The Philadelphian Sports Report

The Best MVP Race of My Lifetime

2009-04-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

LeBron. Kobe. D-Wade. When I hear those three names, I think of a great marketing platform for the NBA. They’re all in capes, musketeer hats and fencing swords. (Patent pending). For now, just consider it the battle for the MVP award for 2009: “One award for all, but only deserving of one.”

Kobe “Where’s the Beef?” Bryant. The man most commonly associated with the Los Angeles Lakers (post-Shaquille O’Neal, anyway). Kobe has been described as the best all-around guard in the NBA. I can’t really say LeBron is because he plays every position but center. Kobe has led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference for the second straight year and ... But he is not my MVP vote.

Wade will get his awards. The scoring title should be just enough to keep Wade happy for the playoff months and the off-season. He has a ring. He has a Finals MVP award. He SHOULD get the Defensive Player of the Year award since he broke the record for blocked shots by a guard (110). He’ll probably get his money, too which is equally important. There’s a certain comfort in knowing you are the difference between a team winning 15 games in ’07-’08 and a team winning 43 games in ’08-’09. How much is a +28 win differential worth? I guess we’ll find out in 2010.

Too often, the most valuable player gets mistaken for the most valuable player on a team. D-Wade unfortunately falls under this category because he’s Miami’s MVP, not the NBA’s. Kobe’s in this category, too. Clearly, he is the Lakers MVP. My friend Jeremy wanted me to admit that Pau Gasol meant more to the Lakers than Kobe Bryant. We then proceeded to get in a Rowdy Roddy Piper/Keith David style fight a la “They Live”. “PUT THE GLASSES ON!” ... Obviously, I won that argument.

I digress from the article, though. My apologies. Seasoned veterans of my articles know that I’m vulnerable to tangents. Anyway ...

I do have to admit that there is clearly one player out of the three that transcends the sport. When he steps on the floor, he has more impact both on and off the court more than anyone. Since I’ve already kinda spilled the beans, anyway, I won’t keep you in suspense any more. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, your 2009 NBA MVP ... Mr. LeBron James.

On the court, let’s face it. The guy is a beast. 6’8”, 250. There’s nothing funnier than watching a scrub center stand in the lane when LeBron is driving and then watching an ole’ move two seconds before LeBron throws it down. Seriously, how many basketball posters and cards feature LeBron James dunking on the dome of the Greg Ostertags of the world. I don’t know how many times I need to explain this. When LeBron James is coming down the lane ... MOVE OR BE EMBARRASSED! I’m just waiting patiently for the Vince Carter/Frederik Weis moment in LeBron James’ career. Hmm ... Hasheem Thabeet might enter the NBA draft for next year. I might get my wish.

Statistically, he’s redonkulous. He leads the Cavaliers in five different categories: total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Know how many others have done that? THREE! Dave Cowens in ’78, Scottie Pippen in ’95 and Kevin Garnett in ’03. Oh wait, there’s more. This year, he became first person to be top three in scoring (28.8) AND top-25 in rebounds (7.6), blocks (1.15), assists (7.2) and steals (1.69). By the way, he shoots almost 50% from the field and 40% from three. Do you need more? I think I can stop now with the offensive stats. They’re impressive. Moving on.

I like Wade for Defensive Player of the Year, but LeBron is 1A. If either win the award, I wouldn’t be surprised. Every night, LeBron guards the best player on the opposing team. I love LeBron/Kobe match-ups. I love LeBron/Paul Pierce match-ups. I remember one specific game where LeBron was sent to guard Andre Iguodala, and “A.I. v. 2.0” went on to shoot 1-13 from the field with about 8 million turnovers. Part of his defensive stats should go to Mo Williams’ offense, though. For whatever reason, you don’t spend as much energy when there’s a legitimate #2 scoring threat on the floor.

Let’s be honest. I’ve been saying this for years, but before the “Big Three” came along in Beantown, LeBron James was the only thing keeping the Eastern Conference relevant. After Detroit won the title in 2004, the Eastern Conference fell into obscurity faster and harder than Cuba Gooding Jr. post-“Jerry Maguire”. You keep thinking the conference will bounce back, but then “Boat Trip” comes out. (NOTE: I deem the Miami title was complete aberration because ... c’mon ... did anyone really think Dallas was going to win that Finals?) LeBron makes you think about the possibility that the Eastern Conference can do something against the powerhouses of the Western Conference (i.e. the Lakers).

Equally important is what LeBron does for the greater Cleveland area. Look at what that city has become since LeBron entered the league. He has single-handedly resurrected that town from the depths of “Michael Jordan over Craig Ehlo” hell. He is one NBA Championship away from turning “The Drive” into what LeBron James did in the NBA Finals against the Lakers when Pau Gasol refused to get out of the way and not what Elway did to the Browns in the AFC Championship to. Count how many times he has stated he wants to change the attitude of the city. Cleveland used to be just as bad as Boston pre-2004 World Series Championship and present-day Wrigley Area. Now, Cleveland has the hope factor ... which may or may not be the most powerful force in town right now.

What I love about my life right now is the fact I get to watch three of the best basketball players of this generation after watching some of the greatest combination of players from the ‘80s and ‘90s: Magic, Bird, Jordan, Erving (to a lesser extent because he was on the trail end of his career), Isaiah, Shaq, Duncan ... the list is endless. This year’s MVP race contains quite possibly one of the greatest trios of all-time. I kinda wish that Dwight Howard was in the mix. That would have made it interesting. For the time being, I’m happy with what I’m given.

Tuesday: “Two Piece and a Biscuit, Cajun Style, Please”

2009-04-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

1999: New Orleans Saints trades it all for the #5 pick (Ricky Williams)
The year was 1999. The turn of the century. Computer geeks were worried that Y2K was going to signal the end of the universe. Needless to say everyone was freaked out a little bit.

More freaking out was happening in the NFL because of the upcoming draft. Ricky Williams was THE running back in the ’99 Draft. Williams shattered records at the University of Texas. He became the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher in 1998 (broken the following year by Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne). His awards were as bountiful as a Thanksgiving dinner: 2 Doak Walkers, 2 Jim Browns, a Walter Camp, a Maxwell, a Heisman. Nine more awards, and he would have had one hell of a chess set.

The buzz was equal in New Orleans because of the hiring of new head coach, Mike Ditka. The name says it all. DIT-KA! Smash Mouth. One of the fathers of “Beat you down 80s football”. The fact that Ditka REALLY wanted Willams was not too much of a shock given the man’s reputation.

That desire ultimately resulted in New Orleans trading their entire stable of 1999 draft picks to get Williams. Let me repeat: THEIR ENTIRE STABLE OF DRAFT PICKS! THE WHOLE DAMN THING! EVERYTHING!

Ditka took Williams with that ONE pick in the ’99 Draft, then put him in a wedding dress and posed for ESPN. Williams was ok in his first years as a Saint. 884 yards in his rookie year, then 1,000 followed by a 1,245. The Saints made the playoffs in 2000, their first appearance since ’92, and rattled off four seasons of .500 ball.

-- What happened next? -- Williams goes to Australia to find ..something.. came back and failed three drug tests. Did anyone really find this surprising given that Master P was his first agent?

Williams abruptly retired from football before the third failed test in 2004 and caused the entire Saints organization to stutter and shrug like they were in a courtroom getting ratted out by the mob informant. “Um. Um. Uh. Uh. I.. I don’t.. What.. What the.. HUH!”

Nothing really came from the picks that were sacrificed because the players chosen were just mind boggling at the time. Cade McNown hasn’t thrown a pass in almost a decade. La’Var Arrington, the only pro bowler from the group, retired a few years ago. Billy Miller of the (now) Houston Texans is the only player left in the NFL that claims relevance. Shocking given the 1999 and 2000 Drafts included players like Dre‘ Bly or Joey Porter in ’99 or Keith Bullock and Marcus Washington in 2000.

Williams showed his skills more in South Beach than he did in the Big Easy with his over 1,800 yards rushing in his first year in a Dolphins uniform. Meanwhile, the Saints slipped deeper and deeper into obscurity ... which Saints fans had probably gotten used to.

