Editors' note: Every week, these two idiots will play a Pick 'Em NFL game. The object is for each editor to pick four seemingly even NFL matchups from the upcoming weekend, challenging the other pick to the winners. A running record will be tallied. Feel free to play along at home. Leave comments with your own picks if you want to go on the record.
Standings (Last week in parenthesis)
Ian 8-4 (3-1)
Saj 6-6 (1-3)
11:05 AM
S: So I had a rough week last week, no matter. Here are your four:
Kansas City at Arizona (4:05pm Sunday)
Dallas at Philadelphia (4:15pm Sunday)
Pittsburgh at San Diego (8:15pm Sunday)
Baltimore at Denver (8:30pm Monday)
Aside: Who wins in a street fight, Terrell Owens or Donovan McNabb? I say TO.
11:22 AM
I: Owens wins hands down. He's an incredible physical specimen. Let's open that up to the whole league, though. Who would in a one on one street fight tournament? I say the leading candidates are T.O., Ray Lewis, and of course, Drew Bledsoe.
Do you realize you didn't give me any 1:00 games? I don't know if that has any significance, but you did it. What's more, you handed me both nationally televised games, meaning they're each between two good teams. You bastard. All I know is, I'm going to do nearly the exact opposite to you. That way, my guys know exactly what they have to do at 4:05 in order to overcome the odds.
Here are your games:
St. Louis at Green Bay (Sunday 1:00)
Washington at NY Giants (Sunday 1:00)
Tampa Bay at New Orleans (Sunday 1:00)
Oakland at San Fransisco (Sunday 4:05)
11:50am
SAN FRANCISCO
Starting me off with the Battle of the Bay are you? What's the over/under on how many people care about what happened in San Francisco this week? If I lived in Northern California and this was the game I was saddled with on Sunday afternoon I would want very much to punch something. Frank Gore has a big game. I like him, he smells nice.
ST. LOUIS
Cake. The Rams looked very good on offense against the Lions last week and Stephen Jackson is one of my favorite players, and that's only because he's on my fantasy team. Not cold enough yet in Lambeau to make a difference. Favre gunslings his way to another good game, but the defense lets him down.
WASHINGTON
I want to pick the Giants, I really do. They have loads of talent but they just haven't put together a convincing game yet this season on either side of the ball. Where has the running game been? And that defense? Meanwhile, the Redskins did a number on Jacksonville last week and Mark Brunell is on to his way to bringing sexy back (JT joke).
NEW ORLEANS
Commandment 11: Thou shalt not rely on Bruce Gradkowski to lead your offense.
12:55 PM
Man, this is why you're good. I tried to trap you into that New Orleans pick, thinking they topped out at 3-0 and Tampa would come through this weekend. But I forgot about who their quarterback was. Nice job.
Onto the picks. I am not comfortable with only a 2 game lead on you, even if I have accomplished it in only three weeks.
Game 1: Kansas City @ Arizona: I see a big time shootout here. I see Matt Leinart's career starting off with a lot of points on the board. I see very few punts. I see Larry Johnson approaching 200 APY. Most of all, I see Kansas City winning because they have a semblence of a defense...something I cannot say for the Cardinals. Pick: Kansas City
Game 2: Dallas @ Philadelphia: You jerk. This is just like the Pats last weekend. My head vs. my heart. All signs point Philadelphia, including winning percentage, homefield, and a team pissed off at T.O. It's too bad the anti-T.O. (Donte Stallworth) probably won't play. Dallas is a very good football team, but so is Phily. The fact that it's T.O. traveling to Philadelphia for the first time since his departure is significant. This crowd is going to be raucous. Phily is only one of a handful of teams that can play D, O, and coach as well as the Cowboys. Homefield is the difference in this tight NFC East battle. Dallas wins the rematch at their place later in the season. For now, they'll have to settle for a 2-2 record with road losses to two tough teams. Pick: Philadelphia
Game 3: Pittsburgh @ San Diego: Pittsburgh has yet to look anything like the team that dominated in Week 1 and won the Superbowl last year. It is a tough task for them to fly across the country and play a talented San Diego team that is furious from last week's loss in Baltimore. I think the Steelers are in the midst of a slump that will cost them the opportunity to defend their championship in this season's playoffs. Pick: San Diego
Game 4: Baltimore @ Denver: Visiting teams don't win in Denver lately...not at all last season. Baltimore has really lucked out the last couple weeks, with last minute wins in Cleveland and hosting San Diego. The Broncos in Denver is a much tougher task than either of those games. With Baltimore's questionable offense, it will be difficult to open up a lead on Denver, and Denver only plays poorly when behind by more than a score. The Broncos are an excellent team when in the lead, meaning a comeback win for Baltimore is not likely. This week, the Ravens fall from the unbeatens. The Broncos win this smashmouth game, beginning a stretch where they are a foolishly trendy pick to come out of the AFC. Pick: Denver
Friday, October 06, 2006
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Baseball playoffs: Day 3
7:05 AM
I: Questions for you:
1. Does the rain delay in the Yankees-Tigers series benefit one team more than the other?
2. Considering we both picked the Twins but the A's are up 2-0 going back to Oakland, what are the odds that we'll be correct? Remember, the A's have blown 2-0 leads to the Yanks and Sox in that opening best of 5 series. In fact, this run of A's teams has never even made it out of the ALDS.
3. Ha-yuge win for the Mets yesterday. Is this series split or at 2-0 heading to Los Angeles after today?
4. And in the series no one cares about, San Diego has to win 3 in a row in order to avoid Chris Carpenter in Game 5. How do you see that series going?
