Pic of the Week

Photo at Pablo and Tina's annual Halloween party. Though for the first time in it's existence I wasn't in attendence, it seemed that I missed some great costumes here's alittle taste.

The Yankees 2007 Offseason

Since the start of the World Series the Yankees have been begun the re transformation process so that they can get out of the this funk that they are in the past 5 seasons. Most teams would give anything to be in the kind of funk that the Yanks are in but these are the wealthy New York Yankees that winning now is the only thing that matters. This is the first season that I have witnessed from the Yankees since their championship of 1996, a combination of experienced players and youth. The Yankees have brought up a some new young components to the major league roster that all could bring a title back to the city of New York. My father who is an avid reader of Baseball America says that the New York organization are flourishing talent in the minor leagues that are ready to make an impact at the professional level. With that being said the Yankees decided to let their long time manager, Joe Torre, go with a new type of style waiting in the horizon. That new style's name is Joe Girardi, in my opinion a perfect new addition with a style that is going to shake around the egos that are in the clubhouse. Though Girardi doesn't have much experience, that is usually key to manage a clubhouse with as many high priced players, he brings an intensity that might be good for especially the young players in the locker room. It'll be interesting to see how he gets along with the media during the season, but I am pretty sure that we will see a guy that won't shy away from questions...something that might irritate "the boss".

Scott Boras made an announcement during game 4 of the World Series that Alex Rodriguez, the probable American League MVP..again, will opt out of his contract with the Yankees and look elsewhere for work. This brought the boss' son, Hank Steinbrenner, so say that he doesn't want to resign someone that doesn't want to be a Yankee. So with this, the New York organization decided that they will not pursue the soon to be even richer A-Rod. This brought a chuckle to me, I really find it hard to believe that the Yankees will let Rodriguez go that easily. If you really think that I believe the Yankees are not and will not pursue this guy your out of your mind. The only way I can see this is if the Yanks swipe Mike Lowell from the Red Sox because Lowell is going to want a long-term deal, and who better to give it then the Yankees. Lowell who started his career in the minors with the Yankees will probably be asking for a 5 year contract something that the Red Sox might not go for and offer him a 3 year deal. If that happens, something that happened before with a man named Damon, I think that the Yankees will steal the World Series MVP and give the man what he wants.

With Torre out of the picture after making it to the postseason in every year of his career as a Yankee manager the outlook of the others free agent players to return doesn't look good. Among them are Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Roger Clemens, and the return of Andy Petitte who is talking retirement since the departure of their coach. When it comes down to it, Girardi was a former teammate and money ultimately talks in my book. I really believe that Clemens and Pettite will be gone, but I am sure that captain Derek Jeter will talk some sense into the other two Hall of Fame candidates. The Yanks are going to have to face some hard decisions with what they are going to do with Johnny Damon with the emergence of Melky Cabrera in center field. I really don't think this is that hard of a decision though, Cabrera plays...Damon sits. The starting pitching is going to need some work this off-season as well. Mike Mussina is done, so either it's time to bring up some of the young new talent in waiting or go out and get someone. My guess is that they'll do the latter but it'll be hard since there are not as many free agent pitchers are on the market this season that the Yankees are going to take a liking to.

With all this being said, the New York Yankees have started this very important off-season with a coaching change and a probable AL MVP opting to go elsewhere. Not a course that most teams would want to go, but change will be good for the Yankees, but keeping some guys around won't be that bad of an idea either. I am sure with the Red Sox already winning two championships this century is keeping the Yankees on edge. But, what they need to do is stay patient and bring in the type of players that brought them success in the past...pitching, role players, and youth. I figured I would blog about this today since the Yankees rumor mill will go on for months and I really won't want to hear about it all the time. So I'll write about it now instead of later, because knowing the Yankees, there will be a change everyday...they better hope so!

I Can Admit I Was Wrong!

After watching the Boston Red Sox sweep another World Series for the second title in 4 years over the Colorado Rockies last night I will have to admit that I was wrong! Even though I picked the Red Sox to win the title at the beginning of the season, at mid-season, and this series...I didn't pick them when the regular season was over, I was wrong and for that I apologize! For some reason I really had the feeling after the season was over that they had falter toward the end and weren't the same team to begin the postseason. But Terry Francona proved me wrong by winning their final seven games to win his second title, and a place in Red Sox history forever!

Not only did the Colorado Rockies disappoint their fans but me! I really thought that the long layoff was not going to affect them, I was wrong and for that I apologize! It was clear Game 1 when Josh Beckett continued to throw fastball after fastball the first three innings of the game, daring the Rockies to hit it. Clearly, baseball is all about timing and the Rockies during their layoff have no one that throws fastballs like Beckett to keep their timing sharp. This continue to game 2 with Curt Schilling throwing his off-speed splitters that kept the Rockies off-balanced for the second straight day. And even the cold Rocky Mountain air couldn't change momentum from their on in games 3 and 4. 9 days is way to long, now I think that is something for Major League baseball to think about during the off-season.

