kicking back with a bag of movie theater glazed popcorn and a 32oz. soda for four to seven games.

Oh well. Now that baseball is done for another season and its only November, I have plenty of time to watch all of the off season antics unfold and sculpt my predictions for 2009!

Week 9 Roundup

Iverson Trade Beneficial to Pistons, Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons couldn't make it through the first week of the NBA season without making a blockbuster trade. It was a trade that dealt now-journeyman Allen Iverson to Motown in exchange for ex-Colorado Buffaloes guard Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.

Why would a trade of such high magnitude happen this early in the season you ask? The simple answer is that both teams clearly wanted to improve their chances at making runs towards their respectiveconference playoffs come April. The more complicated answer is that either or both of these teams could be stocking a player on their roster only to be used as trade bait later in the season for more exotic offers before the NBA trading deadline on February 19th.

But make no mistake about it. Whatever their strategies, both clubs definitely made the statement they wanted (more so Detroit because #3's well-known talent and sometimes infamous behavior) in strengthening their team's offensive and defensive firepower. A.I.'s thuggish, bad boy reputation will be welcomed in the so called "Hockeytown" and give them back a taste of what used to be when they had the likes of Bill Lambeer and company. The Pistons will gain some added scoring ability through Iverson as well and will be an excellent compliment to Rip Hamilton in their backcourt. Collectively, Detroit is a well rounded defensive team because they execute together when not on offense. They use weakside help to their advantage and rotate beautifully when a defender is caught out of position so they are technically never playing one-on-one style defense. With that said, the Pistons will hardly miss Billups and McDyess on the defensive side of the ball.

In Denver, the Nuggets will get a lift at point guard by aquiring Chauncey Billups. In fact, the team should see similar success at that position before they let go of now 76er point man Andre Miller. Billups will obiously start right away and provide the team with a larger framed guard who can post up his shorter and smaller sized counterparts on offense. He will also add the lacking assist to turnover ratio that was missing when the team brought in Allen Iverson for more scoring. The rest of the teams starters should see increased productivity in the points column with Billups running the show. He makes good decisions with the rock in his hand and can also fill it up at the free throw line.

Antonio McDyess, while getting thrown to the backburner when talk of this trade arises, will give the Nuggets a nice boost at power forward. He will give head coach George Karl the option of playing him as a starter or have the former Alabama Crimson Tide big man come off the bench to give Kenyon Martin a breather. McDyess has always thrived on both ends of the court and brings a balanced basketball player attitude to the team. He won't light up the scoreboard in Denver like Iverson, but then again, no one will expect him too. Expect a decent amount of playing time to come his way but not too many as to overwork him.
I like this trade alot. It couldn't have happened at a better point in the season. I like the fact that both front offices went after big names to show they want to contend when the playoffs come around. Both teams will drastically benefit from the trade and expect them both to make the postseason. Maybe not as #1 seeds heading in, or even to the NBA Finals, but neither team will be packing their bags when the last regular season games are complete on April 15th.

Can't Win 'Em All

Well, needless to say, it's been almost a month since I've updated my blog. And quite frankly, I've decided it's time to get off my rear end and do some writing.

A few weeks ago, NFL Week 6 to be exact, I took up yet another bet with my good friend who I mentioned in one of my very first posts on this blog site. Let's just say that I've nicknamed him "Kentucky Casey". It just so happened that he and I were to play each other in a little office pool fantasy football that week in which he coerced me into another wager. The contest: his team versus my team, straight up. No points. The stakes: $20, of course.

While my team was one of the top teams in our fantasy league and clearly looked like a favorite on paper, Kentucky Casey had a little something extra up his sleeve for me that week. Sure, everyone toots their own team's horn. But that's what fantasy football is all about isn't it? Each fantasy owner wants to let our weekly opponents know that regardless of wins and losses "my team is going to take your team to the cleaners this week!" (Insert expletive deleted's where necessary)

All I heard that week was a raspy, movie theater coming-soon-to-a-theater-near-you like narration voice telling me how his Minnesota Vikings defense was going up against the Detroit Lions and would reward him 30 points easily. And how Tony Romo and his Dallas Cowboys were going to shred the Arizona Cardinals' secondary. I brushed it off my shoulder as if this competition was going to be a piece of cake and yet another $20 taken from one my closest work buddies. But I had another thing coming.