5. Arod hit 6th on Tuesday. Is he upset with this? What's his deal?
1:20pm
1. Not sure. I don't think the Tigers have much of a chance anyway. It's not like Verlander, with his week and a half off, really needed another day. He's either rested and sharp or rusty and erratic. Depending on his performance today, sportswriters will describe him as one or the other.
2. The way the Twins are hitting, not very good. And if the A's do collapse again, I think Billy Beane crushes Ken Macha's head in a carpenter's vice. Another reason to root for the Athletics: Macha is a nice guy and I don't want to see him get hurt.
3. I'm gonna go ahead and say 2-0 for the Mets/Dodgers series. I mean, have you seen Jose Reyes' smile??? That and Wilson Betemit was absolutely gunned at third base in the ninth last night by Beltran, except the throw nailed him right between the numbers. Watching Beltran play centerfield is like watching Heidi Klum in body paint. So unspeakably perfect that you feel bad masturbating to it (yes, I am aware that there are no degrees of perfection, and yes, I am aware that the masturbation joke was a little uncalled for.)
4. San Diego looked lost at the plate, but then again they were facing Chris Carpenter. After seeing Pujols do what he does best, I could see a Cardinals sweep with Pujols going 8-9 with 7 homers in the next two days (looks like La Russa didn't have to clone him after all.) Of course, I could also see San Diego sweeping the next three in spite of those 7 Pujols homers. What I'm trying to say is that I have no idea what's going to happen anymore. That last week of NFL games really did a number on my confidence in sports prognostication.
5. I never thought I'd say this, but people need to lay off Arod. His postseason numbers (granted in many, many fewer at bats) are identical if not slightly better than Jeter's. And Jeter's postseason numbers are actually WORSE than his regular season numbers. So Jeter went 5-5 last night in the opening game of the division series against Nate Robertson and the Tigers. But it was with Damon in front of him and Abreu, Sheffield, Giambi, Arod behind him. Where was Jeter's 5-5 in the last four games of the 2004 ALCS? You're crazy not to think that Jeter is, at best, the fifth most dangerous hitter on his own team. AT BEST, since cases can be made for Matsui and Damon as well.
On Arod: I bet he wishes he could redo his first, oh, twelve seasons as a professional baseball player. He could have re-signed with Seattle for less than that albatross of a contract Tom Hicks forked over, opened up Safeco, and been an absolute legend and savior to the championship-starved Seattle fanbase who would name some type of supper-latte after him. Instead he's one of the least liked players on a team full of players that are easy to dislike. Sure he's getting paid a lot, but everytime he wants to go relax in the park with his wife and daughter the New York sports media snaps a photograph of him with some assinine caption like "Arod takes woes at the plate lying down." You think Derek Jeter is in the batting cage 6 hours a day? While Arod is getting tailed through the park on his wholesome family outing, Jeter's probably lying in bed snorting cocaine off two supermodels. Now that's a photo I was printed in the papers. Whether or not Arod is upset with hitting sixth, I don't know. But he should be.
I: Questions for you:
1. Does the rain delay in the Yankees-Tigers series benefit one team more than the other?
2. Considering we both picked the Twins but the A's are up 2-0 going back to Oakland, what are the odds that we'll be correct? Remember, the A's have blown 2-0 leads to the Yanks and Sox in that opening best of 5 series. In fact, this run of A's teams has never even made it out of the ALDS.
3. Ha-yuge win for the Mets yesterday. Is this series split or at 2-0 heading to Los Angeles after today?
4. And in the series no one cares about, San Diego has to win 3 in a row in order to avoid Chris Carpenter in Game 5. How do you see that series going?
5. Arod hit 6th on Tuesday. Is he upset with this? What's his deal?
1:20pm
1. Not sure. I don't think the Tigers have much of a chance anyway. It's not like Verlander, with his week and a half off, really needed another day. He's either rested and sharp or rusty and erratic. Depending on his performance today, sportswriters will describe him as one or the other.
2. The way the Twins are hitting, not very good. And if the A's do collapse again, I think Billy Beane crushes Ken Macha's head in a carpenter's vice. Another reason to root for the Athletics: Macha is a nice guy and I don't want to see him get hurt.
3. I'm gonna go ahead and say 2-0 for the Mets/Dodgers series. I mean, have you seen Jose Reyes' smile??? That and Wilson Betemit was absolutely gunned at third base in the ninth last night by Beltran, except the throw nailed him right between the numbers. Watching Beltran play centerfield is like watching Heidi Klum in body paint. So unspeakably perfect that you feel bad masturbating to it (yes, I am aware that there are no degrees of perfection, and yes, I am aware that the masturbation joke was a little uncalled for.)
4. San Diego looked lost at the plate, but then again they were facing Chris Carpenter. After seeing Pujols do what he does best, I could see a Cardinals sweep with Pujols going 8-9 with 7 homers in the next two days (looks like La Russa didn't have to clone him after all.) Of course, I could also see San Diego sweeping the next three in spite of those 7 Pujols homers. What I'm trying to say is that I have no idea what's going to happen anymore. That last week of NFL games really did a number on my confidence in sports prognostication.
5. I never thought I'd say this, but people need to lay off Arod. His postseason numbers (granted in many, many fewer at bats) are identical if not slightly better than Jeter's. And Jeter's postseason numbers are actually WORSE than his regular season numbers. So Jeter went 5-5 last night in the opening game of the division series against Nate Robertson and the Tigers. But it was with Damon in front of him and Abreu, Sheffield, Giambi, Arod behind him. Where was Jeter's 5-5 in the last four games of the 2004 ALCS? You're crazy not to think that Jeter is, at best, the fifth most dangerous hitter on his own team. AT BEST, since cases can be made for Matsui and Damon as well.