Coming tomorrow my first ever blog about the New York Yankees and their very important off-season, including the hiring of new manager Joe Giraldi...who I did say would be the next manager, somethings I do get right!

"They are who we thought they were!"

Most of my friends that read this blog I don't get to see much anymore, but in 3 weeks that is going to change. And I am sure that if I was home I would be asked about the Patriots/Redskins game being that I am a huge Redskin fan, always have. As you can see the famous quote above from my favorite coach that is out of the game, Denny Green, I really wasn't expecting much from the 'Skins this weekend...and I got just that! What I really was expecting was when I saw Tom Brady take the field in the 4th quarter was my boy Sean Taylor to really knock him out with a late hit after he dropped back to pass. Did I mention that I am also a Michigan fan, and have great respect for Brady? But, not to this extreme. I have heard the thoughts about this situation all day on the radio and television and my feeling is still the same as it was when I continued to watch the game in the 4th quarter yesterday...If this was the Redskins of the late '80s early '90s, Brady would have never taken the field. For this reason, they were different players then without limelight, and all of the media attention and the way that some, I repeat some, of the players today see the game now, the old school guys would have never stood for it. Do you think for a second that if the 49ers were beating the Redskins back in the day the way that the Patroits did on Sunday that Walsh would have sent Joe Montana out there with guys like a Dexter Manley still on the field...no way! That is like a death wish for Montana. My feeling is that the game was over before it started and was out of hand by halftime, what is Bill Belichick thinking with the starting lineup still in the game. What is he preparing for next week against the Colts? No way, my man Joe Gibbs had every right to just leave the stadium without a handshake yesterday and Gibbs is not that type of guy to do that! Lucky for the Patriots that they won't see the Redskins and Joe Gibbs again, unless it's the Super Bowl, for a few years and even still Gibbs will be gone...but Gregg Williams won't! Payback's a BITCH!!!

Just Watch

A Division 3 game this past Saturday reminded me of the Cal/Stanford game. Now that's how you draw it up!

Above are parts 1 and 2 of pieces on ESPN about the reason a young teen by the name of Genarlow Wilson was put in jail for aggravated child molestation. After more than two years behind bars the young man was just released this past week. I remember seeing these pieces more than 6 months ago and I thought that this was such a terrible story. But, now that the once high school football star is out, he has a brighter outlook on things to come. He has been studying for the SATs to hopefully get into college, something that he had wanted to do before the charges. Hopefully, this turns into a feel good story.

World Series Preview

This David vs. Goliath series that is about to be upon us has everything that we want in a World Series, so what that there is a good chance of snow in both cities in late October. We have Hall of Fame caliber players, a historic franchise verses a new experience for another, a team that is on a run that Major League baseball has really never seen, and another team that is trying to become a two-time champ in 4 years.

Let's face it no matter how you look at it, even with the run that the Colorado Rockies are on they are the big underdogs(David). With only two writers for ESPN picking the Rockies to win the series, it's hard to argue that they really have a chance. Well, I think that they do! Game 1, you beat Josh Beckett game 1, and you take all the momentum from the Boston fans, players, and management. All that I have heard this week from ESPN is "MOMENTUM"! So what the Rockies have had nine days off, its not like they are sitting around on the couch of their locker room drinking beer and getting fat and out of what I like to call "baseball shape". They are still playing live inter squad scrimmages against their star pitchers who are still throwing on their throw days, as are the hitters still seeing live pitching during this break. So don't give me this "Momentum" crap, the Rockies are in the World Series for the first time in their short history, don't tell me that these kids won't be ready to play. Now back to game 1, you beat Beckett you already steal home-field in the first game from the Sox and that'll be huge factor especially having the Red Sox trying to win in Colorado. Now if they happen to lose game 1, why can't they beat a up and down Curt Schilling. His stuff has not been over powering, and he has been keeping alot of his pitches up, and that always spells trouble. Do not count out the Rockies! Their no-name pitchers will keep them in most of the games and the bullpen has been more than great. And I really don't think that I need to mention how well these kids play defense and have been hitting the ball. With the way that Brad Hawpe and Matt Holliday have been hitting during this streak even if they slump, Garrett Atkins and Troy Tulowitzki are sure to pick it up. Along with Todd Helton who knows that his career is coming to a close and that his chances are growing slimmer by the year. Helton Hall of Fame? It really might come down to his play in this series, because most voters are going to give him the "He played in a hitters park" line.