It turned out that his kicker, Mason Crosby of the Green Bay Packers outscored my kicker, Ryan Longwell of the Vikings, by 7 points!!! That may not sound like a lot, but in the fantasy world 7 points is worth more than a touchdown alone. We've all had losses in which we've been mesmerized by a quarterback, running back or wide receiver. But who wants to lose their fantasy football games at the hands, or should I say foot, of a kicker?!?!?!

That week, I lost by a grand total of 13 points. And as I just pointed out, more than half of that deficit came by way of his kicker. Since that time my fantasy team has won two games in a row to put me at 6-2 on the season. But I fear that I'm going down this week at the hands of my other co-worker and longtime friend "Miami Dolphins Drew". That is, unless of course, Santana Moss plays tonight in the Washington Redskins/Pittsburgh Steelers Monday Night Football game and grabs me 27 points. Not to mention Drew's fantasy quarterback, Jason Campbell, would need to somehow be 187'd before the game as so not to gain any points for his team. The chances of that are about as likely as our country's election not happening tomorrow.

In any event, great win "Kentucky Casey". You have bragging rights over me for the remainder of the season. I can only hope that we square off at some point in the playoffs. Until then, try not to spend my hard earned $20 all in one place. Make me proud and indulge in about ten McDonald's double cheeseburgers!

I'll Take That Bet!

As I restlessly awaited the final 20 minutes of my workday to end last Friday, I couldn’t help but overhear a colleague and friend of mine stand up from his chair and shout out one of the craziest sports bets I think I’ve ever witnessed. “Who wants to bet me the (Kentucky Wild) Cats over Alabama for $20 tomorrow?!” Despite the short 4 hours of sleep I had gotten the night before, my ears opened up 1,000 times faster than my eyes did that morning. As I slowly turned around, I noticed Casey, the die hard Kentucky fan that he is, was staring me down with a huge grin on his face as if he knew something I didn’t. I stared back at him for about 30 seconds waiting for him to retract the bet, but it never happened. He was serious as a heart attack and honestly felt that the University of Kentucky football team could take their undefeated record to the land of legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant and sneak out a win in the 2^nd ranked Alabama Crimson Tide back yard. And when he said he wanted to bet the game straight up with no point spread on the line, I knew I had this one in the bag.

I wasn’t going to let this bet get away from me as I knew it was going to be an easy payday for me. I quickly took the bet and never looked back as Casey, the man we nicknamed Sloaney, was getting bashed by co-workers for even dreaming that Kentucky could beat Alabama in football was a possibility!

Enter Saturday afternoon/evening. I was flying high with no need to look in the rear view mirror as the Tide jumped out on the Cats 14-0 in the first quarter. Not only was I feeling as confident as ever when Alabama’s Glenn Coffee scampered for a 78 yard touchdown a little more than five minutes into the contest, I was all but $20 richer when Javier Arenas came in on a corner blitz and caused Kentucky’s quarterback Mike Hartline to fumble and be recovered in the end zone for a Crimson Tide touchdown.

The exuberant feeling slowly began to fade when it sunk in with 40 seconds remaining in the game that the Wildcats were only down by a field goal after Hartline’s 48 yard touchdown pass to DeMoreo Ford. But a gigantic sigh left my lungs when Alabama recovered an onside kick attempt by Kentucky and locked up the win for the Crimson Tide. Hey, $20 is $20 and I’ll take the extra cash any way I can get it.

