Through six weeks:
Standings.....GB....Last week's record
Ian 14-10.......... -- ..............2-2
Saj 11-13........... 3 .............2-2
Man, last week was such a terrible week for me. Nice week for you, though.
Your games:
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (Sunday, 1:00)
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders (Sunday, 4:05)
Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 4:15)
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (Monday, 8:30)
Yes. Terrible, terrible week for Jimmy the Greek over there. I'm coming back up in this shit like J-Lo.
Yours:
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys
New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals: Is it safe to say that these were the two most overrated teams in football coming into the season? I think it's safe to say that. Many picked these teams to go to the playoffs. A majority of prognosticators picked them to finish second in their respective divisions. Their head coaches were lauded for their success reshaping the franchises. But now? No playoffs for either team. They're in the bottom two of their divisions. Thought, to be fair, the Jets, at 1-5, are only a half game back of second place. (Can I mention something else here? Is anyone paying attention to the AFC East Standings? The Patriots, after six weeks, have five more wins than the second place team. Doesn't this have to be a record after six weeks? I mean, the Pats could clinch their division by Week TEN, which also has to be some kind of record. Why is no one talking about this?) And, of course, these coaches are heavily criticized, from Eric Mangini's bungling of CameraGate which has made the entire league hate him, to Marvin Lewis apparently forgetting he's a defensive-minded head coach. Not a good job by these two one-win teams and coaches. I guess I'll go with the home team on this one. Pick: Cincinnati
Tampa Bay @ Detroit: This is a pretty important game for this early in the season. The Bucs, at 4-2, sit tied with Carolina atop the NFC South. The Lions, at 3-2, might be contenders, but are on the precipice of devolving back into the pack of also-rans. Which will happen? The latter. In fact, it's already begun. Detroit is 1-2 in its last three games. Pick: Tampa Bay
Baltimore @ Buffalo: I am of the sort that thinks Baltimore is not terribly good. They are not a championship contender. Their vaunted defense is a shell of its former dominant self that became so popular in the early part of this decade/century/millennium. But this is the Buffalo Bills. At least Baltimore can do a little something something on both sides of the football. Pick: Baltimore
Minnesota @ Dallas: The Cowboys' shellacking at the hand of the New England Patriots were the best thing that could have happened to the guys from the Big D. Without a match up against a quality team early in the season, Dallas would have coasted through the season with undefeated big heads who would have no idea the kind of talent it takes to win the whole thing. The Pats' slap in their face, however, brought them back to reality. Now they know, and I expect them to become a better team because of what happened last Sunday, and they'll make a run to the NFC Championship game. Pick: Dallas
Picking Dallas? After Adrian Peterson pulled a Walter Payton on the Bears last week? Interesting...
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
Vince Young should be starting despite a strained right quadricep (cue WebMD graphic... now) and that's bad news for the Texans. They love Vince Young in Texas. LOVE. A Houston native who won the Longhorns the national title over a higher ranked USC team, that legacy just doesn't disappear. Poor Texans. Not only are they second-fiddle to the Cowboys as professional franchise but they might be seventh or eighth fiddle to the glut of storied college and high school football programs in Texas. Anyway, long story short, purely for marketing reasons they should have drafted Young (or at least Bush) but they didn't. Also, the Titans gave up the most rushing yards per game last year and the Texans rank 29th in rushing yards per game so far this season. Something... has got... to give..... TITANS
WebMD sidenote: Thank God for the WebMD graphics. Last night, Fox showed me a perfectly healthy WebMD graphic guy for the purpose of telling me that Josh Beckett was not injured in any way shape or form. As my friend Jeff said to Chris Myers once at Fenway: "Hey Chris, Fox is ruining baseball"
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
You know what's funny about this game? If the Chiefs win, and with the San Diego bye week, they will be in sole possession of first place in the AFC West. I mean, wow. And if the Raiders win they will scare first place with the Chargers. I mean, wow wow. I'm glad I'm a Patriots fan. Speaking of Patriots, if I were to buy a Patriots jersey, which one do I buy? I was dead set on Maroney before the season but now I don't know. Ben Watson? Richard Seymour? Randy Moss?!?!? Maybe I should just go with the retro mid-90's Ben Coates or the even more retro mid-80's Irving Fryar. Or just get a custom number 12 jersey with "Model Fucker" on the back. I just don't know. RAIDERS
Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles at home? I'll take it! Sidenote: Brian Westbrook is fast. Faster than Adrian Peterson. I have no idea if that's true. EAGLES
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
You had to do this to me. I'm picking the Colts here, and for only one reason: When the Patriots play the Colts in week 9 I want both teams to be undefeated. And I want the Colts to lose by 106 points. Bill Belichick will make sure that happens. He will treat Week 9's game as the biggest game of his coaching career after last year's playoff loss. COLTS
Friday, October 19, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Why Josh Beckett Must Start Game 4
If you don't know where you come down on the Beckett or Wakefield argument for tonight's Game 4, just consider this hypothetical scenario: If tonight's Game 4 were rained out, would Josh Beckett pitch tomorrow's game 4 on normal rest?