The heavy favored(Goliath) Boston Red Sox have experience, talent, and pitching on their side and those three things are why they are the favorites. Coming back from down 3-1 verses a very good Cleveland Indians team, says something about the Red Sox. Even with only 7 players on the team that won it all in 2004, they have new role players that came up big when they needed them to. And that's why they are so scary right now! For the Red Sox it is very important, now matter what happens, to win with Curt Schilling game 2. Schilling has to come up big again, with Tim Wakefield off the World Series roster, that means that Dice K Matsuzaka and youngster Jon Lester will be pitching games 3 and 4, and who knows what could happen with these two pitching in Colorado. In addition, if the Red Sox fall in game 2, talks about Beckett pitching game 4 will linger again, but this time it'll make some sense because now he'd be replacing a rookie to the postseason instead of an experienced pitcher in Wakefield. Let's face it the Red Sox hitters are hitting their peak at the right time, and what they need to do is keep everything the same...stay patient and hit strikes. With Manny Ramirez looking to have another great World Series, and David Ortiz on the big stage again this tandem is a force that gives opposing pitchers headaches. Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis need to play big hitting behind and in front of the two studs. I love this kid Jacoby Ellsbury, a star in the making, and if he plays well the first two games in Boston, the confidence level will rise with every ovation the Boston faithful gives him and who knows how he'll play! On to the pick...

Like I said at the beginning, if the Rockies win game 1 verses Josh Beckett they have a super chance, but I just don't see this guy losing again in the playoffs...forever! The team with home-field advantage is 17-4 in the last 21 World Series.

BOSTON RED SOX IN 7- Beckett wins the MVP winning games 1, 4, and 7!

Alternate pick- Rockies in 4....why not!

Just in...

With my World Series preview coming tomorrow, I was just notified that Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox will be left off the World Series roster because of a bad shoulder, while the Colorado Rockies have added Aaron Cook to their roster and will pitch game 4 in Colorado. Also, ESPN has reported that Terry Francona has decided to keep young phenom Jacoby Ellsbury in the starting lineup. I am sure this wasn't a hard decision considering the terrible play of Coco Crisp, and the Boston faithful would have never have forgive Terry if they saw Coco in centerfield and they lost game one because his slump had continued. With Wakefield out this is pretty interesting to me. Wake has been fighting back problems for a while and after his 4+ inning against the Indians in game 4 probably didn't help with being fully recovered. So who now will be the game 4 starter? My guess is that it'll be the young Jon Lester, since they really have no one else, unless Beckett can go!

Pic of the Week

Homes burn up in flames at Valley Oaks mobile home park, west of Interstate 15. Half a million Californians have been ordered to evacuate their homes and flee the spreading wildfires across the southern California Tuesday. The San Diego Chargers who have moved their practices to Arizona are still deciding what to do when they are suppose to host the Houston Texans this weekend.

Dvd of the Week

I gotta admit I knew nothing about this movie when I put it on my list for Netflix because I had heard such great things about the movie just never got around to seeing it. The City of God was given 4 Oscar nominations back in 2004 but received none. Roger Ebert was quoted back in '04 comparing this movie to the criminal masterpiece Goodfellas. Though, in Goodfellas the main character of the movie Henry Hill always wanted to be a gangster in this movie you have no choice but to be one.



The location of the movie is based in a housing project call Cidade de Deus (City of God), and these projects are one of the most dangerous parts of the great Rio de Janeiro. The main character, Busca-Pe played by Alexandre Rodrigues gives his take on living in this kind of environment, with numerous young adults and kids growing up around him and how he's afraid that he'll end up like them---troubled, violent or dead. He has a photographers eye and he sees the stories of the several people who lived in the forsaken city unfold before his eyes. The story is based on actual events that occurred and just so you know upfront, it is a subtitled movie and if you can handle that this is a must-see movie. The movie can make you sick at times to think that that is how lives were and how you could be dead at any moment even at a very young age just because of who you knew.

Poll 1 in 5 fans try to improve luck for their team

I found this article on ESPN and thought that like myself, most of my superstitious friends they would be interested in this. With the blog that I just wrote about the Wolverines, I'd be lying to you if I said that I hadn't stopped wearing my Michigan jersey since they won verses Notre Dame.