On Arod: I bet he wishes he could redo his first, oh, twelve seasons as a professional baseball player. He could have re-signed with Seattle for less than that albatross of a contract Tom Hicks forked over, opened up Safeco, and been an absolute legend and savior to the championship-starved Seattle fanbase who would name some type of supper-latte after him. Instead he's one of the least liked players on a team full of players that are easy to dislike. Sure he's getting paid a lot, but everytime he wants to go relax in the park with his wife and daughter the New York sports media snaps a photograph of him with some assinine caption like "Arod takes woes at the plate lying down." You think Derek Jeter is in the batting cage 6 hours a day? While Arod is getting tailed through the park on his wholesome family outing, Jeter's probably lying in bed snorting cocaine off two supermodels. Now that's a photo I was printed in the papers. Whether or not Arod is upset with hitting sixth, I don't know. But he should be.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
NFL: Week 4 Recap
1:30 PM
I: What a great weekend of football, and not just because the Pats and Cowboys won. There were six undefeated teams before Week 4 began. Two games pitting undefeated teams were played, though only one was competetive. A third undefeated team lost on top of those two. That leaves us three undefeated teams remaining, which everyone wants to put as the top three teams in football, but I'm gong to have to disagree. The details can wait.
Saj, I'm looking for your thoughts on the Pats. Did this game erase some or all of your doubts about this Patriots team? Everyone, including myself, was very high on the Cincinatti Bengals. They were consistently at the top of rankings. The game was played IN Cincinatti. The Patriots were supposed to be realing. Instead, New England marched into Cincinatti and treated them like Democrats are going to treat Mark Foley.
The ESPN Power Rankings gave the Pats a HUGE leap up to #4, behind the three undefeated teams. I think they may have gone from too low on them to too high on them. Your thoughts?
1:58 PM
S: I think I think (again, sorry Peter King) that the NFL has ceased to make any sense to me. The Seahawks got waxed by the Bears just a week after building a 40 point lead on the Giants, a popular pick to win the NFC East. The Chiefs throttled the 49ers who beat a Rams team that beat a Broncos team that had ABSOLUTELY EMBARASSED a Patriots team that completely owned a Bengals team that handled the Chiefs in Week 1. Wrap your head around that game of rock-paper-scissors. What does any of this mean? It means that there is more parity than we think in the NFL, and more parity than any one record would imply. Anything can happen on, to use a cliche, any given Sunday.
It's tough to say whether the Patriots, at five behind the Bears, Colts, Ravens and Eagles, are too high. Their only loss came against a Broncos team that played out of their skulls football and their most convincing win came against the as of yet undefeated former NFC North Champs. You can make a good case for any of the one loss teams to sit right behind the undefeateds, it's just so hard to evaluate their performances against different opponents on different days, there's too much variation. What do you think about the 3-1 Saints sitting at 15? Seems like Hurricane Katrina goodwill does not extend itself into the realm of the Power Rankings.
3:05 PM
The Saints at 3-1 seemed low, until I realize they're not going to make the playoffs. Think about it. If someone were to ask "What will the Saints record be at the end of the year?" I would say 9-7, maybe even 8-8. That's about 15 out of 32, isn't it? I think they're good enough to be there for reasons I have stated weeks ago: they acquired a quarterback who is very good and they have a dynamic backfield with capable recievers. Their defense is still a question mark to me, though, as is their head coach. So yeah, 15th seems just about right.
As far as the cream of the crop, I agree with the majority of fans who are saying Bears at the top. Their defense is phenomenal; their offense above average. This is the team to beat right now. Second are the Colts, if only because they just proved they can win a close game...and close games are when you need to be able to run the ball and stop the run. The Jets aren't exactly sporting a Philly offense or Baltimore defense, but they were playing at home in front of a pumped crowd in an outdoor stadium...and the Colts answered the bell. So,
1. Chicago Bears
2. Indianapolis Colts
The Ravens at 3 is where I disagree. I think they're getting the nod at 3 because of their undefeated record only. They got passed the Browns on a last minute deep field goal. Then yesterday they get by the Chargers on a last minute touchdown pass. This team could very easily be 2-2. Their offense really worries me. I bump them down to 5. Ahead of them I have Philadelphia, with an anamolous collapse the only thing standing between them and an undefeated record. They're the Philly we all remember from earlier in the millenium...top 5 quarterback, workhorse running back, smart capable receivers, tough defense, and an elite head coach. So,
3. Philadelphia Eagles
At four is a team you will not agree with, but I am very confident putting them there. The Dallas Cowboys can do it all. There will be questions about their quarterback, and I can understand why. However, it's rare to find a knowledgable fan who will say Drew Bledsoe is a bad quarterback if given time in the pocket. I feel that if given five or more seconds, Bledsoe is a top quarterback in this league. If given three or less seconds, he's one of the worst. In the last two games, his offensive line has kept him upright. Combine this with two talented running backs, an almost unfairly talented receiving combo and tight end, and this is a top offense in the NFL. And their defense was projected to be, and is showing that they are, a top defense in the NFL. And oh yeah, they have Bill Parcells in his fourth year. Anyone can beat the Titans, even if it was in Tennessee...but they tore them apart in every facet of the game.
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Baltimore Ravens.
Next seven in no order: New England, Denver, Cincinatti, San Diego, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Denver.
I now await your criticism of my Dallas decision.