The answer is unequivocally yes.
And that's why Josh Beckett is the no brainer for tonight.
Is anyone questioning Beckett's effectiveness if he pitches tonight? He's 2-0 in his playoff career on three days rest. He threw one of the great World Series games on three days rest. He's completely in the zone. Sending him against Paul Byrd is the closest thing the Red Sox have to a sure thing in this series.
That is, except, Josh Beckett vs. Jake Westbrook in a potential Game 7.
And that's the crux of the issue, and neither of the WEEI guys acknowledged it in the debate this morning. The Red Sox have the potential to send Josh Beckett, head and shoulders their best pitcher, out to the mound three times this series, including a Game 7 where he'd be on FULL rest, thanks to scheduled offdays after Games 4 and 5.
I understand that the Red Sox don't want to push up Schilling and DiceK into games 5 and 6. I understand they want to give them longer than normal rest. Fine. Throw Wakefield in Game five instead of four. That's right, I'm saying let's go Beckett-Wakefield instead of Wakefield-Beckett.
The difference? Game 7.
Down two games to one means the Sox have to win three out of the next four. If Wakefield, on 18 days rest and a sore back and a cortizone shot and a terrible September, puts the Sox in a 3-1 series hole after tonight, then Boston needs to win three in a row, and that includes a DiceK Game 7 start. That's a tall order against a good Cleveland Indians club.
Finally, to really drive home the point, let's look a the four possible scenarios after tonight.
1. Wakefield starts, Red Sox lose, falling down 3 games to 1. Read the above paragraph.
2. Wakefield starts, Red Sox win, tying the series 2-2. The Red Sox still have to win two out of three, with two games coming against Sabathia and Carmona, and the last being another Matsuzaka start.
3. Beckett starts, Red Sox win, tying the series 2-2. The Red Sox have to win two out of the next three, but if they can win either Game 5 or 6, then they have Beckett on full rest against Westbrook in Fenway for Game 7. This is the most likely scenario.
4. Beckett starts, Red Sox lose, falling down 3 games to 1. Is there any possibility Beckett loses to Paul Byrd? I mean, at all?
Josh Beckett must start Game 4.
The answer is unequivocally yes.
And that's why Josh Beckett is the no brainer for tonight.
Is anyone questioning Beckett's effectiveness if he pitches tonight? He's 2-0 in his playoff career on three days rest. He threw one of the great World Series games on three days rest. He's completely in the zone. Sending him against Paul Byrd is the closest thing the Red Sox have to a sure thing in this series.
That is, except, Josh Beckett vs. Jake Westbrook in a potential Game 7.
And that's the crux of the issue, and neither of the WEEI guys acknowledged it in the debate this morning. The Red Sox have the potential to send Josh Beckett, head and shoulders their best pitcher, out to the mound three times this series, including a Game 7 where he'd be on FULL rest, thanks to scheduled offdays after Games 4 and 5.
I understand that the Red Sox don't want to push up Schilling and DiceK into games 5 and 6. I understand they want to give them longer than normal rest. Fine. Throw Wakefield in Game five instead of four. That's right, I'm saying let's go Beckett-Wakefield instead of Wakefield-Beckett.
The difference? Game 7.
