week 17 picks

After another up and down week last week, i'll try again.  The AFC playoff picture is pretty clear but many games are still in play as far as the NFC is concerned.  

1.  I don't like the line on this one but I have to pick it since it effects my Giants.  I am taking the Packers -10.5,  I think this game will be closer than the line indicates in fact  think the Bears will win ( which is what the Giants need) but it won't be enough to cover.  Bears win, Packers (-10.5)
2.  Oakland's a weird team and Kanas City is playoff bound despite having nothing to play for, I am taking Kansas City -3.5 at home.  Kansas City (-3.5)  
3. St. Louis and Seattle battle to win the NFC West, Seattle has quarterback problems and even though the game is in Seattle I am going to take St. Louis -2.5 on the road.  St. Louis (-2.5)  
4.  Buffalo is better then their record might indicate but the Jets always find a way to win and they go into the playoffs with another home win, Jets -1. Jets (-1)
5. The Giants will finally get over the hump in Washington, if the Bears win the Giants control their own destiny, Giants -4 on the road in Washington.  Giants (-4)    

Week 16 round up

It was a bust holiday season, but i did manage to watch some football.  The New York Jets lost but got into the playoffs due to a Jacksonville loss.  A lot of points were scored in their game with the Bears but this time their defense, which is not as good as they make it out to be, wasn't able to hold Chicago at bay for a Jet comeback.   Let me just say this, Mark Sanchez has a slight tear in his shoulder and so now that the Jets are in the playoffs coach Rex Ryan should not start Sanchez in a game that means nothing.  The Giants were once again bitten by the turnover bug in Green Bay.  The Giants couldn't run the ball against the Packer defense which led to turnovers and a loss, it would have maybe been a better result if (Kevin) Boss recovers (Brandon) Jacobs fumble when the Giants were driving, instead he tried to pick it up and run with it.  I thought the Giants would play better than this following the loss to the Eagles, well.  Now the Giants have to beat the Redskins in D.C next week and hope the Bears beat the Packers, the G-men still have hop but they have to clean up their act.  Now the Vikings bad luck, the Minnesota Vikings have had a game moved to Detroit and another to the University of Minnesota due to snow collapsing the Metrodome roof.  Now their Sunday Night against Philadelphia was moved to Tuesday, due to a snow storm.  Football is played and made for the snow why not play in the snow, I do understand fan safety.  On another note the Viking name almost screams for outdoor play, I would like to see the vikings play outside maybe next year and build their new stadium outdoors.        

week 16 NFL picks

After a so-so week last week, here are my picks for week 16 of the NFL season.  Only 1 week left in the regular season.
1.  I am going to take Dallas (-7) at home against Arizona. Arizona is a mess and Dallas is playing better with John Kitna under center and coach Jason Garrett.  Dallas (-7)
2.  I am taking the Chicago Bears (-1) at home against the Jets,  I still not convinced the Jets are as good as their record, they'll have to show me more and Chicago has something to play for.  Chicago (-1)
3.  I am taking the Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Cleveland, Cleveland hasn't been able to put games away at times this season. Baltimore (-3)
4.  The Giants (+3) at Green Bay, the Giants coming off a tough loss I believe are going to bounce back against an good Packers D.  Giants (+3)  
5.  San Diego (-7.5) at Cincinnati, the Chargers have to win to make the playoffs.  San Diego (-7.5)

89 for UConn

Men or Women 89 straight wins is impressive.  Think what you want but this has to get some play.  It can be argued that this is a men's record, and the woman's game is not the same as the men's because the women play weaker competition or women aren't as good athletes or whatever. The UConn women and coach Geno Auriemma play a pretty strong schedule and I believe back when UCLA and John Wooden set the record of 89 wins, they predominate played west coast teams.  College athletes of any sexual orientation are still athletes and 89 straight is a feat within itself.  Men's and Woman's athletics are sometimes separated,  so keep UCLA's record for the men, and put it around the two UConn woman's streaks of 70 and 89 (and counting).  Geno Auriemma and his UConn lady Huskies already had a streak of 70 straight, the new streak is at 89 and counting.          