WASHINGTON -- It didn't take Heather Pate long to figure out why her beloved Auburn University football team had begun losing. It was the pink toothbrush. Pate, a lifelong fan of the school, has long refused to own anything with even a hint of red, the color of archrival Alabama. That puts her among the one in five sports fans who say they do things in an attempt to bring good luck to their favorite team or avoid jinxing them, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Tuesday. The survey showed no real difference by gender, race or education in whether people try finding a way to help their team win. But those who do tend to be younger and make more money than those willing to risk letting the athletes determine a game's outcome. They also are more likely to be single. A nurse from Eldridge, Ala., Pate said she refuses to own a red car or purchase anything crimson. So when she recently had to spend time in a hospital after the birth of her twin sons, she was aghast when she noticed someone had brought her a pink toothbrush. Auburn promptly dropped two straight games. It was all because of that "red toothbrush,'' Pate, 28, said this week after responding to the AP survey.
There was no significant difference among the fans of various sports in how superstitious they were, the poll showed. Twenty-four percent of college basketball fans admitted to trying something lucky to help their team and 20 percent of professional basketball followers said the same thing. Fans of professional baseball, and of college and professional football, fell in between.
Other fans who answered the poll had their own techniques for influencing the final score.
Lisa Rawlinson, 40, a pharmaceutical sales manager from Huntington, W.Va., won't watch crucial Cleveland Indians games on television. She didn't watch Sunday night but her Indians somehow lost the decisive game anyway against the Red Sox, allowing Boston to creep into the World Series, which starts Wednesday. Todd Williams, 33, of Lexington, Ky., likes to watch University of Kentucky games clad in Kentucky blue-and-white apparel -- and clutching his lucky basketball. For Yankees fan Paul Hegyi, 31, of Sacramento, Calif., it's a lucky bat -- which failed him last week when the Indians bumped New York from the playoffs. Mario Alvarado, 40, of Houston leaves Houston Texans' football games if they are trailing. He did so Sunday and by the time he turned the game on at home, the Texans had taken a lead -- only to lose as the Tennessee Titans kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired. "If I hadn't turned it on, I probably wouldn't have jinxed them,'' he said. The poll was conducted from Oct. 16-18 and involved telephone interviews with 1,013 adults. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

SHHHHHHH!

Funny how some of my buddies only call me or write me messages when my team(s) are failing just so that they feel better about themselves. It is also funny how in return, I do nothing but take it. But, after Saturday night the silence from the peanut gallery has grown for another week as the Wolverines of Michigan have won their sixth straight game and are now 4-0 in the Big Ten tied for first place with rival Ohio State. Michigan's victory though I admit looked very ugly won the game despite 3 turnovers and playing without their Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Mike Hart. I also admit when I turned the game on and saw Hart on the sidelines I thought that they were doomed. The play of the offensive line and of sure to be 1st round pick wide receiver Mario Manningham the Wolverines looked to be the team that they were suppose to be before week 1. With the Minnesota Gophers on tap this weekend the team looks to keep hold of the Big Ten title race before the big game verses the Buckeyes. So I am hoping for some more silence until that day comes.

Just Leave Manny Alone!

For the record, I have always been intrigued by Manny Ramirez since he was hitting bombs in Cleveland so this blog might be a little biased. All the negative attention that Manny has been receiving since he hit the GW Bomb against the Anaheim Angels in game 2 is driving me crazy! So the dude is listening to his own music in that head of his. So the dude likes to admire his homeruns. So the dude can't speak English that well and he tends to say things that the public reacts like, "Huh?". Let the man be! I don't think that we as fans will really appreciate the great talent that Ramirez is until he is gone. If you didn't hear last night Manny Ramirez just tied the Major League record for continuing his postseason hitting streak up to 15 games. Fifteen games! He is hitting .440 this postseason with 4 homers, and let's not forget is incredible ability to hit with two strikes. The man can't field, can't run, and is a real nut-job. I am sorry and their will be people that disagree with this statement but I am going on record and saying that, "Manny Ramirez is the best right-handed batter that I have ever seen!" He is! My buddy Maynard once asked me, "Why is it that left-handed batters look so pretty when they swing and rightys don't?" I didn't have an answer, but I can tell you this Ramirez swing is so pure when he connects with the ball. Though Manny doesn't own very many individual awards he does have three Silver Slugger Awards and a World Series MVP. As much as I can really care less who moves on to the World Series, I find myself routing for the Sox just so I can watch Manny at the plate one more time.

The series has been what I have expected thus far, but even though they are down 2-3, I feel that the Red Sox have all the momentum now going to Boston. But, I could be wrong with Curt Schilling taking the hill on Saturday night anything can happen. Does anyone know the last time Schilling pitched a game six facing elimination?....that's right the bloody sock night!

Pic of the Week

A baby that was born in Siberia at 17.1 pounds. I feel not only sorry for the mother, but the father if he was in the delivery room!