Down two games to one means the Sox have to win three out of the next four. If Wakefield, on 18 days rest and a sore back and a cortizone shot and a terrible September, puts the Sox in a 3-1 series hole after tonight, then Boston needs to win three in a row, and that includes a DiceK Game 7 start. That's a tall order against a good Cleveland Indians club.
Finally, to really drive home the point, let's look a the four possible scenarios after tonight.
1. Wakefield starts, Red Sox lose, falling down 3 games to 1. Read the above paragraph.
2. Wakefield starts, Red Sox win, tying the series 2-2. The Red Sox still have to win two out of three, with two games coming against Sabathia and Carmona, and the last being another Matsuzaka start.
3. Beckett starts, Red Sox win, tying the series 2-2. The Red Sox have to win two out of the next three, but if they can win either Game 5 or 6, then they have Beckett on full rest against Westbrook in Fenway for Game 7. This is the most likely scenario.
4. Beckett starts, Red Sox lose, falling down 3 games to 1. Is there any possibility Beckett loses to Paul Byrd? I mean, at all?
Josh Beckett must start Game 4.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Football Friday: Week 6
Standings after five weeks of riveting NFL action:
Standings.....GB....Last week's record
Ian 12-8.......... -- ..............3-1
Saj 9-11........... 3 ..............2-2
Here are your Week 6 games:
Washington Redskins at Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns
Order was restored last week, with our most common results once again having representation. Your games:
Cincinatti Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1:00)
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets (Sunday, 1:00)
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05)
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons (Monday, 8:30)
Cincinatti Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
I was reading Peter King's fantasy football column today and he told me to pick up Cincinnati running back Kenny Watson. So I did. In both leagues. You heard right. I might start Kenny Watson in two separate leagues this week. Kenny Watson. Both leagues. I think I'm legally obligated to support the Bengals here. BENGALS
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets
J-E-T-S, SUCK SUCK SUCK!! There is very little I enjoy more than watching the Jets lose week in and week out. I believe the Germans call that "schadenfreude." Also, the longterm success of my fantasy team depends on Bryant Westbrook running for lots of yards and scoring lots of points. I believe the Germans call that "IhaveafantasyfootballcrushonBryantWestbrook." Crazy Germans and their made up words. EAGLES
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals
Just when you think Matt Leinart might suffer the indignity of losing his job to a 36-year-old Kurt Warner, the lucky bastard goes and breaks his collarbone. Leinart, you son of a bitch. While you're having a pain-killer fueled orgy with the Hilton sisters and Hayley Duff I hope you're at least sorta thinking about your teammates suffering through three hours of poorly executed football. CARDINALS
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons
You never really know what will happen with this Giants team. One week you pick them to win and they lose and the next week you pick them to lose and they win. You just never really know. Except for this week. They will win. The Plaxico/D'Angelo Hall matchup should be fun to watch. And fingers crossed for Brandon Jacobs to bulldoze the Falcons defense for 200 yards and three scores (fantasy implications). GIANTS
With four 1:00 games, my fate will be decided before the Dallas-New England showdown (Pats by 17, by the way).