Some notes on the power rankings:
I like your top two, they make sense. I wasn’t completely sold on the Bears but then they bent the Seahawks over the kitchen table on primetime television.
And the Colts… does anyone actually like the Colts? Are there Colts fans? Do people live in Indianapolis? I’m sure the city has its charm and there are other generic nice things that I could say about a city I don’t care or know about, but seriously. And the team: they play in an ugly dome, Peyton Manning’s “Arod of football” thing is wearing on me (just win something you 6’5”, 230 quarterback with the laser, rocket arm), and Marvin Harrison is simply too quiet for how good he is. Say something Marvin! Thump your chest and moon Packers fans! Guarantee 40 points against the best defense in football! (Un)intentionally overdose on painkillers! (too soon?) It’s so easy to root against them. At least the Patriots, for all their winning ways, have charming peccadilloes that make them interesting.
So there are one and two. I still think you have to respect the undefeateds in the Power Rankings. It’s not like the Power Rankings mean anything anyway, let the Ravens have their fun.
I’m going to stop there because I don’t feel like sorting out the jumble that is the one loss teams. But the Eagles have consistently impressed and McNabb looks to be playing the best football of his career.
As for Cowboy-hate, I still don’t understand how you could like them. They’re as close to the Yankees as the NFL has; all that “America’s Team” nonsense. And yes, if Drew Bledsoe had three minutes per passing play he could strike and kill an adult moose from 150 yards or something like that, but I’m skeptical of him getting enough of those five second passing plays that you say he needs. Five seconds is a lot of time to create for your quarterback, especially against the better defenses in the NFL. And have you seen him fall? It’s like his midsection doesn’t bend. He’s an aging 6’6” plank of plywood. Not buying the Cowboys, not in that division this year.
I: What a great weekend of football, and not just because the Pats and Cowboys won. There were six undefeated teams before Week 4 began. Two games pitting undefeated teams were played, though only one was competetive. A third undefeated team lost on top of those two. That leaves us three undefeated teams remaining, which everyone wants to put as the top three teams in football, but I'm gong to have to disagree. The details can wait.
Saj, I'm looking for your thoughts on the Pats. Did this game erase some or all of your doubts about this Patriots team? Everyone, including myself, was very high on the Cincinatti Bengals. They were consistently at the top of rankings. The game was played IN Cincinatti. The Patriots were supposed to be realing. Instead, New England marched into Cincinatti and treated them like Democrats are going to treat Mark Foley.
The ESPN Power Rankings gave the Pats a HUGE leap up to #4, behind the three undefeated teams. I think they may have gone from too low on them to too high on them. Your thoughts?
1:58 PM
S: I think I think (again, sorry Peter King) that the NFL has ceased to make any sense to me. The Seahawks got waxed by the Bears just a week after building a 40 point lead on the Giants, a popular pick to win the NFC East. The Chiefs throttled the 49ers who beat a Rams team that beat a Broncos team that had ABSOLUTELY EMBARASSED a Patriots team that completely owned a Bengals team that handled the Chiefs in Week 1. Wrap your head around that game of rock-paper-scissors. What does any of this mean? It means that there is more parity than we think in the NFL, and more parity than any one record would imply. Anything can happen on, to use a cliche, any given Sunday.
It's tough to say whether the Patriots, at five behind the Bears, Colts, Ravens and Eagles, are too high. Their only loss came against a Broncos team that played out of their skulls football and their most convincing win came against the as of yet undefeated former NFC North Champs. You can make a good case for any of the one loss teams to sit right behind the undefeateds, it's just so hard to evaluate their performances against different opponents on different days, there's too much variation. What do you think about the 3-1 Saints sitting at 15? Seems like Hurricane Katrina goodwill does not extend itself into the realm of the Power Rankings.
3:05 PM
The Saints at 3-1 seemed low, until I realize they're not going to make the playoffs. Think about it. If someone were to ask "What will the Saints record be at the end of the year?" I would say 9-7, maybe even 8-8. That's about 15 out of 32, isn't it? I think they're good enough to be there for reasons I have stated weeks ago: they acquired a quarterback who is very good and they have a dynamic backfield with capable recievers. Their defense is still a question mark to me, though, as is their head coach. So yeah, 15th seems just about right.
As far as the cream of the crop, I agree with the majority of fans who are saying Bears at the top. Their defense is phenomenal; their offense above average. This is the team to beat right now. Second are the Colts, if only because they just proved they can win a close game...and close games are when you need to be able to run the ball and stop the run. The Jets aren't exactly sporting a Philly offense or Baltimore defense, but they were playing at home in front of a pumped crowd in an outdoor stadium...and the Colts answered the bell. So,
1. Chicago Bears
2. Indianapolis Colts
The Ravens at 3 is where I disagree. I think they're getting the nod at 3 because of their undefeated record only. They got passed the Browns on a last minute deep field goal. Then yesterday they get by the Chargers on a last minute touchdown pass. This team could very easily be 2-2. Their offense really worries me. I bump them down to 5. Ahead of them I have Philadelphia, with an anamolous collapse the only thing standing between them and an undefeated record. They're the Philly we all remember from earlier in the millenium...top 5 quarterback, workhorse running back, smart capable receivers, tough defense, and an elite head coach. So,
3. Philadelphia Eagles
At four is a team you will not agree with, but I am very confident putting them there. The Dallas Cowboys can do it all. There will be questions about their quarterback, and I can understand why. However, it's rare to find a knowledgable fan who will say Drew Bledsoe is a bad quarterback if given time in the pocket. I feel that if given five or more seconds, Bledsoe is a top quarterback in this league. If given three or less seconds, he's one of the worst. In the last two games, his offensive line has kept him upright. Combine this with two talented running backs, an almost unfairly talented receiving combo and tight end, and this is a top offense in the NFL. And their defense was projected to be, and is showing that they are, a top defense in the NFL. And oh yeah, they have Bill Parcells in his fourth year. Anyone can beat the Titans, even if it was in Tennessee...but they tore them apart in every facet of the game.
