MLB Recap 10/15/10

The MLB Postseason continues tonight after a questionably long break since the previous series…Fortunately that break has allowed me to calm down since the whole Instant Replay fiasco.

In the year of the pitcher, the excitement has all boiled down to Game 1 between the Phillies and Giants. Roy Halladay v. Tim Lincecum. I am not doubting that these two pitchers will pitch very well in Game 1, but I have to imagine that these two pitchers will not be able to replicate the amazing performances they had in the previous series. Halladay pitched a No Hitter (virtually a perfect game, if not for 1 walk) and Lincecum pitched a 2 Hitter. Impressive both of them. But you simply cannot expect that with this type of pressure and immense hype for the game that both pitchers will last 9 innings, outdueling one for the other in a 1-0 game. If it happens, then by all means enjoy the baseball and I will eat my words. But I have a hunch that at least one of them will be gone by the 6^th inning (maybe 7).

Since this does begin new series, I will honor the day with some predictions: Like I said in my first post, the Phillies simply must be considered as the front runner until someone makes a legitimate move for the World Series. The Giants will not be that team. As for the Rangers and Yankees, as much as it hurts me to believe that the Evil Empire will go all the way, the Rangers are too young to really progress anywhere deep into October.

Phillies in 5. Yankees in 6. World Series Rematch.

NBA Recap 10/13/10

The NBA has done something extremely interesting by playing a number of preseason games across seas – not only between NBA teams, but also against professional teams in Europe. Here are the good and bad sides of the issue:

The good side: This is great promotional advertising for a league that for all intents and purposes is 3^rd most popular in the United States, but gaining rapidly on soccer everywhere else in the world. Baseball doesn’t have this luxury, with exception to Latin America, and American football is essentially seen as barbaric in the eyes of the rest of the world. This is a great way for the NBA to get their name out to the rest of the world and put their label in peak position for merchandising (Re: incredibly successful NBA Store on 5^th Ave that has about 50% of its purchases made by international fans). Great work on behalf of Commissioner David Stern and a great move all around for basketball.

The bad side: If you are going to brag about your product and the strength of the NBA, you have to actually win the games you play against international teams. Last week, the Los Angeles Lakers made a presence in Spain but fell apart in the end and ended up losing to FC Barcelona. Hello!? These are our defending champions!? At least make the league look reasonably talented!! Granted, Kobe Bryant was nursing an injury and it was our preseason – but come on! Our B-Team was able to win the World Basketball Championship, our top collective team can take care of some Spaniards (considering we had their best player in Pau Gasol). Pitiful performance by the Lakers – absolutely demeaning to the whole league. Next year Stern better consider who he sends overseas (if anyone) that can actually show the league in a positive, talented light. 

NFL Recap 10/11/10

Well if this week in the NFL has proven anything, it’s that the experts know nothing. Top quarterbacks continue to be challenged, and after only 5 weeks, no team is undefeated. The Super Bowl Colts and Saints are both 3-2. The Oakland Raiders gave a pounding to San Diego. The Detroit Lions looked Super Bowl-caliber against Sam Bradford. Congrats by the way to the Detroit Lions, who now don’t have any pressure to win a game until next season, because let’s face it, this is only their 3^rd win in the last 3 seasons. They are definitely not going to be doing this more anytime soon.

The real intrigue, though, is with Monday Night Football. The Jets have an opportunity to prove that their Week 1 loss truly was a fluke (and that they may in fact run the table), while Brett Favre has about one or two more games before he realizes that the comeback this time around was probably a terrible idea. Put in a little Randy Moss who torched the Jets already once this season and we’re looking at a pretty nice matchup.

Prediction:

The Jets are favored in the spread (-4.5) with due reason. Favre has more interceptions this season than he did all of last season. Yet this is Brett Favre on Monday Night Football (Re: MNF after his father died – 4TDs, 400YDs). Count on him to make it interesting.

Vikings beat the spread (and possibly some last minute Favre heroics for the game). 

Miscellaneous Recap 10/9/10

This week in miscellanea brings the College Football BCS rant:

How many games must Boise State win before they are taken seriously!? Time and again they have proven themselves worthy of being in the conversation, and yet they are never given a shot at the championship title (yet the last 2 BCS Bowl Games they were in they won).

The biggest mistake that the BCS did last year was taking the two undefeated teams (Re: Boise State and TCU) and pitting them against each other while the one-loss teams battled it out for the other BCS games. They needed to break that up! Had each one of those teams played one of the major conferences in the bowl games, they both would have won and shut every single doubter up. No they have to begin from square one again.

When push comes to shove, Boise will eventually have to be given a shot by pure reason that they simply have won so many games in a row. And when they do, the BCS will finally have to get off their high horse and realize College Football isn't an old mens club anymore.