Thursday, April 1, 2010

OH MY GOD BASEBALL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.


And what better way to usher in the new season than with a Sunday Night Baseball match up on ESPN of the New York Yankees going up to Fenway Park to challenge their bitter rivals the Boston Red Sox. While this match up makes all baseball fans salivate, and while my nose will be buried in the television set during this classic match up, my mind wanders to the NL Central to my beloved Cubs and their expectations for the 2010 season.

As an avid Cubs fan, you can assume that my anxiousness for the season to start is bittersweet: seeing as how they haven't won a World Series in over a century, the anticipation is lukewarm for success. However, there is something about this time of year...you've got your Final Four, you've got your NFL draft, you've got your NBA playoffs, you've got your Masters, you've got your first pitch...you've got EVERYTHING.

I've had my nose in all things Cubs. Ask me what's going on with other teams and I wouldn't dare speak on it because I don't want to sound like a moron. However the general consensus is that the Cubs will be lucky to come in 3rd in the NL Central. Now, while it pains me to say this, I can openly admit that the Cardinals seem to be the team to beat in the division; but don't count the Cubs out just yet; Carlos Marmol's performance this year in the closer spot is directly reflective of the way this season will turn out. Yes our bullpen is young, but if Marmol can effectively close games out like he has the capability to do, I feel as though the Cubs' offense can lead us to 88-90 wins. They are (For the most part) healthy and the starting rotation is, while not stellar, solid. Randy Wells is set to have an outstanding year and in my opinion, become the ace of the team.

Are there any superstars left on this team? If Soriano can return to form (Rangers form) and Derek Lee can continue to be the consistent hitter they need in the 3 spot, I feel as though the Cubs can compete for the NL lead in runs scored this year, and Lou Pinella reiterates this sentiment, knowing that the key to fighting for a playoff spot lies in the teams ability to manufacture runs.

This is going to be a long season. These aren't your '08 Cubs, and if this team has a shot, it's going to be in its physicality and its relentless hustle.

The city of Chicago has been waiting. Expectations are low, and now it the perfect time to surprise the baseball world. The realist in me predicts the Cubs will miss the playoffs, the optimist predicts a wild card birth and possibly a trip to the NL Championship series.

The miraclist in me...well, I won't even say it...

Enjoy the season everyone. Play ball.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Raiders Leaders in Efforts to Acquire Mcnabb


Let me just say, while most Raiders fans may believe that this is the right move to make, I do not.

Unless of course we can convince one of top 5 QB's in the league to sign an extension with literally the worst team of the last 8 years, this move is just another sad attempt to rejuvenate a team while effectively OVERspending (One of Al Davis' trademark moves in the past 20 years).

The problem lies in McNabb's outlandish contract that has scared off pretty much every other team in the market for the Eagles' QB, and rightfully so. Due a roster bonus and a large annual salary, The Raiders would have to lock him up with at least a 2-3 year extension in order for this deal to make any sense whatsoever.

Yes, McNabb could bring the kind of winning attitude to one of the saddest and most dysfunctional teams. Yes, he could potentially make this team a playoff contender in a shaky AFC West; however this trade is just a quick fix. Al Davis falls in love with veteran QBS (see: Rich Gannon) and while they are more than competent and able to lead a team better than Jamarcus Russell, there is also a very energetic Bruce Gradkowski who won over the locker room last year.

True, Russell has so far been nothing but arguably the biggest draft bust of all time. However, the kid is still very young and has a remote chance of becoming something in the NFL. If he needs more time, let him sit on the bench a little while longer and watch Gradkowski. Obviously McNabb is a more ideal QB than Gradkowski, but if the idea is to teach Russell, Gradkowski could get the job done, and much much cheaper.

So far, no deal is even in place, but all the pieces are there. Let's just hope for the sake of the Raiders, they are able to realize that an extension is necessary in order to make anything out of this.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Elite 8 Wrap-Up and Final Four Predictions

Ok ok, so that didn't go so well.

I don't know what stings more: the fact that my predictions were ridiculously terrible, or the fact that the only game I correctly picked was Duke. However, as they say at the podium, it is what it is and it's time to move on, once again taking it one day at a time and giving it 110%.

I hate Duke. Ok so ANYWAYS, Let's move on. The Final Four, despite the fact that those white collar wankers from Durham are in it, promises to be one of the most exciting ones in recent history.

No 1 Duke vs. No 2 West Virginia

Ok, so of course Duke is playing very well. Their defense is always superb under Coach K and when they get hot from outside, it's very hard to beat them. However from this point on, I will not pick them from this point on, on principle alone. So let me give you some reasons I believe West Virginia will pull this one out. They are resilient. West Virginia doesn't win pretty, and I don't expect it to be any different in this game. If they want to win the game, they're going to have to crash the boards and play smart. With Mazzulla playing the ball of his life, I don't expect the Mountaineers to back down now, look for WVU in a close battle.

No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 5 Butler

Now THIS is the game I've been waiting for. The battle of the two improbables. Tom Izzo led MSU heads into this game having no business being in the Final Four, however they define the blue collar team. They're tough defense and never say die attitude has gotten them into the final rounds as their star guard sits on the bench with injuries. However they're headed to Indianapolis: Butler's territory and facing a smart team that is on the nation's largest winning streak and riding a wave of confidence that I believe no one can alter.

West Virginia vs. Butler. Your National Championship game. Bow to me.

Stay tuned for baseball talk next post!