Washington @ Green Bay: Sooooo, it turns out the Packers don't have a running game and everyone knows it now. And an aged Brett Favre is not good enough to play well against a defense that knows he has to throw. Favre hasn't been that good since the 90's. The Redskins, meanwhile, are turning into a solid NFC team, perhaps the third best team in the conference. Pick: Washington
Houston @ Jacksonville: It's clear that Houston is not the same team without Andre Johnson. On the subject... Andre Johnson is out for Week 6. Pick: Jacksonville
Tennessee @ Tampa Bay: A battle of conference mid-tier teams. You know what that means! Go with the AFC team. Pick: Tennessee
Miami @ Cleveland: Cleo Lemon, leading an 0-5 Miami Dolphins team on the road, against an underrated Cleveland Browns team that's 2-1 at home. Ladies and gentlemen, the Browns are about to be .500 heading into Week 7, which is a bye week, and then they go and play a winless St. Louis team in Week 8. We could be looking at a 4-3 Browns team for the first time since what I can only assume was Bernie Kosar leaning over center. But first, they need a win at home against the Fins. Pick: Cleveland
Standings.....GB....Last week's record
Ian 12-8.......... -- ..............3-1
Saj 9-11........... 3 ..............2-2
Here are your Week 6 games:
Washington Redskins at Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns
Order was restored last week, with our most common results once again having representation. Your games:
Cincinatti Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1:00)
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets (Sunday, 1:00)
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05)
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons (Monday, 8:30)
Cincinatti Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
I was reading Peter King's fantasy football column today and he told me to pick up Cincinnati running back Kenny Watson. So I did. In both leagues. You heard right. I might start Kenny Watson in two separate leagues this week. Kenny Watson. Both leagues. I think I'm legally obligated to support the Bengals here. BENGALS
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets
J-E-T-S, SUCK SUCK SUCK!! There is very little I enjoy more than watching the Jets lose week in and week out. I believe the Germans call that "schadenfreude." Also, the longterm success of my fantasy team depends on Bryant Westbrook running for lots of yards and scoring lots of points. I believe the Germans call that "IhaveafantasyfootballcrushonBryantWestbrook." Crazy Germans and their made up words. EAGLES
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals
Just when you think Matt Leinart might suffer the indignity of losing his job to a 36-year-old Kurt Warner, the lucky bastard goes and breaks his collarbone. Leinart, you son of a bitch. While you're having a pain-killer fueled orgy with the Hilton sisters and Hayley Duff I hope you're at least sorta thinking about your teammates suffering through three hours of poorly executed football. CARDINALS
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons
You never really know what will happen with this Giants team. One week you pick them to win and they lose and the next week you pick them to lose and they win. You just never really know. Except for this week. They will win. The Plaxico/D'Angelo Hall matchup should be fun to watch. And fingers crossed for Brandon Jacobs to bulldoze the Falcons defense for 200 yards and three scores (fantasy implications). GIANTS
With four 1:00 games, my fate will be decided before the Dallas-New England showdown (Pats by 17, by the way).
Washington @ Green Bay: Sooooo, it turns out the Packers don't have a running game and everyone knows it now. And an aged Brett Favre is not good enough to play well against a defense that knows he has to throw. Favre hasn't been that good since the 90's. The Redskins, meanwhile, are turning into a solid NFC team, perhaps the third best team in the conference. Pick: Washington
Houston @ Jacksonville: It's clear that Houston is not the same team without Andre Johnson. On the subject... Andre Johnson is out for Week 6. Pick: Jacksonville
Tennessee @ Tampa Bay: A battle of conference mid-tier teams. You know what that means! Go with the AFC team. Pick: Tennessee
Miami @ Cleveland: Cleo Lemon, leading an 0-5 Miami Dolphins team on the road, against an underrated Cleveland Browns team that's 2-1 at home. Ladies and gentlemen, the Browns are about to be .500 heading into Week 7, which is a bye week, and then they go and play a winless St. Louis team in Week 8. We could be looking at a 4-3 Browns team for the first time since what I can only assume was Bernie Kosar leaning over center. But first, they need a win at home against the Fins. Pick: Cleveland
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Football Friday: Week 5
Standings after four weeks:
Standings.....GB....Last week's record
Ian 9-7.......... -- ..............0-4
Saj 7-9.......... 2 ..............3-1
All right, Saj. Gift given. Time to get serious again. Your games:
New York Jets at (kinda) New York Giants (Sunday, 1:00)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1:00)
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins (Sunday, 1:00)
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 8:15)
Comebacks are like women, Ian. Women with large breasts.
