Baseball Preview

New Angels Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson will lead their team to the World Series. 

Roy Halladay will lead his team to the World Series this year. 

They’re back. Stephen Strasburg, Johan Santana, Buster Posey, Kendrys Morales and more. After a long winter, Baseball is back. For Strasburg, Santana, Posey, and Morales, this season couldn’t have come faster. Strasburg pitched in just five games last year due to a Torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament. Posey, fractured his left fibula, and missed all but 45 games. Santana and Morales each sat out the whole season. The 2012 season brings a new opportunity for each of these four players. 

So, what happened during the winter? For starters, the Angels spent 500 million to get arguably the best hitter in baseball, and the best pitcher on the free-agent market in Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. As an added bonus, Wilson was the ace of division rival Texas Rangers By adding Pujols, the Angels have an extremely dangerous lineup, and the addition of Wilson, contributes to an already potent starting rotation. These two signings have many thinking the Angels could win their second World Series, and reclaim the division crown. 

The Angels will have some trouble getting back the division crown from the Rangers, however, as they signed Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. Darvish is expected to replace Wilson in the rotation. The Rangers also have former Angels catcher Mike Napoli, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, and Nelson Cruz in their lineup. The Angels-Rangers rivalry could be one of the most interesting this season. 

Besides in the AL West, what else happened? The Brewers had some drama. Ryan Braun was accused of taking illegal drugs, and star first baseman Prince Fielder signed with the Tigers, to team with Miguel Cabrera, who is shifting over to third base for the first time since 2007, when he was with the Marlins. 

The Marlins had a spending spree of their own. Adding former White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen, to rejuvenate a franchise that has won more world series titles in their 19 year history, then the Cubs have in the last 104. Owner Jeffery Loria built a lavish new stadium, and added former Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, former White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, and former Padres closer Heath Bell. The Marlins also renamed themselves, in order to identify with their city. Their new name, the Miami Marlins, has also led to a new logo. 

This season also has added a second wildcard. Both wildcards will have a play-off, with the first place in the wildcard gaining home field advantage in the game. The winner of that game will face the team with the best record. This second wildcard should make for an exciting postseason. Speaking of postseason, see below for play-off predictions! 

Postseason Predictions: 

American League:                                             National League: 

Wild-card Playoff:                                             Wild-card Playoff:

Yankees over Rangers                                      Giants over Marlins

Division Series:                                              Division Series: 

Angels over Yankees                                    Phillies over Giants 

Tigers over Rays                                           Diamondbacks over Reds 

Championship Series:                                Championship Series: 

Angels over Tigers                                       Phillies over Diamondbacks 

World Series: 

Phillies over Angels 

Final Four Preview

Thomas Robinson and Kansas take on Ohio State tomorrow. 

Anthony Davis and the rest of his squad take on Louisville. 

We’re finally here. 64 teams have been eliminated, to leave us with four. These four teams have demonstrated that they are the best in college basketball. From the South region we have Kentucky. Kentucky has beaten everyone this year. Everyone except Indiana, whom they avenged in the Sweet 16, and Vanderbilt, who were eliminated in the third round. They have dominated their opponents in this tournament, beating Western Kentucky, Iowa State, Indiana, and Baylor by at least 12 points. Facing Kentucky, is number four seed Louisville. Louisville has surprised everyone this tournament to become the West Region champs, beating Bradley Beal’s Florida squad. 

In the other matchup, Thomas Robinson and Kansas take on Jared Sullinger and Ohio State. Kansas, which finished with a 27-6 record this season, including a victory over the Buckeyes, who were without their star forward Sullinger. The Jayhawks have won every game in this tournament, but have had to fight in each and every game. The Buckeyes on the other hand, won an East Region, in which despite being the number 2 seed, were predicted to lose. Sullinger along with Aaron Craft have led this strong Buckeye team. 

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals 

The question isn’t if Kentucky can win, it is can they lose? Rick Pitino will attempt to find the answer to this question tomorrow afternoon. Pitino has led his birds a long way, and they did beat the heavily favored Michigan State Spartans and star forward Draymond Green. Louisville is led  by guards Kyle Kuric and Peyton Siva, who average about a third of the team’s points. Also contributing is 6-11 sophomore Gorgui Dieng. Dieng averaged 9 points and 9 boards on the season, as well as 3 blocks. Meanwhile, Coach Calipari and his Wildcats will try to score as much as they can, against a defense that allows just 60 points per game. The Wildcats have averaged 88 points per game this tournament. No team has been able to figure them out, with their five starters, as well as Darius Miller averaging in double figures. The only way for Louisville to beat Kentucky, is to slow them down. Hold Davis to single digits, get him into foul trouble. Unfortunately for Louisville, these things are very hard to do. And as a result of that, their NCAA tournament run will conclude. 