And now for some game analysis…

It’s true that no one, excluding Casey, gave the Big Blue much of a chance to walk into Tuscaloosa and steal one of the toughest wins in the SEC. In fact, the line on the game by kickoff indicated Alabama was a 15 point favorite. But I have to hand it to Kentucky for a job well done by simply controlling the game. What do I mean? Think about it. Besides a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, the only scores that came from crimson and white were the afore mentioned big plays by Coffee and Alabama’s defense. If those two monumental plays are taken away, then the outcome of the game would be much MUCH different. In fact, if there is anyone who is NOT to blame for the loss, it’s the Wildcats’ defense. I know, I know. They gave up 277 yards on the ground. Big deal. The point is that after the Coffee touchdown, the defense hunkered down, gritted their teeth and didn’t allow another offensive touchdown by Alabama.

Am I saying that Kentucky has one of the best defenses in the country? No. Am I saying that the Cats have one of the best defenses in their conference? No. I’m simply implying that when their backs were against the wall, the defense played their hearts out and kept the game within reach of a possible comeback win against one of the best and most heralded football programs in the nation.

Try to imagine the handshake that ensued by both head coaches at midfield immediately following the game. Nick Saban nervously wipes away the sweat from his forehead as his Crimson Tide squeaked out a 17-14 victory over Rich Brooks' valiant Wildcats: "Well Rich..." Saban says smiling and then winks at his counterpart and yells "At least you're still the best team in the Bluegrass State!!”

Gotta Love that "Wildcat Offense"

CLICK HERE FOR A BREAKDOWN OF THE "WILDCAT OFFENSE"
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80b1831e

This formation single handedly took down the always-dominant New England Patriots in Week 3 and also helped Miami to a win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 5. According to Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano, offensive coordinator David Lee is responsible for installing this wicked formation which has baffled the previous two Miami opponents.

I, for one, simply love the play calling by David Lee. He is smart in using this offensive scheme. He normally will not run plays from that formation until he is either at midfield or just inside the opposing team's territory. Additionally, he doesn't overuse the formation which increases the success for his offense to execute.

I'm a huge college football fan and, quite frankly, that's exactly what this offense reminds me of. Today's college football programs are running the spread offense as if it's going out of style. The "Wildcat Offense" has almost the same makings but has the running back take direct snaps in the shotgun while the quarterback lines up as a wide receiver. See where I'm going with this? The excitement factor explodes when the ball is snapped because there are so many options. When I saw live game action of the Dolphins last Sunday, I had no idea if Ronnie Brown was going to hand the ball off to the once-pothead Ricky Williams coming in motion behind the center, if Brown would keep the ball and run it himself or, heaven forbid, launch a deep ball to quarterback Chad Pennington running his Randy Moss-like fly pattern down the sideline!

If I'm nearly on the edge of my seat second guessing myself as to who's hands the football is in or whether the Dolphins are going to pass or run the ball for that matter in a matter of a few seconds, can you imagine why opposing defenses are struggling with this mastermind offense?

Now let's give credit where credit is due. Football has never seen anything like this at the NFL level. Defensive players are quick and agile nowadays so much that offensive coordinators neglect calling such plays and formations several times over because they feel it will either end up a bust or a loss of yards. Not so with the Dolphins. David Lee was the brainchild for this gameplay when he was offensive coordinator for Houston Nutt at the University of Arkansas the past few years. During his tenure with the Razorbacks, he allowed Darren McFadden, the Oakland Raiders #1 draft pick this season, to run wild. Speaking of which, there seems to be no ryhme or reason as to why this play calling is referred to as the "Wildcat Offense". Shouldn't it have been named the "Razorback Offense" or the "Hog-Wild Offense"?

In any event, we can all agree that this "Wildcat Offense" creates excitement amongst the fans and the players who run it, but NFL coaches and coordinators beware. The only reason why Miami is so successful in this offense is because Ronnie Brown is making the right decisions when the football is in his hands. His decision making has earned him 238 yards rushing and 6 total touchdowns in the Dolphins last two games. Similar stats were true for McFadden when was under this system at Arkansas. The team was great at running plays from the formation because Lee trusted his Heisman hopeful running back to make the right decisions at the right time. Also, don't discount the Miami offensive line. Those hog mollies have been outstanding with their blocking assignments as they clear lanes that semi trucks could drive through and provide pass blocking when needed.