Miracle in the Meadowlands

I'll admit that going into today's game, I thought the Giants could contain Michael Vick, limit the turnovers and execute a game plane against the eagles.  Well the New York Football Giants couldn't do that.  The Giants got away from their game plan in the second half.  They played defense, scored and did all the right things in the first half.  The Giants took a 24-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.  Well in the fourth quarter the eagles onslaught began they scored 24 points in about seven minutes to tie the game at 31.  Part of their come back was a onside kick that was recovered by Philadelphia and ignored by all the Giants.  Then rookie punter Matt Dodge, punts to the Eagle return man DeSean Jackson who runs it back for the winning score.  I was never a big Matt Dodge fan and now if their is another punter out their I don't know who, Dodge should loose his job.  How do you not punt that ball out of bounds and go to overtime.  Special teams were my biggest issue in this game, the hands team should have been on the field for the possibility of the onside kick at 31-24, and Matt Dodge.  If you have your hands team on the field to recover the onside kick, if you get the ball their the game is probably over and you never get to the punting issue.  The Giants now have to win at least one of their final two games to make the playoffs, which can be done.  Things would have been a lot easier if they had beaten the Eagles on Sunday, they could have won the division and been the No. 2 seed with a first round bye and a home playoff game now if they make the playoffs they'll be a 5 or 6 seed and not have a home game.  I think if they make the playoffs they can make some noise but they'll have to win at least one of their last two regular season games on the road, and then they'll be playing on the road in the playoffs.  Unexplainable, another miracle in the meadowland.              

week 15 NFL picks

I realize it's late in the NFL season and its a little late to start with the picks, but i am going to do that any way.  I am going to pick three games, plus the locals on out to the rest of the season and all the playoff games.

1.  I am taking Buffalo 5.5 point underdogs to Miami.   Buffalo is better than their record and lost a couple of hart-breakers in overtime and Miami has looked awful at times.  Buffalo (+5.5)
2.  I am taking Dallas 7 point favorites at home against Washington.  Dallas has played better since the firing of coach wade Phillips, Washington hasn't played well and is now changing quarterbacks with the benching of Donovan McNabb. Dallas (-7)      
3.  I am taking Atlanta 6 point Favorites at Seattle.  Seattle is a weird team in that you don't know which team is going to show up week in and week out,  Atlanta is one of the best teams in the NFC.  Atlanta (-6)
4. Giants 3 point favorites at home against the Eagles.  The Giants almost clipped the eagles last time.  Giants (-3)    
5. The Steelers 6 point favorites at home against the Jets.  The Jets are not as good as they or their coach talks them up as.  Steelers (-6)      

Brett Favre

Mr. Favre was unable to star on Monday due to a shoulder injury.  Brett is maybe the top quarterback (at least in the top five to play the position since the merger 1970.  People had a love-hate relationship with Favre,  until the last three years, people liked and respected him.  After that I think a lot of fans had gotten frustrated with the fact that he was playing beyond his usefulness, he just didn't know what else to do.  He played through all kinds of injuries, for the love of the game.  Maybe he should have hung it up three years ago,  he should definitely have hung up his helmet for good after loosing the NFC championship last year.  This year the Vikings came to get him in desperation because they knew they didn't have a quarterback and maybe a team without him.  But this season their was no magic left in his arm, no more records to be had.  This season the injuries (ankle, shoulder, etc) just got to him, he couldn't play through them any more.  He still has and most likely will always have a the record of 297 consecutive games started, that is on of the great records in sports.         