21 of 22

Never has Major League baseball seen anything like this. One strike away from being eliminated from the playoffs by the San Diego Padres until a Padres legend's son tied the game with one swing and changed everything, especially for a team in Colorado named the Rockies. Like myself and until now, I am sure that most of America know nothing about this team and still don't. This team of destiny that has won twenty-one of their last twenty-two games are for real, and America should embrace them. Back on the last day of the season while I was watching that San Diego/Milwaukee Brewers game when Tony Gwynn's son Tony Jr. was facing the all-time leader in saves in Trevor Hoffman and had two strikes, I thought that it was too bad that the Rockies played this well and are going to finish on the short end of the stick. So in short, the Brewers came back and won in extra innings the Rockies then had to play the Padres in a one game playoff to get into the postseason. With beating the Padres and just sweeping the Divisional and NLCS series in great fashion, they are waiting the next opponent they must defeat. This has been the Rockies whole strategy..... whos next? They have been taking it game by game, haven't changed anything, and now for the first time are National League Champions! It's easy for everyone now to say that the Red Sox/Indians winner will be the favorite in the World Series being that they will have home field advantage, and in my opinion are the two best teams that made the playoffs this season and are the bigger named teams with more stars. But, will they be the favorites? How can you deny the Rockies? This team has done everything and some to get where they are. My question is if this team was on the east coast doing what they have been doing would they be getting the same treatment? My guess is no. Let's face it America, the Colorado Rockies are in the World Series and this is a great thing for Major League baseball! So why do I feel that it is not a great deal for the media and for baseball in general, my guess is one word...revenue! So go Rockies, keep doing what your doing, you deserve better than what your getting, but I am sure that is not on your minds, because it hasn't in your last 22 games!

"Come on Down!!!"

For the first time I watched the Price is Right without Bob Barker as the host of the show, and I was highly entertained. Drew Carey to my surprise was excellent! Being a working man the only time I got to see the show was when I was sick, but now that I have days off on Mondays and Tuesdays I get my two days of the game show. I have been a fan of the show since I was a kid, but I can't say that I am a fanatic of the show like some of the idiots that get to go up on stage. While I was watching today, Carey was hysterical! He would start laughing when the people would go crazy when they got the bid right to go up on stage. He would also be routing hard for them to win, it was great to watch. We as a public got so use to the way Barker did the show, that it was almost like watching an old robot do his same routine over and over. Carey brings a lot of fun and energy to a show that is without their legendary host. I wish Carey the best and will continue to watch America's favorite game show!

The Call of the Year!

It doesn't get any better than home team announcers late in a ball game!

ALCS Preview

Ok, so maybe the Rockies will sweep. But, this next prediction is a lock! With the Cleveland Indians going to Boston tonight to start their best of seven series we couldn't ask for anything better out of the postseason, unless of course your a Yankee fan. We got the two best teams in the American League facing off for the rights to hold in their stadium the League Pennant Champs banner. Two great offensive teams facing pitching staffs that has had their highs and lows during the season. So what are we to suspect in this series? Well, as far as starting pitching, the Indians have two aces(C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona) on their team that will both pitch two games if the series goes the distance. While the Red Sox have two of the best postseason pitchers of are era(Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling) facing off against the young aces. What drama! We get these guys pitching the first two games of the series in Fenway Park, wow! I really believe this series is going to come down to Daisuke Matsuzaka in game 3 vs. Jake Westbrook. With Tim Wakefield looking to be the game 4 starter for the Sox, Boston needs Dice-K to have a great start, even if the Sox are up 2-0 going into game 3, he needs to pitch well because there are no guarantees with Wake pitching 4. With that being said I think that the Indians have the edge in pitching, but a very slight edge. Of course, I really don't think that the Red Sox will sweep the first two. Fausto Carmona is one of my favorite pitchers right now and I have only seen him pitch twice! And, I am not a believer that if Carmona has his sinker working that the right-handed based Red Sox will be able to hit the youngster. On paper the Red Sox have the better bullpen, but are they? With the time off that they have been able to have I think that Hideki Okajima, Eric Gagne, and Jonathan Papelbon in that order will be just fine. As for the Indians, yeah Joe Borowski led the league in saves this season but he is the first reliever to lead the league in saves and have over a 5.00 era, bullpen edge to the Sox. We all know what both of these offenses are capable of, but I am giving the nod to the Sox in all the offensive categories, except sac bunting. With Manny Ramirez looking to be tuned in on all pitches, and they way that the Sox have a different guy everyday coming up big, the edge in hitting goes to the Sox. On to the pick!

RED SOX IN SEVEN Ok, so you saw this coming, but really the only reason that I went with the Sox in seven is that I can't see them losing to Jake Westbrook or Paul Byrd game 7 in Fenway. The Sox will beat Sabathia, maybe twice but Schilling is going to have to dig deep into his past to try and out duel Carmona. It should be a very memorable series! MVP of the series goes to Mike Lowell.