Kentucky over Louisville 

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 

Who wants it more? Is it Thomas Robinson, who a year after losing his mother, and two grandparents, is leading Kansas in the final four? Or, is it Ohio State Buckeye Jared Sullinger, who chose to stay in school for another year, and drove his team back to the national semi-finals? Choices, choices. Ultimatley, it will come down to who has the best supporting cast. Or, it could come down to luck, like most NCAA tournament games. The Buckeyes have averaged 77 points per game in this tournament, while the Jayhawks have just scored 67 points per game. So obviously, Kansas needs to slow down the potent attack of William Buford, Sullinger, and Deshaun Thomas. Kansas has a great defense, however. So it won’t be to big of a problem. They have allowed just 58 points this tournament, holding North Carolina to just 67 last week. The Buckeyes have been solid, but not as great as Kansas has been, allowing 65 points per game in this tournament. The bottom line of this game, goes back to who wants it more. Whoever wants it more, is going to get it. If Robinson can get Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson to play hard, and step up, Kansas will romp. But if Sullinger, Buford, and Aaron Craft can play well enough, the Buckeyes will come back to the final. I’m betting on Robinson to reach the title in honor of his mom and grandparents. 

Kansas over Ohio State 

Bye-Bye Fish

Below this picture, is a letter which could have been written by Kobe Bryant to Derek Fisher. 

Dear Fish,

Thank you. Thank you for your 13 years of service. Thank you for always being a team player, playing your heart out, doing what needed to be done. Sure, in the past few years you’ve been struggling, but you were a vital part of the Lakers. Thank you for your help in winning five championships. I liked having you as my point guard all these years. Thanks for making the shot. You know which shot. Against the Spurs, Game 5? It was a great play. Thank you for always being there for me, always standing by me. I will miss you so much. Those three years when you were gone were hard. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I needed my point guard. Fish, I hope that Houston will be a great place for you, and know that you are a fantastic player, and I will relish every moment that I have spent on the court playing with you. 

Much love, 

Kobe B. Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers 

Skills or Championships?

While Eli has just won a Superbowl, Peyton Manning's career could be in jeopardy.

He’s gone. After 208 games and 7,210 passes, Peyton Manning was cut by the Indianapolis Colts. What will happen? Will anyone sign him? Or, will the countless amount of neck surgeries force him into retirement?

 If Peyton either retires voluntarily, or no team signs him, a debate will begin. The debate of who is a better player, Peyton, or his brother Eli. There are different opinions for either of these brothers. Some say Peyton’s better because of his four MVP awards. Others say that Eli has won more Superbowl Championships, (2, to Peyton’s single championship) and thus is the better player. 

Peyton obviously has had a better career stats wise. It took Peyton only three years to throw thirty touchdown passes, while it took Eli seven. Peyton also threw for 4000+ yards in his first season, and Eli was playing for six years before he finally threw for that many yards. 

But, it all comes down to championships, and Eli has two of ‘em. Eli and his Giants have come from behind to beat the Pats twice. Peyton is 1-1 in his Superbowl appearances. Beating the Bears in his first appearance, but losing to the Saints in his next. 

All in all, Peyton and Eli are both great quarterbacks. Peyton has the edge on the skills side, while Eli has the advantage on the championship side. And who knows, the Washington Redskins are one of the teams in line to sign Peyton, so we could be seeing more Peyton and Eli battles in the future! 

Kobe Bryant: The Greatest Player in the Game Today?

Not even a concussion and a broken nose could stop Kobe Bryant!

“He’s the best player in the game, it’s just that simple, there is nothing that Kobe Bryant can’t do”, raps Lil Wayne in his song “Kobe Bryant”. Weezy wrote this song in 2009, the year after Kobe had won his fourth championship. People thought that the Black Mamba was on fire. 

Fast forward to the end of last year. His Lakers, Kobe’s Lakers, had just lost four straight games in the NBA playoff semifinals to the Mavericks. People thought Kobe’s reign at the top was finished. That LeBron is the new king of the court now. Well, think again. After LeBron choked in the finals against the Mavs, Kobe knew that he had to do something. 

And this past season he has. When Lakers’ management pondered trading Lamar and Pau, and then they didn’t, he told them it was a distraction. They traded Lamar, which Kobe was a bit unhappy about Then a few weeks ago, he told the management to trade Pau or don’t trade him. Just decide, he said.

Meanwhile, Kobe has flourished this year. He is leading the NBA in scoring with 28.5 points per game. And how old is he? He is 33 years of age. In third place on that list, Mr. LeBron James. The so-called “King”. 

Yeah, Yeah. Call Kobe a “ballhog”. So maybe he doesn’t pass the ball to often. But he doesn’t need to pass very much. Five assists per game is fine. As long as he can play well, that’s what matters. 

Uh Oh. That’s the feeling that Lakers’ fans had when Dwayne Wade elbowed Kobe in the All-Star game. Lakers’ fans became even more worried when they found out that he had a concussion and broke his nose. 

So what does Kobe do? How many games does he miss? None. That’s right, none. A true champion. In fact, in his first game back, Kobe drops 31 on the Timberwolves, all while wearing a mask. 

Kobe is a true baller. Five championships. If he can get one this year, the MJ/Kobe debates can finally begin. Who knows what we will say in June?

NBA at the Break

The NBA at the Break

Signs like this one have been appearing everywhere Jeremy Lin has played.

Note: There was no posting in the past few weeks because I had surgery. I will now be back to posting weekly.