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Baltimore Ravens.
Next seven in no order: New England, Denver, Cincinatti, San Diego, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Denver.
I now await your criticism of my Dallas decision.
Some notes on the power rankings:
I like your top two, they make sense. I wasn’t completely sold on the Bears but then they bent the Seahawks over the kitchen table on primetime television.
And the Colts… does anyone actually like the Colts? Are there Colts fans? Do people live in Indianapolis? I’m sure the city has its charm and there are other generic nice things that I could say about a city I don’t care or know about, but seriously. And the team: they play in an ugly dome, Peyton Manning’s “Arod of football” thing is wearing on me (just win something you 6’5”, 230 quarterback with the laser, rocket arm), and Marvin Harrison is simply too quiet for how good he is. Say something Marvin! Thump your chest and moon Packers fans! Guarantee 40 points against the best defense in football! (Un)intentionally overdose on painkillers! (too soon?) It’s so easy to root against them. At least the Patriots, for all their winning ways, have charming peccadilloes that make them interesting.
So there are one and two. I still think you have to respect the undefeateds in the Power Rankings. It’s not like the Power Rankings mean anything anyway, let the Ravens have their fun.
I’m going to stop there because I don’t feel like sorting out the jumble that is the one loss teams. But the Eagles have consistently impressed and McNabb looks to be playing the best football of his career.
As for Cowboy-hate, I still don’t understand how you could like them. They’re as close to the Yankees as the NFL has; all that “America’s Team” nonsense. And yes, if Drew Bledsoe had three minutes per passing play he could strike and kill an adult moose from 150 yards or something like that, but I’m skeptical of him getting enough of those five second passing plays that you say he needs. Five seconds is a lot of time to create for your quarterback, especially against the better defenses in the NFL. And have you seen him fall? It’s like his midsection doesn’t bend. He’s an aging 6’6” plank of plywood. Not buying the Cowboys, not in that division this year.
Funny stuff on Bledsoe, and for the most part accurate. The reason I cheer for the Cowboys is obvious. It's the same reason I cheered for the Bills for two years. They have my favorite player. I may be unique that I have a favorite player who's not on my favorite team, but that's the way it's turned out. And I want my favorite player's team to do well. For the record, if the Cowboys play the Pats in the Superbowl, I want a shootout with the Pats on top.
The "five second" thing was a round number. At five seconds, he becomes as deadly as anyone in the NFL. Between 3 and 5 seconds, the average time for a quarterback, he's simply very good and very capable, especially with those weapons. Still, if they see the Bears, Jags, Pats, or Ravens, it will be a miserable day for him - just like any quarterback this side of Brady, McNabb, and Manning.
The Cowboys are legit, Saj. This is a top team in the NFL for the reasons I've listed. In fact, whoever wins this Sunday's Game of the Week (Eagles-Cowboys) will win that division and get the NFC 2 seed in the playoffs. I'm calling that right now.
Respek.
So the Eagles are going to win the NFC East? Still a tougher division than people have been saying- I would not be surprised by a last place finish for your beloved Cowboys.
Counterpoint: Saj, you ignorant slut.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Baseball Playoff Predictions
11:15 AM
"PLAYOFFS?! Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?! I'm just hoping we can win a game, another game!" - Jim Mora, Sr.
S: Yes the above quote is in reference to midseason football and what this has to do with postseason baseball I don't know. But it's always fun to toss a Jim Mora quote into the mix once in a while, and here JM refers to the playoffs in such an emphatic and incredulous manner that it suits the crazy nature of this year's regular season race to October. Lots of questions here, especially on the NL side, the most important of which is probably: Can anyone beat the Yankees?
Matchups:
Oakland v. Minnesota
Detroit v. New York Yankees
St. Louis v. San Diego
Los Angeles v. New York Mets
11:33 PM
I: Can anyone beat the Yankees, indeed. That is THE question of the playoffs, and my answer is no. Four teams in baseball could beat the Yankees in a series.
1. Boston Red Sox (rivalry)
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (own the Yankees in the playoffs)
3. Minnesota Twins (But only with a healthy Liriano, who is out for the playoffs)
4. Houston Astros (had the pitching, but failed to win on the last day of the year)
No one else can conceivably pull it off. The lineup is too darned expensive, too darned good. The only way to get through it is to have quality starting pitching OR the knack to come through in clutch spots. In the American League, both Minnesota and Oakland have tried and failed multiple times to take down the Yanks in the last five years. Detroit is the wild card, both literally and figuratively. If their young, inexperienced pitching can handle the bright lights, they have the only shot in the AL. It helps that they catch the Yanks in the shortened first round series. But Todd Jones closing against that lineup? It's just not happening.
So, Saj, can anyone in the National League take out the Yanks in the fall classic?
11:55 AM
Short answer: No. Long answer: Truthfully anything is possible, but no, nobody can beat the Yankees from the National League.
Pedro undergoing rotator cuff surgery that will shelve him for eight months at least not only vindicates the Red Sox in not giving him a four year deal but it also means that the Mets as the last force of good to be able to stand up to the force of evil this season have been mortally wounded. Not a single team can match up with the Yankees offensively and not a single team left has a pitching staff good enough to neutralize them.