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 1:00)
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1:00)
Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1:00)
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:15)
Seattle @ Pittsburgh: In my opinion, these are two top 5 teams in football (with Pats, Indy, and Dallas). This rematch of Superbowl XL will have similar results, especially the results that show that a top tier NFC team is not as good as a second tier AFC one. Pick: Pittsburgh
Carolina @ New Orleans: This is a great example of a home team with some urgency doing what it takes to win a football game. This is also a great example of Reggie Bush's breakout party. Pick: New Orleans
Atlanta @ Tennessee: Hey, my Knock-Out pool pick for week 5! I've taken Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore, and Dallas in the first four weeks. Yes, I still have the Pats and Indy... but I'm saving them to go the distance. This week, I'll take the team playing one of the worst teams in football on the road. Pick: Atlanta loses... so I guess Tennessee
San Diego @ Denver: First, a caveat: I am using the same justification this week that I used for San Diego's game last week when I mistakenly took them. The Chargers can't possibly fall another game under .500. I know that they go on the road this week whereas last week they were at home. I know they're playing a better team in Denver compared to the putrid Kansas City Chiefs of Week 4. But I also know that San Diego has not yet had reason to panic about their season... until now. Now there's some urgency. Now there's a realization that a playoff birth will not again be handed to them on a platter. And Denver is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pick: San Diego
New York Jets at (kinda) New York Giants
The real loser in this game: the city of New York. By Monday morning the Yankees will have been swept, James Dolan will be cutting a fat check to Anucha Brown-Sanders, Tom Glavine will have officially left the Mets, and the greater metropolitan area will have to suffer through watching this exercise in football futility. My final prediction? The Giants edge out the Jets: seven false start penalties to five rushing touchdowns allowed. GIANTS.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
When in doubt go with the home team that has Larry Johnson. CHIEFS.
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins
I still think the Redskins are the real deal even if their coaching staff isn't. This looks like a 45-40 game if I ever saw one. REDSKINS.
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Brett Favre vs. Rexian Grossiese? PACKERS.
Standings.....GB....Last week's record
Ian 9-7.......... -- ..............0-4
Saj 7-9.......... 2 ..............3-1
All right, Saj. Gift given. Time to get serious again. Your games:
New York Jets at (kinda) New York Giants (Sunday, 1:00)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1:00)
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins (Sunday, 1:00)
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 8:15)
Comebacks are like women, Ian. Women with large breasts.
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 1:00)
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1:00)
Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1:00)
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:15)
Seattle @ Pittsburgh: In my opinion, these are two top 5 teams in football (with Pats, Indy, and Dallas). This rematch of Superbowl XL will have similar results, especially the results that show that a top tier NFC team is not as good as a second tier AFC one. Pick: Pittsburgh
Carolina @ New Orleans: This is a great example of a home team with some urgency doing what it takes to win a football game. This is also a great example of Reggie Bush's breakout party. Pick: New Orleans
Atlanta @ Tennessee: Hey, my Knock-Out pool pick for week 5! I've taken Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore, and Dallas in the first four weeks. Yes, I still have the Pats and Indy... but I'm saving them to go the distance. This week, I'll take the team playing one of the worst teams in football on the road. Pick: Atlanta loses... so I guess Tennessee
San Diego @ Denver: First, a caveat: I am using the same justification this week that I used for San Diego's game last week when I mistakenly took them. The Chargers can't possibly fall another game under .500. I know that they go on the road this week whereas last week they were at home. I know they're playing a better team in Denver compared to the putrid Kansas City Chiefs of Week 4. But I also know that San Diego has not yet had reason to panic about their season... until now. Now there's some urgency. Now there's a realization that a playoff birth will not again be handed to them on a platter. And Denver is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pick: San Diego
New York Jets at (kinda) New York Giants
The real loser in this game: the city of New York. By Monday morning the Yankees will have been swept, James Dolan will be cutting a fat check to Anucha Brown-Sanders, Tom Glavine will have officially left the Mets, and the greater metropolitan area will have to suffer through watching this exercise in football futility. My final prediction? The Giants edge out the Jets: seven false start penalties to five rushing touchdowns allowed. GIANTS.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
When in doubt go with the home team that has Larry Johnson. CHIEFS.
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins
I still think the Redskins are the real deal even if their coaching staff isn't. This looks like a 45-40 game if I ever saw one. REDSKINS.
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Brett Favre vs. Rexian Grossiese? PACKERS.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
MLB Playoffs
First, Saj, let me say that last night (Padres-Rockies) was one of the greatest "regular season" baseball games I've ever seen. Rarely do I stay up past 10:00 on a school night, but last night earned it. Simply an amazing game. It's been written about to death, so I won't spend too much more time on it, except to say this:
Will Colorado ride this momentum (their last 15 games and last night's classic) to make some noise in the National League? And on that note, what can we make of the National League playoffs? Couldn't you make a case for any one of the teams, the best argument for each being that the other three team have significant holes? Basically, Saj, I ask you: Who's winning the National League pennant?