After an extremely long, unnecessary lockout, the 30 NBA teams began the 66 game season on Christmas Day. The season began with Carmelo Anthony leading the Knicks to a 106-104 victory over the Boston Celtics. Anthony and his compatriot Amare Stoudemire had been carrying the Knicks, until about two weeks ago. With Anthony injured, and Amare grieving the death of his brother; an unknown, twice cut, Harvard educated point guard stepped up to the challenge. You know his name.Jeremy Lin. Lin has dominated this season as a starter for the Knicks. He has been the Tebow of the NBA. 

So, what else is going on? Well the defending champion Mavericks got off to a very slow start. Led by Dirk, a new look Mavs team bounced back, and is now in fourth place in the Western Conference. How’s the Big Three doing? Well, in their last game before the All-Star Break, they figured out a way to stop Linsanity. But besides that, the Miami Heat has dominated. They finished with the best record at the break, a half a game ahead of the Bulls. 

Okay, now, what about the teams who didn’t make the championship? Well, the Lakers, coached by new coach Mike Brown cannot seem to win on the road. A 6-12 road record, harms the almost perfect home record. Kobe has been his old solid self, leading the league in scoring with 28 points per game, as well as third in minutes per game. Kobe has tried to convince Lakers’ management to trade or to keep Pau Gasol. 

He's playing well, but Kobe has to be upset with the Lakers' play.

Despite constant speculation, Dwight Howard has stayed with the Orlando Magic. Lakers fans want him, Nets fans want him, but the Magic fans have him. Who knows if he will stay there for the rest of the season? Lamar Odom struggled at first, but has played better recently in his first year for the Mavs. Odom left the Lakers in a bittersweet trade for some cash and a draft pick.

And of course who could be forgetting the Clippers? Led by new acquisitions Chris Paul, and the now injured Chauncey Billups, as well as Blake Griffin,  the Clippers have cruised this season. They even beat their rival, the Lakeshow at one point. Coach Del Negro has coached the Clippers to third place in the conference. 

Oh yeah, there’s Durant too. Durant and his Thunder crew have been ballin’ it up this season, winning 27, and losing only seven. Good for first in the conference. The Thunder could be able to reach the Finals this season, and Durant can finally erase all the doubters, not that he has many. 

Superbowl Preview

Tom Brady and Eli Manning, quarterbacks of the New England Patriots and New York Giants, face off in the Superbowl on Sunday. 

I guess Tim Tebow didn’t pray hard enough.

Tebow and the Broncos were beaten by the Patriots in the divisional round, while the defending champion Green Bay Packers were upset by the New York Giants in the NFC divisional round.  The Giants and Patriots both went on to win in the conference finals in closely contested games and now they meet in the Super Bowl. Again.

Four years ago, these two teams played each other in Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants upset the Patriots and spoiled their perfect season. Now The 12-7 New York Giants take on the 15-3 New England Patriots in what is set to be an epic rematch.

Patriots offense: The Patriots offense starts and ends with Tom Brady. Brady had another fantastic season, finishing second in the NFL with 5,235 passing yards. He also threw 39 touchdown passes. While Brady continues to throw to Wes Welker, he has also added targets to his offense in tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who have combined for 24 touchdowns this season. The Patriots’ running game is a work in progress. The team has been using BenJarvus Green-Ellis, also known as the “Law Firm,” who ran for 441 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season. The Patriots average 32 points per game, third most in the league. In the two games that the Patriots have played in this postseason, the offense has scored 68 points combined, so expect the Super Bowl to be high scoring.

Giants offense: Eli Manning could finally be better than his brother. Eli finished with 4,933 yards passing this season, the most in his career. In addition, he also threw for 29 touchdown passes. If he beats the Patriots, he will have more Super Bowl titles than his brother. Manning has been throwing to his three core of receivers. The big three consists of Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, who collectively combined for 197 catches and 20 touchdowns. The Giants’ running game has not been as good as in past years, but they still managed to average 24 points per game.

Offensive Edge: Patriots 

Patriots defense: The Patriots defense struggled this season, as they allowed 21 points per game. The Patriots finished #31 in the league in yards per game. Andre Carter had a great season for the Patriots, with 10 sacks on the season.

Giants defense: The Giants defense allowed 25 points per game, good for #25 in the NFL. Despite all the points being scored, the Giants finished second in the NFL in sacks, and second in tackles as well. Their fantastic defensive line consisted of Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Rocky Bernard. Pierre-Paul finished with 16.5 sacks in just nine games, while Umenyiora finished with nine sacks. This postseason, the Giants have sacked the opposing quarterback nine times. Brady better watch out.

Defensive Edge: Giants

The Pick: This year, the Patriots will try to avenge their loss. To do so, the Patriots must throw to their tight ends quickly and use them wisely. If the Pats can do this, they can win. If the Giants can contain Tom Brady, the Patriots will be hopeless. Eli Manning will tear apart the Patriots defense, but Brady will be throwing to Welker countless times. This will be a Super Bowl for the ages, but Brady and the Pats will pull away.

Patriots 27, Giants 24