NLCS Preview

There is no secret that Major League baseball wanted the two losers of the divisional series to advance instead of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks playing tonight. On the other hand, and I am probably one of the few, am glad to see these two hot teams fight for the right to go to the World Series. Let's face it, these are two of the hottest teams in baseball since the All-Star break and they both deserve the right to be in this situation. Both managers in my opinion deserve to win NL Manager of the Year, by taking very young squads and during them into Pennant chasing players. I love it! The Rockies and Diamondbacks also each have 4, that's right 4 the number after 3, players with postseason experience. The payroll of the two teams combine is still 40 million dollars less than what the Boston Red Sox pay their team this season. Before I give you my pick for the series, how can I deny the other team? The Diamondbacks took over first place in the NL West early in the second half of the season and held it with the San Diego Padres and Rockies making runs at them, but yet they still went out and played and held first place and best record in the NL. How can I not pick the Rockies, they have had one loss in like a month! As my Dad noted to me last week against the Cubs, "Even when they ground out, they are hitting the ball so hard! They are so tuned in!" The best thing for Major League baseball is for this series to go all 7 games, and for the record I wouldn't mind that at all. Let's not take for granted what these two special teams did this season, even if the best teams are in the American League. I am hoping for a great series and for these young kids from the west to make names for themselves, well on to the pick...

ROCKIES IN SEVEN!!! The Rockies will continue their winning ways just how they have this last month, with timely hits and solid starting pitching, and great bullpen relief. They will be able to knock Brandon Webb around I think as well, since they have seen him enough during the year and have had some success as well. Todd Helton will help his Hall of Fame status by winning the series MVP.

Pic of the Week

A new addition to The Nutz is the Pic of the Week. This will be any pic, any! Friends, celebs, or even random. This weeks pic is one that I was just given! My boy is unbelievable!!!

Come on Over Jim

In the mood to catch up on some writing today, and so I wanted to let everyone know that I am on the Jim Harbaugh bandwagon, and want to welcome him back to Michigan next season with open arms. Harbaugh has started his young coaching career with a bang, especially after the Stanford Cardinals had a tough '06 with a 1-11 season in a good Pac-10 Conference. Stanford in their first five games has already played four teams that were ranked in the top 23. With its record now at 2-3 looks to get another win this week against TCU. Even with the Michigan Wolverines having won their last four games and are currently undefeated in the conference going into a home game against Purdue this weekend, I am still calling for a coaching change in Ann Arbor next season. I'll take Jim, who once held some passing records at Michigan though I never really cared for his performances. But, my number one guy to get the job is another alum, Les Miles, who currently is coaching the number 1 team in the country in LSU, after a great comeback victory against Florida last weekend. Miles was an assistant under Bo Schembeckler back in 1980 to 1982, and came back to the Wolverines to assistant coach for eight seasons in 1987. So Les, if LSU isn't for you I am offering you the opportunity to come back as well. Good riddens Lloyd!

Oh Serena!

I just found this and wasn't sure if it was this month's or what so I just copied this paragraph from where I found it.

Jane magazine’s highlight this month is the semi-nude photos of Eva Mendes, Joss Stone, Serena Williams, and five other famous faces. There is nothing that gets a guy to the newsstand faster than knowing that some well-known celebrity chick is naked in a magazine. Serena Williams is way up there on the list, especially for those of us that appreciate her butt, especially myself. With flowers keeping it mysterious, Serena Williams struck a sexy little backshot.

Is this good for tennis or what? I am fine with it, just wondering is there going to be an upgrade soon? Maybe Playboy! Hey Hef, give her a call, I insist!

Amazing!

Michael Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies doing his warmup routine. WOW!

The Better Team Won

The Cleveland Indians last night did what they had been doing all season, getting the job done when it calls for it. I could say that I am shocked that the Yankees for the third consecutive season has been bounced from the divisional round of the postseason, but i am not. The Indians were just the better team! They pitched well, except Jake Westbrook in game three, got timely hits from there role players, and got home runs when needed. With Joe Torre's career more than likely in the books in New York, it begs the question who's next to take over this wealthy team.

Whoever it is to replace Torre it has to be someone that is going to challenge his players. Torre has always been known as a players coach, which means a soft, laid back coach that let's his players just go out and perform. With all the egos, and high priced players on this team, I guess that you are sort of forced into that role, but I think that upper management needs to change that. My choice for the Yanks would be Joe Giraldi, he is not afraid to get into his players, and still gets there respect.

Cleveland who finished a close second to the Boston Red Sox for best record, has their pitching rotation in tact for the ALCS and with the way that Dice-K pitching poorly who knows what could happen. He has been so inconsistent that manager Terry Francona has just bumped Curt Schilling to pitch in game two. I gotta say though that with not only the home field advantage the Boston Red Sox just look to be the better team for this type of series, but that is why they play the game and you never know what could happen in October!