Monday's 2 Piece and a Biscuit Special:

2009-04-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

“Two Piece and a Biscuit with some Spanish flavor and Mayo”
February 1, 2008:
Pau Gasol from Memphis to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol and two first round picks
I called my brother at his office five seconds after this deal happened and proceeded to yell in disgust, “MEMPHIS JUST TRADED PAU GASOL TO THE LAKERS FOR A TWO-PIECE AND A BISCUIT!” When I told him part of the deal was Kwame Brown, he asked if the two piece and a biscuit would be used to motivate Brown in some way.

This was probably the most lopsided trade in recent NBA history. The KG trade doesn’t qualify because the Timberwolves got Al Jefferson in the deal (a 20/10 player). This trade had more shenanigans declared on it than the last Bush administration.

To understand my utter disgust with this trade, understand that Pau Gasol WAS the Memphis Grizzlies. He was the only reason you’d watch a Grizzlies game, and he was doing that while only averaging just under 19 a game.

The other reason to watch Memphis was to remind yourself why the NBA is not allowed in Vancouver ever again. Between horrible management and the drafting of Brian “Big Country” Reeves, would you want another NBA franchise? Didn’t think so.

-- But I digress --

Gasol turned into the third piece in the Lakers triangle offense last year. Lamar Odom and some player named after a kind of beef were the other two. That Lakers team went on to win 57 wins with Gasol and an NBA Finals berth while the Grizzlies went into deeper depression, much to everyone’s surprise I’m sure. How can a team lose so many games with Javaris Crittenton in the back court?

These days, Gasol is still lighting it up in Los Angeles, but something of merit came out of the deal on Memphis’ end. The 2008 first round pick turned out to be USC guard O.J. “Just Call Me Best Foods” Mayo. Mayo was a pretty prolific scorer at Southern Cal and is panning out as the new centerpiece with the other Gasol (...Who could’ve called that one?..).

Yummy Yummy Yummy ... Bad Trades Suck in the Tummy

2009-04-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

No matter what level of sports knowledge you have, everyone has their own sports phrases that makes sense in their own head. How you explain something to you and your friends differs from how others would put it. When I was a young sports lad, one of my favorite such phrases was the famous “WITH -- (pause) -- THE FACIAL!” (Marv Albert, circa forever).

At that time, I had no idea what a facial was. Was Scottie Pippen taking Patrick Ewing to the local spa for mud packs and cucumber eyes? (One of the top ten greatest facials of all-time, by the way). Little did I know that was Marv’s brilliant way to explain that one player got simply posterized (another term that I didn’t understand until I was about 16).

If you’re a consistent reader to the column, then you already know I have my own vocabulary when it comes to sports. Sure I use a lot of movie references, but it’s something I know that correlates to sports more often than I figured it would. One of my favorite phrases not based on any kind of movie would be the infamous “2 Piece and a Biscuit Trade”.

If you asked me today, I couldn’t tell you the origin. Maybe I was drunk at a KFC during the Hershel Walker trade? Not likely since I was only 7 when that happened. I’m pretty sure I didn’t go to a Church’s chicken until I was about 17 or 18, so that’s out. There was the Crown Chicken place at 52nd and Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, but the experience was never one to remember.

No matter the origin, though, the premise of the phrase is simple. Two teams make a trade, and one team CLEARLY got the better end of it. Hence the birth of the phrase: “Yo. (Sucker Team) traded (Great or Their Best Player) to (Team B) for a two-piece and a biscuit (seemingly worthless parts).”

The latest entry is the Jay Cutler trade to Chicago. But, does it qualify as a “2 Piece and a Biscuit Trade” when one team gets two first round picks, and the other gets a franchise quarterback coming off a 4,500 yard season? Maybe it’s just me, but that seems even. However, this week, I will dedicate the blog to my all-time personal favorite “2 Piece and a Biscuit Trades” so get some good gravy and pour it on. This’ll be good reading.

'09 MLB Preview

2009-04-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

For the first time in my entire life, I’m actually excited about the upcoming baseball season. Somehow, a World Series championship makes a person feel better about himself. If you have time, pick up Bill Simmons’ book written after the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. That’s how I feel. Like the peaceful Dennis Haysbert in “Major League 2”. You know, when Pedro Cerrano discovered Buddhism. It’s pretty much how I feel these days.

This season should be magical for a cornucopia of reasons. (The word “cornucopia” needs to be used more in my opinion, by the way.) Just look at New York City. The Yankees priced out the blue collar fans by having more new features in Yankee Stadium than the latest blu-ray DVDs, and in Queens, the Mets are one bankruptcy away from “The Stadium that Shall Remained Nameless” Field. Oh yeah, and of course ... “A-Roid”.

Combine that with the growing economic climate that grips Detroit making the Tigers the next prime “fire sale” candidate on July 31 and the yearly “Who’s next” question (i.e. Tampa Bay last year), and this season is prime for excitement. If you’re reading this, no promises are made by the upcoming selections. I’ll be the first to admit I’m nowhere near an expert, but I got pretty good ideas, here, folks. (Did anyone else have Villanova in their Final Four? Yeah. That’s what I thought.)

We’ll lead off with the National League because the divisions here are FAR too easy to call. I mean easy like “If Megan Fox showed up at my doorstep naked, what would I do” easy. No brainers, people.

NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers
(I write from left to right, so I may as well predict from left to right.) The sexy pick here is San Francisco because of the young rotation of Lincecum and Cain. To me, the Giants are as sexy as John Travolta in the “Hairspray” remake. That’s what I think of the idea of Bengie Molina and Edgar Renteria as your main offensive threats. I really wanted to take the Diamondbacks because of Brandon Webb and the possibility of a resurgent Dan Haren, but even if Webb and Haren win 20 games each, the rest of that rotation is abysmal (Jon Garland, Doug Davis and Max Scherzer). Not to mention their lineup doesn’t give you the shivers. As sickening as the rotation makes me (Kuroda, Billingsley, Wolf and Kershaw), take the Dodgers to win this division by winning with 85-90 games at the maximum. The rotation should get quality starts to help the offense of Manny & Co. (Martin, Kemp, Eithier, Blake, etc). Combine that with the fact that all of the other teams in the division have more “iffy” factors, and the Dodgers are the easy pick, here.

NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals
My only “Are you f’ing kidding me” picks in this column -- which is surprising. Here’s the defense. The Brewers will not be nearly as competitive this year. C.C. is in pinstripes and Ben Sheets is a rule 4 hazard (a team signing Sheets has to forfeit a draft pick to Milwaukee). Prince Fielder AND Ryan Braun could hit 70 home runs each, and it would only mean the Brewers are losing a lot of 10-8 type games. The Cubs COULD win, but there are questions in the rotation: Dempster’s possible fluke-ness, Zambrano’s tired arm and the structural integrity of Rich Harden’s arm. The Cubs are two injuries away from losing 80 games. Cincinnati isn’t ready, and the Astros have nothing after Roy Oswalt. That leaves you with the Cardinals who’ve had the best hitter in the National League since Barry Bonds thankfully walked off (with such style and class, mind you). Troy Glaus is starting the year on the DL, but Ryan Ludwick and Chris Duncan can carry the load until he gets back. Speaking of coming back, Chris Carpenter for NL Comeback Player of the year. Bank it. He’s the reason the Cardinals are the way to go. A team loses itself when the ace goes down. The rotation will be a lot more stable with Carpenter back, and that’ll translate to at least 10-15 more wins.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies
There’s no “homer-ism” going on, here. The Mets spent the money to solve one of their two problems from a year ago: the back-end of the bullpen. K-Rod and Jo-Ja (my attempt to correlate the two to K-Ci and Jo Jo, R&B duo of the 90s), will solve the problem of losing the close, late inning games. Starting pitchers not named Johan I openly question. Oliver Perez? Mike Pelfrey? I might be afraid of the curse of Livan Hernandez ... if this was 8 or 9 years ago. I’m wary of the Marlins because I’m always wary of the Marlins. They’re consistently good. That and the Phils close the season against the Marlins as opposed to the Nationals (which has been their blessing the last few years). Regardless, the Phillies have the best combination of speed (Rollins and Victorino) and power (Howard, Utley, Werth, Rollins ... yes I’m aware I wrote Rollins twice... he applies to both categories). Adding Raul Ibanez’s consistent bat will make all the difference in the world in the middle of the order. You can only watch Pat Burrell strike out with runners on so many times before getting tired of banging your head on a table. The rotation is solid even though Cole Hamels isn’t starting on opening day. Jamie Moyer continues to channel the spirit of Jesse Orosco every five days. Brett Myers and Joe Blanton continue to be average (but with that offense, average is all you need.)