Looking at your list of the four teams that would pose a threat to the Yankees in a postseason series. Three of them have, or have had, outstanding pitching this season (Red Sox? Even I don't believe that this year). But now two are out of the playoffs and the third had a phenom starter, pitcher 1B in their dueling lefties traveling sideshow, run into the ground. Santana in a short series is great, but Santana and Liriano even in a long series is very dangerous.
But the one thing we can't forget is the possibility of virtuoso performances from guys who have the talent to produce them. The aforementioned Santana, the A's pitching staff, Verlander, Bonderman, Carpenter, Glavine, Maddux, etc. Lots of great talents and names pitching this postseason, can anyone step up?
3:01 PM
Agreed on most of that, except I don't think anyone CAN step up against this lineup except Santana. Glavine, Maddux? No way. The Tigers are the only hope, but those young guys can't shy away from the big lights of October. Here's how I see the playoffs playing out.
Detroit vs. NY Yankees
I don't think the young pitchers of Detroit and that untested bullpen can handle this Bronx lineup. The potential to topple the Yanks is with the Tigers more than any other team, but I really don't see Detroit winning ANY games. Yankees sweep.
Oakland vs. Minnesota
Santana wins games 1 and 5 and one of the starters steal a game in between. Twins in 5.
Los Angeles vs. NY Mets
All of a sudden, the Dodgers have the better pitching...and might have a lineup good enough to win some games in the playoffs. Penny and playoff-tested Derek Lowe might be able to keep this fantastic Mets lineup down. I can't say the same about El Duque and Glavine doing it to the Dodgers. The Pedro loss was huge for the Mets. Hayuge. If he was healthy, they're easily in the World Series. Without him, they can lose to LA and San Diego in either round. This is my most difficult pick of the first round. There's going to be a lot of hitting. Homefield decides it...Mets in 5.
St. Louis vs. San Diego
Carpenter is as important to St. Louis as Santana is to Minnesota. The problem is, Carpenter's not as good. The Padres have the better 1, 2, 3 starting pitching and a much better closer. Pitching wins in the playoffs. To top it off, they have homefield. Padres in 5.
Championship Series:
Minnesota vs. NY Yankees
I'll tell you exactly how this will play out. Santana will win every game in which he pitches on full rest. He will lose every game in which he pitches on short rest. Minnesota will be lucky to steal one win with another starter. What does this add up to? The Yankees can't lose. Either Santana wins games 1 and 5 and the Yanks pull it out in 7, or he's hurried into short rest after a 5 game opening round series and loses twice to that 130 million dollar starting 9. Regardless, it's mathematically impossible for the Twins to win this series. Stephen Hawking has already done the equations. For the sake of predictions, I say Yanks in 6...though it will probably only be 5.
San Diego vs. NY Mets
My upset of the playoffs. Pitching, pitching, pitching. Jake Peavy will be Josh Beckett from 2003. Pads in 7.
World Series:
1998 rematch. Same result. Yanks in 4.
8:00 PM
LDS's
Detroit vs. NY Yankees
The Tigers have the best chance against the Yankees not because of their pitching staff (If you're talking straight pitching staffs in the American League one through thirteen or fourteen, I'll take Superman Santana and that Minnesota bullpen or Zito et al. over Kenny Rogers, a bunch of rookies, and the shamelessly moustachioed Todd Jones) but because they have the advantage of the short series. There's luck involved in baseball, and when the sample size is smaller as it is in a five game series, luck will play a greater role in the outcome. But luck can't make a guy throw good strikes against the most patient and dangerous lineup in baseball, and luck can't keep the Tigers from swinging early and often at Wang's sinking balls. The only way I watch this series is if Derek Jeter decides to publicly berate Arod for booting a groundball prompting a fed up Arod to sucker punch him while screaming "I'M BETTER THAN YOU, G********! I'M F****** BETTER THAN YOU!!" Yankees in three.
Oakland vs. Minnesota
This series has Athletic postseason chokefest written all over it except this Athletics team actually might have what people always says wins in the postseason: pitching and defense. These will be the best pitched games of the playoffs with that rock solid A's rotation on one side and Santana and the Twins bullpen on the other. Yes, a guy named Boof Bonser will be starting Game 2 for the Twins, but these Athletics aren't exactly a team of mashers. Crystal Ball: I see the Twins bullpen pitching 12 innings this series. I see Johan Santana spitting fire from his mouth and causing the ground to shake with his mind. I see the age old prophecy that no team with Esteban Loaiza on its active roster will ever make it to the World Series remaining fulfilled. Twins in Five.
Los Angeles vs. NY Mets
Not much to say here except: The Mets now have the worst starting pitching in the playoffs. With Pedro out the Mets have to rely on Steve Trachsel and John Maine to give them postseason starts after El Duque and Tom Glavine who have, between them, a combined 95 years. I think half of New York just groaned while the other half smiled smugly. F****** Yankee fans. David Wright and Jose Reyes will the Dodgers to lose by virtue of their 8 billion watt smiles and their burgeoning star power, Mets in four.