DVD of the Week

Netfix has been a great addition to my life! I have been able to watch a lot of movies that I fail to see when they come out in the theaters. This weekend I received Apocalypto, this was a very powerful movie from director Mel Gibson. Taking place in Mayan civilization just before Spain's conquest of the Mexico and Central American territories in the 16th century. This movie gives you a little recreation of how life was then for the natives, how family was everything and so was your way of life. This movie at times was very, very gruesome but just showed how the times were. I give this movie five stars and a top recommend for anyone who hasn't seen it. Be forewarned, do not eat before you see this movie!

An Absolute GW Bomb

You gotta hand it to Francisco Rodriguez, who's never given up a post-season homerun, he does it with style. For those of you that have never been to Fenway Park and saw how high and hard Manny Ramirez hit that ball, it was a long, long ways. Those Coke bottles in the replay are pretty high up and Manny hit it sooo hard. The only question I have now is, was Manny's celebration after the hit worth a beaning on Sunday?

Stop Buggin Me!

This was something that I have never seen in a Major League playoff game. I thought that the state of Florida had a bug problem, this was something out of a horror film, and Joba Chamberlain was the leading actor. I am not a Yankee fan nor am I a Yankee hater, but how could you not feel sorry for this guy? Sitting inside on my safe couch, it bothered me seeing all those annoying things crawling all over his neck, and cheeks, and hat, and nose. When the wind had stopped in Cleveland the bugs came and Doug Mientkiewicz was at-bat and he was having difficulty in the box with the bugs, he looked at catcher Victor Martinez and you could read his lips, "I just ate one!". The Yankees clearly have a blame for their loss Friday night, and they had wings and an appetite for moisture. Joba was so effective in the 7th inning I really had this game in the books with him coming in the eighth and doing the same thing and leaving it to Mariano Rivera for the ninth. Joba was just so bothered that he could not throw a strike and that lead to him throwing a wild pitch scoring the only run the Indians could manage to that point and the momentum clearly shifted. Let's not forget how well, Fausta Carmona pitched keeping the Yankee hitters off-balanced all game (A-Rod especially). I do not believe that the Yankees are out of this series as of yet, but you gotta wonder if they can control the pests that are the Indians.

Love the Old Skool guys!!!

Months ago I posted my maybe, probables, and locks for current Major League players for the Hall of Fame. Kenny Lofton was on my list for the maybes, because well, he is a maybe for the Hall. But, watching Lofton back in a Cleveland Indians uniform and come up big with 3 hits, 4 rbi, a stolen base and double, all with two out and I just took it in and smiled. Lofton was part of my youth, the kid could play when he came to the league and if you were pretending that you were somebody fast while you were playing wiffle ball, Kenny was your guy! The 40 year-old and 17 year vet has had a great come back season this year and it's really nice to see. Lofton, that I can remember was never an ass, went out and played that game the only way he knew how. I would like to see him get into the Hall, with the way he played more than 8 years ago he would be a no doubter. But, injuries and being in the wrong organization has hurt him, and now he's back where he was a continuous all-star and has his Cleveland squad up 1-0 in the divisional series against the powerful Yankees. Keep it going Kenny and the rest of my old skool players!

You have got to be kiddin?

Captain- 1. a chief; leader 2. the master of a ship, the pilot of an airplane 3. the leader of a team, as in sports

I thought that Tony Kornheiser was kidding around when he told the camera that Stephen Jackson will be the team captain for the Golden State Warriors this coming season. The same Stephen Jackson that caused nothing but grief in Indiana as a Pacer, with being the number two guy in the famous brawl in Detroit. The same guy who a year ago today, was part of a scene that occurred at a strip club with bullets flying in the air like the love-bugs that are out in Florida. The same guy who will be suspended for the first seven games of the this season for pleading guilty to criminal recklessness for the flying bullets. And the same guy who just reported to camp with a new tattoo, I hate to even say it but a tattoo of a church in the background of two praying hands holding a gun. Niiiice!

The only thing that I can think Don Nelson would do this is to give this headcase some responsibility and that this might keep him out of trouble, but I don't agree with it. A captain is someone that is suppose to lead by example, and a person that others look to. Stephen Jackson is not this and probably never will be. Nelly's other two captain's in my opinion are, Baron Davis and Matt Barnes.

Who I got

Well, it's time for the picks that are sure to be wrong. After going 2 of 4 in the AL, and 1 of 4 in the NL maybe my predictions will take a different turn for the better with the best part of the year starting up. This is the best time of the year, we got football in both college and pro off to a great start and now the baseball postseason. Well, that enough on to the picks!