With the exception of the west, the American League will have more dogfights than ... wait ... is it still too soon for a Michael Vick reference? These are the big boy divisions (again... except the west).

AL West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Nuff said. Who else can win this division? Oakland? Texas? No pitching. Seattle? No hitting. The Angels are really the only team that matters in this division. Injuries noted, but does no other team has all of the pieces to win this division. This year, I’m dubbing the division winner “Most Likely to Get Rickrolled by the Wild Card Team” -- because it’s going to be the Yankees or the Sox. The Angels still have Vlad Guererro (although a 32-year-old version of him), and they added Bobby Abreu’s consistent bat in the middle of the order. Eventually they’ll have pitching if Santana can get some starts in. Even if he doesn’t, the Angels still have John Lackey (contract year), Joe Saunders and (to a lesser extent) Jered Weaver. Defense could be the backbreaker (as it has been recently) because the Statue of Juan Rivera plays left field and the Guererro Tower is in right. Despite ALL OF THAT, I’m still taking the Angels to win this division with 85 wins.

AL Central: Cleveland Indians
The reference to “Major League 2” has something to do with this pick. But seriously, the Indians are gonna squeak this out over the Twins by the slimmest of margins. Ever wonder why the Tigers weren’t in the discussion for Jake Peavy? If that had happened, I would have thrown a flyer at the Tigers because they have the best offense in that division. Sadly, they’re rolling out the same rotation that lost 88 games last season -- hoping the D-Train is on-time ... hoping Bonderman can win 15 games ... hoping Edwin Jackson (their #2 starter) can handle it ... a lot of hope in Detroit this year. The Indians won 81 games last year without a dominant Fausto Carmona. Remember what I said about a team that loses its ace? Same story, here. Carmona was 19-8 two seasons ago. If Cliff Lee is anywhere near what he was last year (should only take 17 or 18 wins), the Indians are winning this division easy.

AL East: Boston Red Sox
Forget the Orioles. Forget the Blue Jays. Forget the Rays -- because of “year after syndrome”. This division is about two teams: New York and Boston. With all do respect to Steinbrenner, who will probably find some way to shut my blog down if he reads this, when will that family learn that the highest payroll in baseball does not mean instant World Series. Don’t get me wrong. The Yankees will be better this year. When you spend enough money to bail out the entire US economy AND European economy, you stand to be better. The Red Sox spent smart money, though. Moves that don’t break the bank, but make a difference. They didn’t spend $161 million on C.C. Sebathia. They didn’t spend $82 million on A.J. Burnett. They spent just over $11 million for Brad Penny, Takashi Saito AND John Smoltz. Smart money (especially if Penny works out). They didn’t spend $180 million on Mark Teixeira. They spent 500 grand on Rocco Baldelli. The point being made is that the Sox have better team depth. Point two: the Sox have the best bullpen in that division. Having Saito, Delcarmen, Okajima and Papelbon is just deadley. The rotation is deeper with the additions to an already strong foundation of Beckett, Lester and Dice-K. Offensively, not having A-Rod to start the season hurts because Teixeira is historically a slow starter (.274 BA, 45 HR in April and May in his career). Jeter leads off in this lineup despite declining years in average since 2006. Jason Bay already had his acclimation to American League pitching (.277 avg in July, .315 in September), and David Ortiz will be back healthy. It’ll be business as usual at Fenway Park rather than impressing the suits at new Yankee Stadium ... less pressure.

Putting it out there for the sake of Internet Scrutiny

2009-03-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

March 13, 2009

The second best fantasy game is quickly coming to a start. Fantasy football reigns supreme, but fantasy baseball is very alive and well with just as many people. Fantasy baseball allows for more controversy, though, and can produce decisions that make you scratch your head more than an episode of "Lost".

I'm playing my fantasy baseball through ESPN.com, and I'll tell you why. They recently began something called "auction draft", which is pretty self explanatory. With baseball, you get $260 to field your team of 25 players. I'm looking forward to the process after hearing a colleague of mine, ESPN's Bill Simmons, say the following on a recent podcast: "We [Simmons and ESPN's Matthew Berry] had our auction draft for basketball, and we had to go outside and have a cigarette because it was so satisfying."

Back when I was in high school, there was a website called Wall Street Sports where you could buy stock in a player and figuratively make money based on player performance. You could buy 200 shares in Sammy Sosa during the '98 season like my friend Patrick did and make a fortune by season's end, or you could take a gamble on Eric Montross being the next great NBA center out of North Carolina in '94 and have to restart your account. (Look, at the time, I thought it was a safe bet, ok?) I'm a little older and wiser now (thank god), and I'm actually taking my time and doing my research with this because I'd rather not be the laughing stock of two different websites. I never wanna feel like Kim Kardashian because she's getting razzed on E!Online and TMZ.com. With that in mind, this is the team I look to field this fantasy season.

The roster is based on the $260 ESPN.com auction draft featuring head-to-head 5x5 scoring. Without further embarrassment, here's my team...

Catcher
(Mike Napoli, LAA $8 - Others: Kelly Shoppach, CLE $1; Soto, CHIC $12)
In the grand scheme of the game, the catcher is the position that doesn’t really matter in the fantasy realm. Believe me, if I got points in a fantasy league for catcher that just guns people down faster than Gene Hackman in “The Quick and the Dead”, then I’m ALL FOR Yadier Molina in this situation. (Thank goodness Jason Kendall’s defense didn’t cost me any fantasy titles when he was hitting close to .400 with Pittsburgh). Napoli is sexy because of his .278, 20 HR and 49 RBI in 227 at bats. Napoli and Juan Rivera are probably going to be asked to supplement the offense vacated by Mark Teixeria. Shoppach will probably have good value for the price tag ($1-$4), but he’s splitting at bats with Victor Martinez, who happens to be a .300 switch hitting catcher. Soto is a great catcher, and he came on the scene like gang-busters last year, but I’m a man of safe bets. I’d rather spend $8 on Napoli and expect average then pay $12+ to get Geovanny Soto and hope that the secret isn’t out on him.

First Baseman
(Albert Pujols, STL $27 - Others: Lance Berkman, HOU $21; Justin Morneau, MIN $17)
Note to fantasy owners playing against me: I have structured my roster, so that I am allowed to spend anywhere from $27 (the projected cost) to $65 (the price I’m willing to pay). If you bet against me for Pujols (and rightfully so), just know that I hope you realize this means war. You can’t put a price on a player that has three year averages of [.338 BA, 39 HR, 119 RBI, .631 SLUG], but you better believe the price will be damn high playing in a league against me. The “Big Puma” [Berkman] isn’t a bad consolation prize because of his .312, 29 HR and 106 RBI as a switch hitter. You get a super secret surprise with Berkman that you don’t get with Pujols or Morneau. Did anyone notice that Berkman had 18 steals last year? If Berkman can do that again (at least 10-15 steals), he can make a lot of people who missed out on Pujols very happy. I like Morneau simply because he’s been a consistent .290+ hitter with 25-30 homers and 110 or so RBIs at the “Helmsley Arena” Minneapolis.