St. Louis vs. San Diego
My theory on the Cardinals: La Russa knew he didn't have a shot at the World Series this year with his current roster so he put all his energy into finding a way to clone Albert Pujols. He wanted a Pujols at every position. Even pitcher. Foolproof plan I would say. Unfortunately for La Russa, and for Cardinal fans, it's actually impossible to create an exact clone of a 26 year old man in only four months time (who knew?). Since he put all his proverbial "World Series" eggs in the proverbial "cloning Albert Pujols" basket he now has a team where Jeff Suppan qualifies as the number two starter and Braden Looper and Adam Wainwright share the closer role. Meanwhile, the non-Pujols offense has been slumping and Jim Edmonds' daredevil act finally landed him a serious concussion in August. Not even going to discuss the Padres here, with the exception of Cla Meredith the sweetheart relief pitcher Boston sent to the Padres in the convoluted Loretta/Mirabelli dealings. I still love you, Cla. Padres in four.
LCS's
Minnesota vs. NY Yankees
If the Twins go five against the A's there is no way they can set Santana up for Game 1 of this series. And that would be the only way they could win: get three starts in seven games from him. I'd like to say that Santana wins his start(s) and Bonser, Radke, Silva pitch five to six serviceable innings and then throw things to the more than capable bullpen, but I can't. I just can't. This makes me miserable. Yankees in five.
San Diego vs. NY Mets
Now to say some good things about the Mets. They have a complete and electrifying offense which I do not trust San Diego's pitching staff to shut down. Jake Peavy had a great September, but let's not forget the rest of his year. Chris Young aside, three and four look like David Wells and Woody Williams who rival El Duque and Glavine in age. And this is probably the best staff in the NL playoffs. Also, if you tell me that you don't enjoy watching Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran in the field then you are lying, you filthy lying bastard. Let us not forget how well the Mets bullpen has coped with the loss of Duaner Sanchez, and let us also not forget how unbelievably awesome Paul Lo Duca is: http://www.jossip.com/gossip/paul-lo-duca/ (This Guterman character remained on facebook after she was outed by the media, feel free to check. Whore). Mets in six.
WS
NY Mets at NY Yankees
Subway series redux. I just vomited blood. Yankees in five. F****** Yankee fans.
"PLAYOFFS?! Don't talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?! I'm just hoping we can win a game, another game!" - Jim Mora, Sr.
S: Yes the above quote is in reference to midseason football and what this has to do with postseason baseball I don't know. But it's always fun to toss a Jim Mora quote into the mix once in a while, and here JM refers to the playoffs in such an emphatic and incredulous manner that it suits the crazy nature of this year's regular season race to October. Lots of questions here, especially on the NL side, the most important of which is probably: Can anyone beat the Yankees?
Matchups:
Oakland v. Minnesota
Detroit v. New York Yankees
St. Louis v. San Diego
Los Angeles v. New York Mets
11:33 PM
I: Can anyone beat the Yankees, indeed. That is THE question of the playoffs, and my answer is no. Four teams in baseball could beat the Yankees in a series.
1. Boston Red Sox (rivalry)
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (own the Yankees in the playoffs)
3. Minnesota Twins (But only with a healthy Liriano, who is out for the playoffs)
4. Houston Astros (had the pitching, but failed to win on the last day of the year)
No one else can conceivably pull it off. The lineup is too darned expensive, too darned good. The only way to get through it is to have quality starting pitching OR the knack to come through in clutch spots. In the American League, both Minnesota and Oakland have tried and failed multiple times to take down the Yanks in the last five years. Detroit is the wild card, both literally and figuratively. If their young, inexperienced pitching can handle the bright lights, they have the only shot in the AL. It helps that they catch the Yanks in the shortened first round series. But Todd Jones closing against that lineup? It's just not happening.
So, Saj, can anyone in the National League take out the Yanks in the fall classic?
11:55 AM
Short answer: No. Long answer: Truthfully anything is possible, but no, nobody can beat the Yankees from the National League.
Pedro undergoing rotator cuff surgery that will shelve him for eight months at least not only vindicates the Red Sox in not giving him a four year deal but it also means that the Mets as the last force of good to be able to stand up to the force of evil this season have been mortally wounded. Not a single team can match up with the Yankees offensively and not a single team left has a pitching staff good enough to neutralize them.
Looking at your list of the four teams that would pose a threat to the Yankees in a postseason series. Three of them have, or have had, outstanding pitching this season (Red Sox? Even I don't believe that this year). But now two are out of the playoffs and the third had a phenom starter, pitcher 1B in their dueling lefties traveling sideshow, run into the ground. Santana in a short series is great, but Santana and Liriano even in a long series is very dangerous.
But the one thing we can't forget is the possibility of virtuoso performances from guys who have the talent to produce them. The aforementioned Santana, the A's pitching staff, Verlander, Bonderman, Carpenter, Glavine, Maddux, etc. Lots of great talents and names pitching this postseason, can anyone step up?
3:01 PM
Agreed on most of that, except I don't think anyone CAN step up against this lineup except Santana. Glavine, Maddux? No way. The Tigers are the only hope, but those young guys can't shy away from the big lights of October. Here's how I see the playoffs playing out.
Detroit vs. NY Yankees
I don't think the young pitchers of Detroit and that untested bullpen can handle this Bronx lineup. The potential to topple the Yanks is with the Tigers more than any other team, but I really don't see Detroit winning ANY games. Yankees sweep.
Oakland vs. Minnesota
Santana wins games 1 and 5 and one of the starters steal a game in between. Twins in 5.
Los Angeles vs. NY Mets
All of a sudden, the Dodgers have the better pitching...and might have a lineup good enough to win some games in the playoffs. Penny and playoff-tested Derek Lowe might be able to keep this fantastic Mets lineup down. I can't say the same about El Duque and Glavine doing it to the Dodgers. The Pedro loss was huge for the Mets. Hayuge. If he was healthy, they're easily in the World Series. Without him, they can lose to LA and San Diego in either round. This is my most difficult pick of the first round. There's going to be a lot of hitting. Homefield decides it...Mets in 5.