YANKEES/INDIANS- The Yankees are 6-0 verses the tribe this season, but its now the postseason! But, really don't see this changing! The Indians have great pitching, and the Yankees have great hitting. I expect the Yanks starting pitching to step it up a notch, with the likes of Andy Pettitte, Chin Ming Wang, and of course the Rocket. Yanks in 5

RED SOX/ANGELS- Very interesting match-up for a divisional series. Pitching and Hitting is great for both teams. Winning game one is going to be key for this series with Cy Young candidates in Josh Beckett and John Lackey going at it. Which Sox bullpen shows up is going to be the difference in the series, the one that was the best in baseball before Eric Gagne, or after. Red Sox in 4

PHILLIES/ROCKIES- Two of the hottest teams in baseball going at it in the first round. Though might not be the highest ticketed series but I will enjoy it. Two of the top NL MVP candidates in Ryan Howard and Matt Holliday, that lead their teams to the playoffs with the hopes of advancing to the league championship. The Phillies line-up is so solid up and down, and the pitching has been great as of late. Though the Rockies have grab my attention there time will be up. Phillies in 4

CUBS/DIAMONDBACKS- The Cubs are back in the playoffs and baseball was in great need of this especially when the Mets got bounced. The Diamondbacks great run to the postseason was a shock by me, but not the way Brandon Webb got them there. This series is definitely going the distance if Webb is ready for game 4, if not Diamondbacks hitters will have to win another game somehow to get to a game five. So here's the pick...Cubs in 4 with only one start by Webb, Cubs in five with Webb starting 1 and 4

AL CHAMPIONSHIP RED SOX/YANKS- The Major League baseball got what they wanted and so did the east coast. The Yankees have played stellar baseball since the All-Star break and have played even better against the Sox. Keys to the series will be the Red Sox bullpen, the Yankees bullpen, and the old-time pitchers. Curt Schilling, Andy Pettitte, and Roger Clemens are all back with a league pennant on the line. Schilling has a chance of locking up a Hall or Fame career with one great performance. With Pettitte and Clemens looking to return to their playoff dominance. Pitching will be the difference to who will stop who's bats, this is a tough call, but I'll go with the team with home field...Red Sox in 7

NL CHAMPIONSHIP PHILLIES/CUBS- Major League baseball gets what they want again with two major cities fighting to get where both cities have failed to get to on numerous occasions. With Philadelphia getting home-field advantage in this series, meaning that Carlos Zambrano will probably pitch in one of the first two away games and I am not that sold on Zambrano being the ace for a 7 games series but they do have my boy Lou Pinnella in the dugout making the decisions. I am going to stay with the hot team and the team with the better line-up. Phillies in 6

WORLD SERIES- So we got the Phillies back in the Series since 1993, and the Red Sox trying to get their second title in 4 years. I would love to see this series, seeing Howard hitting bombs in the historic Fenway Park. And of course "Big Papi" Ortiz on the national stage, trying to make more clutch performances and see the faces of the Philadelphia faithful. Boths teams have line-ups to do serious damage and pitching staffs that can shut down opponents for 7 strong innings. The Sox inconsistency this season bothers me, while that Phillies strong play this last month has been inspiring. With the Philadelphia as the most losingest frachise in history, things will turn out good this season after getting their 10,000th loss. Phillies win the series on the Sox turf, Phillies in 7!

Enjoy!!!

You can learn alot from 1 game!

In Monday's game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres to see you will advance as the Wild Card winner and play the Philadelphia Phillies, I came to the realization of a couple of things, and it has nothing to do with safe or out...

A few months ago I made a post about current Major Leaguers and their Hall of Fame status. Trevor Hoffman was on the list as a probable inductee. Well, after the game was over he is going to have to wait a little longer. Hoffman hasn't been a part of too many postseason teams and blowing a two run save in that situation with a playoff appearance on the line. Let's be honest he doesn't have that great of stuff and all he had that was working was his change-up. And if your a baseball guy, how can you throw a change-up for 8 straight pitches your bound to get one of them hit or two.

The Rockies should never, ever host a deciding game! If you were watching the game in the late innings, the pitching wasn't all that good, the hitting was just that bad. With the thin air in Colorado every single batter was up to bat trying to end the game with one swing and it was frustrating me. Even with two strikes each player was trying to lift the ball in the air and sent it into the air and out of the park. It took a change-up pitcher to get into the game for the batters from Colorado to start taking better cuts at the ball.

The outfield umpires should play a little farther back to the infield umpires. They almost cost the Rockies the playoffs with no being able to see that ball hit over the fence. And as we saw years ago from the Jeffery Mayor game in Yankee stadium when the outfield umpires have to turn then run out to the outfield it is a more difficult call to make.

Todd Helton will remain a Rockie for quite some time. He had played very well the past a couple of weeks and the ovations that he recieves from the Colorado faithful will keep him their for a while if not his entire career.

Matt Holliday would have been MVP if the Phillies didn't make the playoffs. It's hard to imagine to myself, that Ryan Howard won't win the award now. He absolutely took the Phillies on his back this last month! Holliday had a great, great season but he will finish a close second to Howard.

Finally, like I have always thought, bullpens are key to winning down the stretch and moving on in the postseason!