Second Baseman
(Akinori Iwamura, TB $6 - Others: Kelly Johnson, ATL $1; Dan Uggla, FLA $10)
There’s nothing really sexy about Aki at all. No stats really jump out at you, but his career .279 AVG and .353 on base % can’t hurt at all. I could splurge the extra cash and get the home runs and rbi from Chase Utley, but there’s no telling how he’ll return when he gets back from surgery. Uggla is pretty attractive in this situation with his three straight seasons of 25+ home runs, but his career .260 AVG sticks out like a white guy at the Apollo. Kelly Johnson is a serviceable #2 infielder because he’s had straight seasons of 500+ at bats with a .275 AVG and 10 or so home runs.

Third Baseman
(Chone Figgins, LAA $10 - Others: Melvin Mora, BAL $3; Alex Gordon, KC $8)
There’s nothing I like better than a guy that can play multiple positions, be lead-off batter and have straight seasons of 35+ steals (not to mention 62 in ’05 and 52 in ’06). Pundits will mention his declining AVG from .330 to .276 last year, but .276 ain’t too shabby. If Figgins gets on base, he’s a threat to steal which is the cherry on the sundae. Melvin Mora. He’s 37. He is Baltimore’s ENTIRE OFFENSE! How many fantasy owners are running through their homes screaming when I say that? No one benefited from the re-rise of Aubrey Huff than Melvin Mora last year. A .285, 23, 104 output last year kinda made me blink. I had to make sure this was the same Melvin Mora I traded for in different versions of Triple Play Baseball. To be fair, my version of Melvin Mora helped me win back-to-back World Series titles with the Philadelphia Phillies (before the Ryan Howard/Chase Utley days ... back when Mickey Morandini was the highest rated player on the team). In the ESPN system, Mora is a perfect #2 corner defender, so I’ll spend up to the amount of a california burrito (about $6-7) on Mora. Too many people are calling Kansas City a sleeper team. Um ... no! I like their youth. I like their rotation, but I don’t like cliches. Lightning doesn’t strike twice, folks. The Tampa Bay “Recently Exorcised” Rays went from worst to first last year, and if the baseball gods haven’t smiled on the Cubs in 100 years, I’m not banking on the Royals doing much this year. $8 is too much to spend on a .250 career hitter (albeit only two years in the league).

Shortstop
(Jimmy Rollins, PHI $24) - Others: Orlando Cabrera OAK, $3; Troy Tulowitzki, COL $11)
My shortstop situation hinges on how much (and who) I spend on a first baseman. If I get Pujols for $40 or less, or worse case scenario don’t get Pujols (which will cause me to blurt obscenities similar to Adam Sandler in “Happy Gilmore”), then I’m going with Rollins. If I get Pujols for $41 or more, then Cabrera is gonna get the nod. (NOTE: One way or another I’m picking up a player that plays in or was born near where the Oakland Raiders play football... bad omen). Here’s why I look at Rollins. He’s a solid .280 20-20 guy that’ll get you 80-90 RBI, too. The second reason I’m sexy for Jimmy Rollins is this: look at Rollins’s stats in odd numbered years compared to even numbered years in the past four seasons. Last year: .277-11-59; 2007: .296-30-94. Last I checked my calendar, it’s 2009. I work with kids daily, and the first grade math book I picked up says that nine is an odd number. I’m puttin’ money in the bank, folks.

Outfield (DISCLAIMER: I won’t go in to details about “others”, here. Too many. I’ll just give you my best six)
(Carlos Beltran, NYM $18; Magglio Ordóñez, DET $15; Raul Ibanez, PHI $11; Shin-Soo Choo, CLE $9; Brad Hawpe, COL $8)
This is why I love fantasy baseball. There are some positions where there is value...EVERYWHERE! Outfield is always one of them, and the gang’s all here: the sure things, the “on the cuspers” and the “I’m praying they do something every day”-ers. I love 20-20 players with value. Carlos Beltran is that. Beltran was true to usual form last year (284-27-112), and he wasn’t a part of the Mets pitching staff that caused the second straight collapse of the Mets (to my giddiness and celebration), so he gets a pass. I always used to describe Ordóñez as a “Poor Man’s Manny Ramirez” without the crazy power numbers. He’s a career .312 hitter, .520 slugging who consistently hits 20-25 homers and has seven out of 12 years of 100+ RBIs. I like Ibanez for one simple reason: he hit .293-23-110 last year and is rewarded with a ticket to Citizens Bank Park, a park notorious for the long ball. ESPN’s Matthew Berry is selling everyone to the idea of Cleveland’s Choo, and I must say he’s beating me into submission worse than Ivan Drago did Apollo Creed in Rocky 4 (..too soon?). I like his .309 AVG in 317 at bats, but I don’t like the hype he’s getting. So, the $9 suggested auction price could end up being in the $13-15 range. Thank you, Mr. Roto. There’s enough to like about Brad Hawpe: his .493 SLG %, his back-to-back 25 homer seasons, but most importantly, his being the new power hitter in Colorado with the departure of Matt Holliday. He’ll bat third or clean up, and he’ll wreck house.

Pitchers (again ... too many possibles, I’ll list my nine)
(Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS $13; Rich Harden CHIC, $13; Adam Wainwright, STL $13; Ricky Nolasco, FLA $12; Derek Lowe, ATL $12; Gil Meche, KC $8; Erik Bedard, SEA $8; Brad Lidge, PHI $15; Trevor Hoffman, MIL $11)
I personally love answering questions with other questions. $25 for Johan Santana? Is he ever going to get an MRI, so we know what’s wrong with him. $24 for Tim Lincecum? You really want me to spend that much on a guy whose team’s main offensive threat is Edgar Renteria? $24 for C.C. Sebathia? (Insert standard NL to AL transition question, here). Again, pitchers are everywhere in fantasy. My starting pitchers have three tiers. I’m spending $39 on three guys who combined for 39 wins last year and a 2.72 ERA. Matsuzaka, Harden and Wainwright... welcome to tier 1. You guys are my aces. In answer to your next questions, yes I’m worried about Dice-K being the “best five inning pitcher in baseball” (nice one, Simmons), and yes, I’m worried about potential injuries with Harden, but the price is right, and the value is good. Tier 2 has a steady horse and a young buck. I’ve always been a fan of Derek Lowe. Not so much now because he’s in Atlanta (hated Phillies nemesis before the Mets), but I respect what he does. He keeps the ball down, and he keeps the runs at a premium. He did lose 11 games last year, but he lowered his ERA by half a run from ’07. Like a fine wine getting better with age. Nolasco started 30 games last year for the first time in his career and responded with an ERA of just over 3.50. He’s in his third year, and he looks to be on the rise (since he’s another highly touted Roto prospect). Meche is good value for $8. I’ll grit my teeth through the first months of the season if I get a similar post-all star performance like last year (8-2, 3.00 ERA). I really hope that “King” Felix Hernandez is less like a pauper because it will make the $8 on Bedard seem like the beloved Theo Ratliff contract. I’ll hold on to it for dear life just because it’s that valuable. Bedard will hurt teams if he’s the #2 starter as opposed to being the ace. Too much pressure. My relief pitchers need no introduction or real explanation. Brad Lidge. 41 saves. 41 attempts. 1.95 ERA. Remember when everyone wrote of Lidge after Albert Pujols absolutely obliterated an 0-1 pitch in game 5 the ’05 NLCS (which can still be seen orbiting Mars, by the way)? The Phillies gave him a chance last year, and he didn’t disappoint. $15 is money in the bank if you ask me. Buy stock. Lots of it. I flirted with the idea of Heath Bell for $10, but I said to myself, “Don’t be an idiot. Spend one more dollar on the all-time saves leader who will probably get more save opportunities, anyway.” I don’t see many 2-1 or 3-2 games in San Diego’s future. I don’t necessarily see that in Milwaukee, either, but unlike the Padres, they might actually score a couple runs.

In case you’re wondering, yes I’m well aware that there are three more roster spots that I need to discuss, but if you think I’m going to discuss the bench of my fantasy baseball team, you’re insane. I gave you my draft plan, and you really want my bench. That’s just greedy. If you really wanna know who I like that I haven’t mentioned here, drop me an email, and I’d be more than happy to help you out.

Super Bowl XLIII ... East meets West

2009-01-15T22:11:00.000-08:00

The tag-line might suggest something that makes fan of the Arizona Cardinals or the Baltimore Ravens beam with delight and pleasure. Sadly, those fan bases need to be knocked off their clouds as disheartening as it will be.