St. Louis vs. San Diego
Carpenter is as important to St. Louis as Santana is to Minnesota. The problem is, Carpenter's not as good. The Padres have the better 1, 2, 3 starting pitching and a much better closer. Pitching wins in the playoffs. To top it off, they have homefield. Padres in 5.
Championship Series:
Minnesota vs. NY Yankees
I'll tell you exactly how this will play out. Santana will win every game in which he pitches on full rest. He will lose every game in which he pitches on short rest. Minnesota will be lucky to steal one win with another starter. What does this add up to? The Yankees can't lose. Either Santana wins games 1 and 5 and the Yanks pull it out in 7, or he's hurried into short rest after a 5 game opening round series and loses twice to that 130 million dollar starting 9. Regardless, it's mathematically impossible for the Twins to win this series. Stephen Hawking has already done the equations. For the sake of predictions, I say Yanks in 6...though it will probably only be 5.
San Diego vs. NY Mets
My upset of the playoffs. Pitching, pitching, pitching. Jake Peavy will be Josh Beckett from 2003. Pads in 7.
World Series:
1998 rematch. Same result. Yanks in 4.
8:00 PM
LDS's
Detroit vs. NY Yankees
The Tigers have the best chance against the Yankees not because of their pitching staff (If you're talking straight pitching staffs in the American League one through thirteen or fourteen, I'll take Superman Santana and that Minnesota bullpen or Zito et al. over Kenny Rogers, a bunch of rookies, and the shamelessly moustachioed Todd Jones) but because they have the advantage of the short series. There's luck involved in baseball, and when the sample size is smaller as it is in a five game series, luck will play a greater role in the outcome. But luck can't make a guy throw good strikes against the most patient and dangerous lineup in baseball, and luck can't keep the Tigers from swinging early and often at Wang's sinking balls. The only way I watch this series is if Derek Jeter decides to publicly berate Arod for booting a groundball prompting a fed up Arod to sucker punch him while screaming "I'M BETTER THAN YOU, G********! I'M F****** BETTER THAN YOU!!" Yankees in three.
Oakland vs. Minnesota
This series has Athletic postseason chokefest written all over it except this Athletics team actually might have what people always says wins in the postseason: pitching and defense. These will be the best pitched games of the playoffs with that rock solid A's rotation on one side and Santana and the Twins bullpen on the other. Yes, a guy named Boof Bonser will be starting Game 2 for the Twins, but these Athletics aren't exactly a team of mashers. Crystal Ball: I see the Twins bullpen pitching 12 innings this series. I see Johan Santana spitting fire from his mouth and causing the ground to shake with his mind. I see the age old prophecy that no team with Esteban Loaiza on its active roster will ever make it to the World Series remaining fulfilled. Twins in Five.
Los Angeles vs. NY Mets
Not much to say here except: The Mets now have the worst starting pitching in the playoffs. With Pedro out the Mets have to rely on Steve Trachsel and John Maine to give them postseason starts after El Duque and Tom Glavine who have, between them, a combined 95 years. I think half of New York just groaned while the other half smiled smugly. F****** Yankee fans. David Wright and Jose Reyes will the Dodgers to lose by virtue of their 8 billion watt smiles and their burgeoning star power, Mets in four.
St. Louis vs. San Diego
My theory on the Cardinals: La Russa knew he didn't have a shot at the World Series this year with his current roster so he put all his energy into finding a way to clone Albert Pujols. He wanted a Pujols at every position. Even pitcher. Foolproof plan I would say. Unfortunately for La Russa, and for Cardinal fans, it's actually impossible to create an exact clone of a 26 year old man in only four months time (who knew?). Since he put all his proverbial "World Series" eggs in the proverbial "cloning Albert Pujols" basket he now has a team where Jeff Suppan qualifies as the number two starter and Braden Looper and Adam Wainwright share the closer role. Meanwhile, the non-Pujols offense has been slumping and Jim Edmonds' daredevil act finally landed him a serious concussion in August. Not even going to discuss the Padres here, with the exception of Cla Meredith the sweetheart relief pitcher Boston sent to the Padres in the convoluted Loretta/Mirabelli dealings. I still love you, Cla. Padres in four.
LCS's
Minnesota vs. NY Yankees
If the Twins go five against the A's there is no way they can set Santana up for Game 1 of this series. And that would be the only way they could win: get three starts in seven games from him. I'd like to say that Santana wins his start(s) and Bonser, Radke, Silva pitch five to six serviceable innings and then throw things to the more than capable bullpen, but I can't. I just can't. This makes me miserable. Yankees in five.
San Diego vs. NY Mets
Now to say some good things about the Mets. They have a complete and electrifying offense which I do not trust San Diego's pitching staff to shut down. Jake Peavy had a great September, but let's not forget the rest of his year. Chris Young aside, three and four look like David Wells and Woody Williams who rival El Duque and Glavine in age. And this is probably the best staff in the NL playoffs. Also, if you tell me that you don't enjoy watching Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran in the field then you are lying, you filthy lying bastard. Let us not forget how well the Mets bullpen has coped with the loss of Duaner Sanchez, and let us also not forget how unbelievably awesome Paul Lo Duca is: http://www.jossip.com/gossip/paul-lo-duca/ (This Guterman character remained on facebook after she was outed by the media, feel free to check. Whore). Mets in six.
WS
NY Mets at NY Yankees
Subway series redux. I just vomited blood. Yankees in five. F****** Yankee fans.
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