Funny story. Watching the mad dash in the NL this past week for the final playoff spot(s) made me remember exactly how much I love baseball when the games matter. Every pitch, every swing, every baseball-related cliche. Which is why I told myself that I was going to watch the Rockies-Padres game. Unfortunately for quasi-playoff baseball, I love barbecue more. So roommate Rob graciously set the game to record and I set off to gorge myself on dead animal and Southern alcohol. I return home around 11 only to find that the game is still going on, ignore it in favor of the Patriots game (and, sure, maybe "The Hills"), finally sit down to watch the Rocks-Pads around midnight, and promptly fall into a slumber only eight bourbons and three pounds of meat can produce. What this means is that even though I saw the highlights on espn.com today, I will still go home and try to watch the game in it's entirety all the while getting sidetracked by "House" and whatever other crappy television is on tonight.
To answer your question: No. Don't get me wrong, I love the Rockies. I want the Rockies to win the NLCS (and the World Series if Boston doesn't). I want to see Todd Helton play some meaningful baseball for once. I want a bronze statue of Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla getting steroid injections in the front lawn of my future home. But I don't see them getting past the Phillies in a short series where the Phillies will have Cole Hamels starting twice, Brett Myers pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen, homefield advantage, and Rollins/Utley/Howard. If you want evidence for this matter, look at Matt Holliday's home-away splits: his OPS jumps 300 points at home to a Bondsian 1.157. That's no accident, the Rockies are lethal at home, average on the road.
That being said, Colorado does have the best adjusted record of the remaining (read: non-Mets) NL playoff teams and they do have decent pitching for a team from Coors Field. I hope they make noise, Ian. I do. But the Phillies are probably the toughest draw in the field right now and Chase Utley is the dreamiest son of a gun this side of Harrisburg.
Pennant winner prediction: Anyone but the Diamondbacks. You heard it here, FIRST.
Will Colorado ride this momentum (their last 15 games and last night's classic) to make some noise in the National League? And on that note, what can we make of the National League playoffs? Couldn't you make a case for any one of the teams, the best argument for each being that the other three team have significant holes? Basically, Saj, I ask you: Who's winning the National League pennant?
Funny story. Watching the mad dash in the NL this past week for the final playoff spot(s) made me remember exactly how much I love baseball when the games matter. Every pitch, every swing, every baseball-related cliche. Which is why I told myself that I was going to watch the Rockies-Padres game. Unfortunately for quasi-playoff baseball, I love barbecue more. So roommate Rob graciously set the game to record and I set off to gorge myself on dead animal and Southern alcohol. I return home around 11 only to find that the game is still going on, ignore it in favor of the Patriots game (and, sure, maybe "The Hills"), finally sit down to watch the Rocks-Pads around midnight, and promptly fall into a slumber only eight bourbons and three pounds of meat can produce. What this means is that even though I saw the highlights on espn.com today, I will still go home and try to watch the game in it's entirety all the while getting sidetracked by "House" and whatever other crappy television is on tonight.
To answer your question: No. Don't get me wrong, I love the Rockies. I want the Rockies to win the NLCS (and the World Series if Boston doesn't). I want to see Todd Helton play some meaningful baseball for once. I want a bronze statue of Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla getting steroid injections in the front lawn of my future home. But I don't see them getting past the Phillies in a short series where the Phillies will have Cole Hamels starting twice, Brett Myers pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen, homefield advantage, and Rollins/Utley/Howard. If you want evidence for this matter, look at Matt Holliday's home-away splits: his OPS jumps 300 points at home to a Bondsian 1.157. That's no accident, the Rockies are lethal at home, average on the road.
That being said, Colorado does have the best adjusted record of the remaining (read: non-Mets) NL playoff teams and they do have decent pitching for a team from Coors Field. I hope they make noise, Ian. I do. But the Phillies are probably the toughest draw in the field right now and Chase Utley is the dreamiest son of a gun this side of Harrisburg.
Pennant winner prediction: Anyone but the Diamondbacks. You heard it here, FIRST.
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