Yes. Super Bowl XLIII will be a battle of East vs. West ... Pennsylvania. The “Governor Ed Rendell” special will happen on February 2, 2009.

I would LOVE to give the Arizona Cardinals a chance against the hottest defense in the NFC. I would LOVE to say the Baltimore Ravens will beat Pittsburgh at Heinz Field while violating a major rule in picking playoff football (more on that later). I can’t say any of these with good conscience (or a straight face for that matter.)

The easier explanation can be found in the desert when the Eagles go to Glendale. This game would be easy to pick if it was offense against offense, but unfortunately for the Cardinals, defense has to be played, too. That’s where the teams differ. The Cardinals defense has been very impressive, lately, but the Eagles defense has been very impressive, consistently. Arizona does have more takeaways than the bullying big brother we all had and hated growing up, and they’ve been playing better in the front seven. However, they’ve only been doing this for the last two weeks. Where was this switch and why wasn’t it flipped a month ago? Is there more than one person that thinks someone will accidentally flip it back into the “off” position?

It’s been said that the Eagles 48-20 beating back in November doesn’t say anything about who these teams are now. Why? It’s hard to ignore given what was done to that Cardinals defense. Philadelphia converted 10 of 15 third downs, had both a 300 yard passer and a 100 yard rusher. A lot can be said about a defense that lets one guy, Brian Westbrook, outscore the team’s entire offense 28-20.

Philadelphia’s defense has been very good all season (3rd overall), and the team has won their last 5 out of 6 games. Coincidence? Maybe. The reason? Most likely. Speaking of the 2009 version of “Gang Green”, is there anyone on this planet that is playing with more passion right now than safety Brian Dawkins? The last few weeks, he has been launching himself at people with no regard for policy or his own body for that matter. If you don’t think he wants a Super Bowl ring, ask Adrian Peterson how passionate Dawkins is.

Now matter how bright the light shines through University of Phoenix Stadium, the light is diminished a lot when you talk about Kurt Warner vs. Jim Johnson’s vaunted defense. Warner has had one good game against Jim Johnson, and it came in the NFC Championship Game in 2001. Since then, he is 0-3 with an average QB rating of 60.8, has thrown five picks and sacked 12 times. He has never thrown for 300 yards against the Eagles, and he has never had a good TD/INT ratio in any single game against them.

It’s no secret that the Cardinals have a rhythm-based offense. That doesn’t bode well for your team if Jim Johnson & Co. are coming to town since he blitzes on every down from 1st and 10 to 4th and 25. If Johnson had his way, he’d blitz on the opening kickoff. Take that into account plus the fact that Arizona will not have Anquan Boldin at 100% drawing double coverage away from Larry Fitzgerald, and the Cardinals can’t get the nod. I hear the Edgerrin James whispers in the back of my head, but they’re easy to silence. The Eagles held Adrian Peterson, the NFL’s leading rusher, to 82 yards one week, and then held the New York Giants, the NFL’s best rushing team, to 136 yards the next. James shouldn’t be too much of a threat.

Alright, enough of the fancy game. Let’s talk serious football, folks. Steelers vs. Ravens III at Heinz Field. To quote ESPN NFL Analyst Ron Jaworski, “this is manhood football.” If you’re planning to watch this game, have plenty of ice packs and first aid kits handy because this game is going to be brutal to watch let alone play.

The “there is no love lost” cliche’ goes without saying. Game one was a 23-20 overtime thriller for Pittsburgh which prompted bounties on certain Steelers. Like father, like son, right Rex? Game two was every bit as painful as the first. Another physical contest. Another win for the Steelers. Now Baltimore comes back to the Steal City for one more round of this epic fight.

Pittsburgh has the #1 defense in the NFL. Baltimore is #2. But there are differences. Pittsburgh is coming into this game 100% healthy. No one is questionable. Baltimore is coming into this game ... sore. Tennessee threw Baltimore a beating last week, and as a result, Terrell Suggs is questionable for the championship game. Roethlisberger should have an extra second or two in the pocket which is all he needs to take you apart.

This game comes down to which offense has less questions. This is not Ben Roethlisberger’s first time at the rodeo. It’s his third AFC Championship Game. Joe Flacco is a rookie. He has never been in such a high pressure situation. One thing is certain. Flacco cannot complete just 50% of his passes (as he did in Tennessee) and expect to beat Pittsburgh.

Willie Parker could have been called “Hulkamania” last week because he was running wild on the Chargers. He’s had two straight 100-yard games and has been averaging over five yards per carry. Baltimore’s leading rusher is Le’Ron McClain, the fullback. That’s right ... FULLBACK! There’s nothing wrong with that, but when he’s banged up, that presents a problem because Willis McGahee hasn’t been on the ball all season. He has not been as dominant as he has not been as effective.

One (Ravens rookie quarterback) plus one (questionable Ravens backfield) equals two (Pittsburgh’s second trip to the Super Bowl.)

One can only hope that the latest East vs. West showdown will have just as much drama and excitement as the East vs. West Coast rap showdown. It’s Tupac vs. Biggie all over again. Eagles vs. Steelers will have all of the passion for the game and none of the gun shots.

Plenty of Charge left

2009-01-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

When I moved here from Philadelphia five years ago, I knew San Diego had a lot to offer. I was excited. Sunshine every day. Beautiful women everywhere. And LaDainian Tomlinson on Sundays. Five years (and some Chargers shortcomings) later, there is talk about Tomlinson being done in Mission Valley? Are Chargers fans and writers kidding me?

If LaDainian Tomlinson is not in a Chargers uniform next year, it would be a bigger mistake than the upcoming Friday the 13th remake. The Chargers have a brilliant offense. It is well balanced and explosive, but Tomlinson is critical to that. Sure, Darren Sproles was a refreshing breath of fresh air, but at 5’6” and 160 pounds, he is in no way, shape or form an every down back.

Analysts and sports writers alike are no strangers to the theory that a running back begins his downhill slide at the dreaded age of 30. There many accounts of tailbacks whose performance drops off faster than Shaun White on a ski slope. What these same people forget is that for every 100 or so tailbacks that don’t get better with age, there is an Emmitt Smith or a Walter Payton who just seems to keep fighting.

Payton did it in the 80s. Emmitt did it in the 90s, and I say this with 100% conviction that LT will do it in the 2000s.

Rather than simply dump LT and start the Chargers stable of horses from scratch, let’s look at the reality of the problem. There are a couple of broken cogs in the running game. LT is not the only one that should accept blame, here.

Problem #1: The offensive line was abysmal. Last year, the Chargers avoided the injury bug to this part of the offense. This year, Marcus McNeil did not play in the first two games and center Nick Hardwick did not play until October. LT can’t run through a hole that doesn’t exist. A patchwork offensive line contributed to the 20th ranked Chargers running game.

The Fix: You can go a couple of different ways here. If you want to fix via free agency, there’s not a lot there. Cowboys lineman Marc Columbo is the only real name that jumps out at you. Eagles tackle Jon Runyan hops off the page, but he’s 35, so he isn’t as exciting of a fix. If you fix via the draft, that’s more efficient. Alabama tackle Andre Smith is NOT gonna happen, but Baylor’s Jason Smith and Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung are viable options to improve the depth at least.

Problem #2: No real depth at running back. When Michael Turner took Atlanta’s deal last off-season, he was the only thing in the cupboard for Old Father Turner if LT was to go down. It’s easy for Tomlinson to get injured if he’s doing EVERYTHING! They passed on Julius Jones. They passed on Dominic Rhodes. They also passed on an inexpensive solution in DeShaun Foster who started in Carolina. When LT needed a breather, there was Darren Sproles and Jacob Hester. Sproles is good to have around every once in a while, but he’s not an every down back even in an emergency.