Have you seen this offense that his been run lately by none other than the Miami Dolphins this season? If not, you need to order up NFL Sunday Ticket from DirecTV or get to your local sports bar for the next Fins' game on Sunday. Or if you're a real couch potato, just keep it locked to SportsCenter. I'm sure David Lee's offense will have a few highlights to share with you by the end of the day.

2008 ALCS Prediction

The American League Championship Series opens this Friday night at 8:30pm in Tampa Bay. I can sum up the outcome of this best-of-seven series by chiming in on "who's hot". As of now, the hottest team has to be the Boston Red Sox. The Beantown Bombers are coming off one their best performances ever when they took down the Los Angeles Angels in four games of the American League Division Series. The Red Sox stepped up and took charge at a time when the Angels held the best record in all of Major League Baseball. Not to mention the California ball club was well rested as they could play as loose as they wanted having locked up the number one seed in the playoffs weeks before the regular season ended. All technicalities aside, the Rays can't be discounted from making this a respectable series. After all, they did beat out the Red Sox for the American League East division crown this year. In many ways, they remind me of the 1997 Florida Marlins minus the Yankees-like payroll. They have good, young talent. They have good pitching and great bats in their batting order. The problem for Tampa Bay is that in baseball there are good regular season teams and then there are outstanding postseason teams. Unfortunately for the Rays, they fall in the category of a good regular season team in 2008. The Red Sox have won two World championships in the past four years (2004 & 2007). Meanwhile, in it's 10 year franchise history, Tampa Bay has yet to make a postseason appearance until this year. In fact, until this season, they had finished no better than fourth in their division!

Look, I'm not saying that miracles don't happen. Team USA beat the Russians to win the gold medal in hockey in the 1980 Olympic Games. Jesus walked on water. And the White Sox won it all in 2005 after nearly 88 years of frustration for the south siders of the Windy City. Miracles most certainly do happen. It just won't happen for the doomed Rays of Tampa Bay this postseason.

It took the Red Sox 162 games to finally click on all cylinders. Having three of the most dominant starting pitchers in the league by way of Matsuzaka, Beckett and the emerging Jon Lester has once again made the big red machine a well-oiled monster. Boston, without a doubt, will have the Rays packing their bags and singing the blues come World Series time.

SPORTS INVASION 2008 ALCS Pick: Red Sox in 5 games

2008 NLCS Prediction

On Thursday night in Philadelphia, the Dodgers and Phillies will get it on in order to find out who punches their ticket to the World Series this year.

There's no question that the Phillies have the overall upper hand in this seven game series when it comes to the batting order. Their ball club has the always dangerous Jimmy Rollins leading off and features the power bats of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell as their 3-4-5 hitters. Advantage Philadelphia, right? Wrong!

The Boys in Blue have one of the best, and most controversial, players in all of major league baseball: Manny Ramirez. The Phillies' mediocre-at-best pitching rotation will be eaten alive by the man they say is just "Manny being Manny" throughout the entire series. Think back a few months when the Dodgers were Manny-less. They were sitting a couple of games within striking distance of overtaking the pitching-dominant Arizona Diamondbacks for the division lead. It wasn't until after Ramirez arrived on the scene in the City of Angels that Joe Torre's club was able to grab first place in the National League West division. Sure Manny can bring fans to ballparks across North America with his audacious playing style and mannerisms. But it's what he does on the field and produces in the box score that makes him a key asset for any team. He completely changes the face of the game. Advantage Dodgers.

Take into consideration that L.A. also has Mr. Joe Torre as their manager. Don't mistake his cool, calm and collective nature in the dugout for a weakness. No matter the superstars he coached in New York, Torre won four World Series titles with the Yankees and is looking to do it again on the west coast with the Dodgers who haven't won it all since Tommy Lasorda's team in 1988. Philly will put up a valiant effort but Manny Ramirez will have the last laugh as MVP of this series, and the Dodger Blue faithful will once again be National League champions.

SPORTS INVASION 2008 NLCS Pick: Dodgers in 6 games