The Fix: Do what almost every team is doing these days: a two-back system. It works in Minnesota. It works in Carolina. It works in New York/New Jersey. There’s nothing that makes your eyes light up in free agency, but are a couple of names in the draft that make you go “Hmmm.” Georgia’s Knowshown Moreno or Ohio State’s Chris Wells are gonna go early, but there are some tender morsels on the tailback menu. Keep an eye on Clemson’s James Davis. He was a four-year starter who has good burst and lateral ability. He’s 5’11” and about 215, so he’s got some meat on the bones. His 5.1 yards per carry at Clemson also makes you raise an eyebrow. A late round gem could be Tulsa’s Tarrion Adams. Since becoming the full-time starter two years ago, he’s had seasons of 1,225 and 1,523 rushing yards.

Problem #3: This one might be less looked on than the other two. Before this season, who was leading the way for LT? Lorenzo Neal. Neal is only one of the greatest fullbacks in NFL history. There is a reason why tailbacks he leads for always have great rushing years. He’s just that good. Jacob Hester is no Lorenzo Neal. He’s not even a shadow of Lorenzo Neal. Too many times this season, I saw Hester whiff on more blocks than hitters at PETCO Park trying to hit Jake Peavy. It was borderline pathetic, and by borderline, I mean totally. All it takes is one avoidance stutter step, and any defense would collapse on Tomlinson that fast.

The Fix: Get a fullback. Either that or spend the time necessary to make Hester a viable fullback option. Playing fullback is a lot like playing tailback. The great part about fullback is you get to hit someone when you don’t have the ball. Clearing the way for a couple of yards on the ground is a satisfying feeling. Tampa Bay’s B.J. Askew should be available as well as Arizona’s Terrelle Smith. If he doesn’t retire, Lorenzo Neal will be available, too. This is the simplest fix, but it is a necessary one. The fullback is not a position that should be taken lightly. Ask Emmitt Smith about Daryl Johnston one day. He’ll have stories.

The fact of the matter is LT still has plenty of gas in the tank. Getting off that band wagon would be a huge mistake, and it will come back to haunt the Chargers. If LT isn’t wanted in SD, there are plenty of city abbreviations that he could go to and be effective. Last thing to remember: If LT doesn’t win a Super Bowl in powder blue, he’ll get one regardless of where he is. He’s not done.

You can Put it on the (Bulletin) Board

2009-01-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

From Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

“What's important is that the Chargers also are a lesser team than the Steelers.”

Three words describe what Mr. Cook just said: “bulletin board material.” Three more words come to mind as well: “You’re dead wrong.”

You can respect Mr. Cook’s opinion (.. I suppose ..), but his argument is just slightly skewed. The match-up is a bit more even than you’re led to believe. Yes, the Steelers won the AFC North (albeit with four “freebie” wins against Cincinnati and Cleveland. Yes, the Steelers have the #1 defense across the board (even though they only faced five potent offenses: Philadelphia, Indianapolis, New England, Dallas and the Giants.) And finally, yes, the Steelers did beat the Chargers back in November (albeit by one point.)

What I’m getting at essentially is the Chargers have a good shot at winning at Condiment (er..) Heinz Feild.

If history has taught fans and writers alike anything, it is that you must FEAR THE HOTTEST TEAM IN THE PLAYOFFS! Last year, the Giants rode the momentum of taking the New England Patriots to the brink of their first loss all through the playoffs and eventually gave the Patriots their first loss. Two years ago, the Colts won two of their last three, and took that train through the station to Ford Field and beat the Chicago Bears. Finally, you might recall a certain Pittsburgh Steelers team in ’05 that won four in a row and won the Super Bowl after beating Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Denver ... ALL ON THE ROAD!

This Chargers team was considered D.O.A. when they arrived at the “Q” to play the Oakland Raiders on December 4th. What happens? The Chargers win four in a row, Denver loses three out of four, and the Chargers are in the tournament. They welcome the Indianapolis Colts who were winners of nine straight and considered the hottest team in the playoffs, and WIN.

Two important cogs are hot at the right time. Start with Philip Rivers. Since the mediocre game against Pittsburgh, he has thrown for 1,708 yards, 13 TDs and an average QB rating of 107.5. Lightning doesn’t strike twice (no pun intended), and Rivers won’t have another game like he did in week 11.

Analysts everywhere are talking about Pittsburgh’s defense and rightfully so. They are #1 across the board. But San Diego’s defense ain’t too shabby either lately. Since Ron Rivera took over as defensive coordinator, the Chargers have looked much more aggressive with their pass rush, and their willingness to blitz despite not having Shawne Merriman has changed. Mr. Cook might point out that Roethlisberger threw for 308 and Willie Parker ran for 115, but that’s easy to counter simply by saying the Chargers led the entire game until Jeff Reed’s third field goal iced it. The stats don’t lie. The Steelers were able to move the ball effectively, but the Chargers got the stops they had to get.

One important note in this game is the condition of Ben Roethlisberger after the beating he took in the finale against Cleveland (and all season long.) Roethlisberger has been sacked 46 times this season which is second only to Patriots QB Matt Cassel. The Chargers sacked Big Ben four times in their previous meeting, and that offensive line has looked shaky in pass protection as well as run blocking.

This Chargers team can win in Heinz Feild. They’re no stranger to hostile playoff environments. They’ve beaten the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome and gave the New England Patriots everything they could handle at Gilette Stadium last year. If San Diego plays a similar defensive game as they did back in November, Philip Rivers is not the same quarterback, and that makes him very dangerous especially if he gets the slightest hint that he can win this game. It won’t be a complete rout by one team or the other. This game will be physical, very emotional and draining for both teams. The Chargers have a 13-game losing streak in Pittsburgh, but lightning could always strike at least once at the right time.

Returning to Proper Balance

2008-12-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

With one foul swoop (pun totally intended), the Atlanta Falcons essentially told the fat lady to tune up her vocal chords for the Chargers. She's on the stage with the mic in hand ready to blow. If the Chargers want to make the playoffs, they gotta win out the last four games as well as hope the Broncos lose three of their last four. The season finale on December 28th at the "Q" could be the game that defines the season or the game enacts revenge for the great Ed Haculi debacle of 2008 back in week 2.

First things last, the Raiders are in town on Thursday. Winning this game is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for a couple of reasons. In talking to people around town, I'm reminded of the last scene in "Bad Boys" where Martin Lawrence and Will Smith are in the Porsche racing the Frenchie to an open hole in a wall big enough for one car. At one point, Smith tells Lawrence: "You better f&%! win. That's all I know. You better win. YOU BETTER WIN!"

Yeah, the Chargers better ...

The simplest reason for a win is to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Yes, the Chargers have lost three straight games by margins of 1, 3 and 6 respectively. Despite all of that, the Broncos have not been able to shut the door on the division. The 31-10 loss to Oakland two weeks ago gave the Chargers and their fans more of a sense of hope, but it turned out to be more of a tease than some of the girls you meet in Pacific Beach. During the Chargers loss to the Falcons, the Broncos rolled the Jets 34-17 to give Denver a three game lead with four to go. Winning the division is theoretically possible for the Chargers. Their schedule is fairly better with games at home against Oakland and Kansas City before traveling to Tampa Bay. These games are essentially gimme games which could spark confidence in the team going to Tampa Bay and coming home to play the Broncos in the finale. Denver plays a gimme with Kansas City this weekend before playing Carolina and Buffalo (both LOSABLE games). Let's say the stars align, and the heavens open, and the improbable happens: 8-7 Denver plays 7-8 San Diego on the last game of the season. If the Chargers win, THEY'RE IN! With a 5-1 record in the AFC West, the Chargers would sneak past the Broncos and their 3-3 record in the West. The most important thing is cliche': "one week at a time." This week: BETTER BEAT THE RAIDERS!

Since 2003, the Chargers and their fans have held their hat on one thing: no matter how bad things seem to be, at least we're not the Raiders. The Chargers have won the last ten meetings between the two teams, and it's evident that after Super Bowl 37, one team started their decline (Raiders are 22-69) and another team started their success (Chargers are 54-38). Some seasons (the 2006 14-2 campaign) have been disappointing, but it's nothing like the the '03 Raiders. Those Raiders went 4-12 after making it to the Super Bowl the previous year. This season is slightly unsettling (and by slightly, I mean totally), but it pales in comparison to the 1-15 Chargers of 2000 or the 2-14 Raiders of 2006. This Thursday's game is the must-win game of all must-win games in Chargers history. A win keeps a playoff hope alive, and it gives the Chargers the season sweep over Oakland reaffirming the truth that no matter how bad things are ... at least we're not the Raiders.

Last but not least, fans don't care what General Manager A.J. Smith says. Yes, Norv Turner will be back in '09. Yes, Norv Turner can turn this thing around. Yes, Norv Turner, blah blah blah. That doesn't matter. If you ask the fans, it's clear that things are a little hot in the seatal region of one Norval Eugene Turner. Two years ago, Smith sold us all on the vision that Norv Turner was the answer in San Diego after Marty Schottenheimer directed the team to their best regular season record in franchise history. That's right. 14-2, best record in FRANCHISE HISTORY, and Schottenheimer gets canned in favor of a guy who has a sub-.500 winning percentage and a resume that shows he has not been able to win as a head coach. When Turner lost three of his first four games, there were "Marty" chants (that still resinate at the "Q" on any given sunday, by the way), but Turner turned the team around with wins against Oakland, Denver and an upset win against the Indianapolis Colts. All seemed to be well in Turnerville when the Chargers returned to the playoffs, but they were hobbled. Philip Rivers played the AFC Championship Game on one knee, and LaDanian Tomlinson wasn't full strength. Despite that, they took the Patriots to the brink and fell a bit short. This year, the Chargers started 3-5 before the by week and have gone 1-4 after. Sometimes, it just seems he's not the coach the Chargers need to kick them in the pants and get them going. If Norv Turner cannot fire this team up for Thursday's game against the Raiders and get a win, his head will roll whether A.J. Smith wants it to or not. The fans will call for it. The sports writers will call for it. The national sports media will call for it. Make no mistake, Norv. This Thursday, your job is on the line ... so you BETTER BEAT THE RAIDERS!

Too much is on the line this Thursday when the "Q" is sucked into the Black Hole. Playoffs. Jobs. Hopes. Dreams. A loss this Thursday could set the franchise back quite a bit. The Chargers cling to the reality that they're better than the Raiders despite everything that has gone wrong this season. A loss this Thursday night shatters that reality because it means that the Chargers are just as good as the Raiders which is pretty bad in too many ways. Winning Thursday night restores a certain balance that the players and fans need after this year of crushing disappointment. So the Chargers BETTER BEAT THE RAIDERS!

Let's go Bowling for a Good System

2008-11-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

This conversation is inevitable every year because the BCS still exists. Every December, college football players become slaves to a computer system that makes us all dream that Skynet actually existed just so that maybe, maybe someone will get it right.

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that a college football playoff system is not just necessary but long overdue as well. At least one team always gets left out of the party because they don’t have an invitation: USC in ‘03, Auburn, Utah and Boise State in ’04 (all three teams with perfect records, by the way).

Many problems have been noted by various sports pundits. The system alienates small schools. Teams in conferences without a conference championship take a hit because they don’t have that extra game. Therefore, its easy to see why a CPS (college playoff system) is desired so heavily. Sadly, there hasn’t been an advance in the realm of producing said playoff system.

Until now ... I, Adio B. Royster, hereby give the following proposal for a CPS.

Step 1: schedule alteration. Here’s something slightly confusing. And by slightly, I mean completely. Why is it that some teams play 14 games, some play 13 and some play 12? Why don’t all college football teams play the same amount of games? That’s the first fix. EVERYONE PLAYS 10 GAMES. Ten is a nice, round, uniform number that is easy to get behind. This way, the season is not too taxing on the kids that have to play a conference championship game (ACC, Big 12, SEC, MAC, Conference USA). Speaking of the conference championship games, that segues perfectly to step 2.

Step 2: make conference championships neutral. What I mean by that is make the conference championship games relevant to the conferences only. Under the plan, the conference championship game holds bearing on the CONFERENCE only. It will not have a bearing on the CPS rankings. It’s not fair that teams in the Big Ten, Big East or Pac-10 that don’t have a championship if other teams with a championship game have a leg up in getting extra points in the rankings.

Step 3: keep the BCS computer system. I know what you’re thinking. “Why create a CPS system if you’re only going to keep the BCS computers?” There is a reason. The computer does do a good job at creating a poll based on several factors, so let’s keep that, change the name to the CPS computer system and invite the top 16 teams to the party. If the CPS were to end right now, teams in the playoff would include Alabama, Texas Tech, Texas, and Penn State as well as smaller schools like Utah, Boise State and undefeated Ball State.

Step 4: play the games. Settle it on the field, boys. You’re not slaves to the computer, anymore, so blast somebody’s teeth out. The games in the first round are played in the home stadium of the higher ranked team, and in this system, well worth the price of admission. You get to see power teams beat each others brains in (Oklahoma vs. Missouri in Norman, Florida vs. Oklahoma State in “The Swamp”, USC vs. Ohio State at the Coliseum). You also get to see how the little guy matches up against the big dogs. Ball State goes to Texas. Georgia goes to Utah, and Boise State travels to Happy Valley. Again, that’s just the first round. Second round games are the four traditional bowls (i.e. Orange, Rose, Fiesta and Sugar). Finally, the winners of those games play for the CPS National Championship.

Ultimately, my plan was to try to bring all of the excitement and drama of March Madness to December and January. Nothing is more exciting than seeing a blend of 64 teams battle it out for a college championship. With that in mind, why not bring out a quick Sweet 16 round of college football. All the excitement. All of the drama. None of the confusion that computer scientists can’t even figure out.

Hot, Hot Summer

2008-11-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

Allen Iverson traded to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.

That was one of the top stories this week. The immediate thought was how Iverson will add much needed scoring to the Pistons offense and how Billups will provide a much needed leader to the Nuggets.

However, these thoughts were passed over for the following statement: “The Iverson trade allows Detroit to be in position for the Summer of LeBron.” The summer being referred to is the one where LeBron James becomes a free agent. So many teams are doing this, and it’s somewhat aggravating. Why are teams stock piling cap room for a free agent that’ll be available in two years? It’s like the Cold War arms race all over again.

Don’t misunderstand. LeBron James is ABSOLUTELY worth the wait, but there are several problems. James may want to re-sign with Cleveland. [Speaking to NBA owners], LeBron may not want to play for your team. The other problem is that owners run the risk of losing fans because they’re essentially asking fans to wait for two more years before things turn around. Some fan bases (i.e. Memphis and Charlotte) may be used to losing ways, but teams like Detroit who are always in the mix shouldn’t be doing this.

Let’s face the facts. In 2010, only three teams have LEGITIMATE shots at landing LeBron James. Yes, there are 30 teams in the NBA, but these are the only ones that make sense.

Cleveland. LeBron James is from Ohio. He played high school ball there. He is a legend in Akron. He has been to the NBA Finals with the Cavaliers. People say that LeBron cannot win a championship in Cleveland, but that’s not necessarily true. General Manager Danny Ferry is making moves to put the right supporting cast around LeBron. He has a big man (Žydrūnas Ilgauskas.) He has a second scorer (now Maurice Williams.) He has a sixth man (Danny Gibson.) All of the pieces are there, and the Cavs can make it work with LeBron.

New York. Not New Jersey/Brooklyn. New York. The Nets move to Brooklyn won’t happen in time, so the Knicks become players in this market. Why the Knicks? Three words: Madison Square Garden. Home to greats like Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier and Willis Reid. New York has the bright lights and the historic building but not much past that. Mike D’Antoni won’t turn this team into anything attractive that quickly. The ’09 free agent market is more important to the Knicks than the ’10 free agent market. The Knicks have to prove that they’re back to a winning attitude. Some names in ’09 that are attractive include Drew Gooden, Carlos Boozer and ..... (dramatic pause) ..... Steve Nash. If Nash is attracted to New York because of connections with D’Antoni, the Knicks could look good to other players. That would surely open the door for LeBron in 2010.

Chicago. What number does LeBron James wear? What player is LeBron James constantly associated with? The Bulls have somewhat laid some groundwork with drafting Derrick Rose this past April. They have a point guard that is very good at both scoring and passing. Keeping Drew Gooden is key because LeBron has played with him before. Joakim Noah is the kind of role player anyone can love because all he does is rebound and block shots. If the Bulls keep Gooden and sign James in 2010, this is what the Bulls would bring to the court every night: Noah, Gooden, LeBron, Larry Hughes (another player LeBron has worked with) and Derrick Rose. Oh yeah, don’t forget Ben Gordon’s career 18 points a game off the bench. If LeBron goes to Chicago, he’ll have to change his number, but he’ll have the opportunity for years to win as many championships as his hero.

If other owners feel left out because they weren’t mentioned here, there are plenty of second prizes out there in 2010. Maybe not the Cadillac El Dorado that everyone wants, but a valuable set of steak knives nonetheless.

Lost in all of the LeBron James madness are two front-court players that can still produce. No, Shaquille O’Neal is not one of them although he is available in 2010. Does the name Amare’ Stoudamire ring any bells? Stoudamire will be 27 when he’ll be available, and he has career numbers of 21 points and 9 rebounds a game. His age makes him a prime candidate to receive a huge contract from a number of teams looking to spend their hard saved LeBron dollars on someone else when “The King” becomes unavailable. Want a little more bang for your buck? How about a seven-footer that can shoot the three-ball? Dirk Nowitzki has proven that he can be a franchise player. At 32 in 2010, his age my deter teams from signing him long term, but if a young team is trying to make a big splash (*pointing to Charlotte and Oklahoma City*), Nowitzki would be a fine way to do it.

If LeBron James is number 1 on everyone’s list, then Dwyane Wade has to be 1A. He’ll be 28, and if James doesn’t end up in Chicago, all signs point that the Bulls will offer him a HUGE contract because D-Wade is a Chicago native. Wade may not have the scoring average that LeBron does, but he is just as prolific. A 23 points per game average and the possibility of Wade going for 40 points at least twice a week is nothing to sneeze at.

Tracy McGrady is also out there, although his being injury prone works against him. Other names include Joe Johnson, Richard Hamilton and Josh Howard. Chris Bosh will be available, too, but the Raptors have taken steps to make sure that Bosh knows the Raptors can compete. They added Jermaine O’Neal to aid in the front court, and re-signed Jason Kapono long term.

The Summer of James should be one of the most interesting free agent markets in recent years because of the amount of teams positioning themselves to get Mr. James. Once LeBron signs (or re-signs), the amount of money getting moved around will be insane. Get your popcorn ready, folks, because you’re in for a show.

World Series 2008

2008-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

We had the defending champions.
We had the best team in the majors.
We had a team poised to break a 100 year curse.
And we had a team that hadn't been to the playoffs since 1982.

All of those teams are gone as well as a Manny and an Ozzie. So, what are we left with? One of the youngest World Series match-ups in recent history. The Philadelphia Phillies, who haven't been this far since 1993, and the Tampa Bay Rays, who haven't been this far ... well, ever. The Rays field an a team with an average age of 27 and a starting rotation that is the youngest since the '69 Mets. The Phillies have 11 players under 30 and will trot 45-year old Jamie Moyer in Game 3.

Of course, there's more to look at in this match-up than the fact that so many players were born in the Reagan Administration.

The pitching match-up is basically a tale of two games. When the game starts, if Cole Hamels is on the mound for Philadelphia, he is as good as it gets. He has been absolutely lights out this post-season (3-0, 1.23 ERA). On the other side, Matt Garza (not Scott Kazmir) has been the shut down guy (albeit with a 3.32 ERA). There is a series of question marks after those two pitchers for both teams. Brett Myers? Which version will show up? The Brett Myers that gave up 2 runs in 7 innings in the NLDS against the Brewers, or the Brett Myers that gave up 5 runs in 5 innings in the NLCS against the Dodgers? Scott Kazmir? He hasn't been as brilliant in the playoffs as he was in the regular season. If you need evidence of that statement, see Game 2 of the ALCS (3 home runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings). It is VITAL that Kazmir comes back against the Phillies because he is their only left handed starter, and the Phillies are very good against right handed pitching. The Phillies might want to think about going with a three-man rotation of Hamels, Myers and Blanton. No offense to Jamie Moyer, but he does have an ERA of over 13 while the aforementioned trio is undefeated with a combined ERA of 2.80. Give it a thought, Charlie. For the Rays, past Garza, there is more stability. Shields and Sonnanstine have steady ERAs hovering around 3.50.

When the starters come out, that's where the teams differ GREATLY. Can you name the Rays closer? Sure, Dan Wheeler and David Price have saves this post-season, but can either of those kids shut the door in a 9th inning situation in the World Series. Say what you want about Troy Percival, but he was the rug of that bullpen that pulled the rest of the room together. Without him, Joe Madden has had to lean on his starters a little bit more and throw out a make-shift bullpen full of guys that are not used to pressure situations. While it is true that Madden has pressed the right buttons all year, the Phillies DESTROY bad bullpens. Talk to the Dodgers about that fact. If you're the kind of person that's about numbers, here's one to consider: 86-0! That is the Phillies record when leading the game after 8 innings. Ryan Madsen sets it up (29 runs given up in 91 innings this season), and Brad Lidge (46 for 46 in save opportunities) shuts it down. The Phillies can win the 12-11 games with their lineup (that I'll discuss in a minute) and the 1-0 games as well.

Ok. Enough run stopping talk, let's discuss run producing because games can't end in a tie ... Oh wait, 2002 All-Star Game.

The Phillies have a lineup that can hurt you from TOP to BOTTOM. Shane Victorino (aka Public Enemy #1 in Los Angeles) ended the Dodgers season BATTING 6th in the lineup! Pat Burrell (the only .300 hitter in the Phillies lineup this post-season) bats 5th! Chase Utley has been the other steady bat in the lineup. Jimmy Rollins can hit to get on base and hit to put balls in orbit. Oh, and by the way, the Phillies got to the World Series with Ryan Howard's .258 average and no home runs. If he gets hot, this thing is over. The Rays have an impressive offense in their own right: four .300+ hitters with Upton, Pena and Longoria hitting the home runs. Here's the rub for Tampa Bay: the Phillies have the best rotation the Rays will see in this year's playoffs. The White Sox did not have a bona-fide stud starter, and the Red Sox did not have Josh Beckett at his playoff best. The Rays will be facing a pretty daunting rotation of Hamels, Myers, Blanton. The Rays should be able to get a game against Jamie Moyer, but they HAVE to steal a game from one of the other three. Their offense can do it, but they can't come out sluggish like they did in the last two games of the ALCS: 2 runs in games 6 and 7 before the 6th inning.

The intangibles in this series are what will define this series, and it will be an exciting one. For the Rays, they're coming off a Game 7 win on their home turf against the defending champions. They have the momentum coming in to the series, so it should be easy for them to take game 1 in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. How they fare after that depends on the performances they get from their rotation. If Kazmir comes back to form, the Rays can go to Philadelphia up 2-0. If not, it could be a split or (worse case scenario) 0-2 going up I-95 to Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies issue could be the long layoff that they've been enjoying. Last year the Rockies swept Arizona and ended up getting swept by Boston. In '06, the Tigers swept Oakland and got beat by the Cardinals 4-1. However, there is precedent the other way. In 2005, the Chicago White Sox beat the Angels in 5 games in the ALCS and then swept the Houston Astros in the World Series. How the Phillies come out in Game 1 will determine how long the series will go.

With all that said, a prediction must be made. A lack of one is punishable by hundreds of emails asking who's going to win. When you take all of the elements described, you have to come to the assumption that it will be a long series. A sweep or a victory in 5 games is possible, but not likely because of the youth and heart of both teams. Youth is what defines this series, but it hurts the Rays more than it does the Phillies. More players for Philadelphia have had more pressure experiences than players in Tampa Bay. With that said, bet on the Phillies to win the 2008 World Series in seven.