Yankees (what's next)

Late last night it was announced that Cliff Lee took less money to go back to Philadelphia.  The Phillie's weren't even in the running until last week,  it was just the Yankees and Rangers until Philadelphia swooped in at the last minute.  For once the Yankees were in the running for someone and didn't get their man, I guess Cliff liked Philly because their was more money in the Bronx.  what is the Yankees plan B now, they didn't get the pitcher they they were hoping for and for now the Red Sox have made more moves then them.  So far the Yankees have signed Russel Martin to be their every day catcher, they probably carry three catchers next season since Posada is probably only going to catch around 40 games, and signed their own players Jeter and Rivera.  So far going into spring training which is only about a month and a half away, they have three starting pitchers committed.  right now their starting rotation consists of C.C Sabathia, Phil Hughes, A.J Burnett (a loose cannon who you don't know what you'll get), Ivan Nova (a rookie), and Andy Pettite (might retire).  the Yankees need to go out and find a pitcher somewhere, because you can never have enough and the Yankees don't have enough.                 

week 14

Snow, ice, wind, and rain across the country, there's not a game across the country that's not affected by the weather (unless its in a dome).  The Giants have been stranded in Kansas City since last night due to the snow storm in the mid-west.  All the snow in Minnesota caused the Metrodome roof to collapse and tear.  When the Giants get out of Kansas City they will now be flying to Detroit instead of Minnesota for their, now Monday night game with the Vikings.  While the Giants are having some quality time at the Kansas City airport, this gives Brett Favre's shoulder more time to heal, if nothing else.  The Vikings are playing much better under interim coach Leslie Fraser, Brett's happier and you have to believe he's going to start and continue his streak of consecutive games started, hes played with all kinds of injuries so unless his shoulders falling of I believe he'll start. (especially with the extra day).  On the other side of the ball the New York Football Giants are finally healthy,  Diehl, Smith, and Nicks should all play.  Center Shaun O'Hara is on the trip but listed as doubtful, the only player Out is Tackle Shawn Andrews.  Now that the Giants are Healthier, because lets face it even if they don't have a long injury report its the NFL their are going to be bumps an d bruises, they can start putting the O-line back to the way it was in the pre-season, not that they were doing a bad job with the makeshift line.  I think they'll come out and play well this week and next week against Philly. I think this Giant football team is rejuvenated and can make some noise, they're in my top 10 NFL teams.
Top 10
1.  New England Patriots (looked unbeatable)
2.  Atlanta Falcons  (can be beaten on the road)    
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (have to be healthy and play together)
4.  New Orleans Saints (still Super Bowl champs until their dethroned)  
5. Baltimore Ravens
6.  Green Bay Packers
7. Philadelphia Eagles           
8. New York Giants
9. New York Jets (I am not convinced their as good as their record)
10. Chicago Bears
11. San Diego Chargers
12. Kansas City Chiefs

Yankee offseason singings

We should all be happy that the New York Yankees locked up Jeter and Mariano for next year.  Mariano Rivera's deal was smooth sailing, not the case for Jeter.  In the end of his negotiations Derek Jeter should be happy with what he got from the Yankees.  Many of the stories that broke about his negotiations with the Yankees were not true, and whether or not they were true it didn't matter since there shouldn't have been any stories written until the contract was finalized.  In the end the Yankees and Jeter will be able to live happily with Derek selling their brand.  At the Winter meetings they missed out on Carl Crawford who I don't they ever wanted any way, but they didn't want Crawford going to Boston.  The Yankees always had a plan in place for Mr. Cliff Lee to come to the Bronx.  Now that the Red Sox brought in two players at the meetings to bolster their lineup,  the Yankees push for Lee will be pushed up a notch since, they need at least one starter maybe two if Andy Pettite retires and their have been reports this week that he will and they have money to spend.                  

A Mets dissapointment

Are the New York Mets  front office going to get get off the couch and do something this winter.  The Mets had a below .500 record last season, they fired their manager and general manager after the season and haven't done much positive since.  This off season the Mets hired a general who was last working for major league baseball, he hasen't been at the helm of a team since he left the San Diego Padres in March of 2009.  They also hired a manager, who no ones ever heard of, he last led the Anaheim angels to a 4th place finish in 1999. They've spent all this money on their front office but have announced pubically that they have to many bad contracts on this team and can spend no more than $5 million on the field.  The Mets had no pitching last year and Johan Santana their ace is injured and might be out until the all star break.  Right now they have about two guys they can count on as far as starters go, in R.A Dickey and Pelfrey.  They need a bullpen that can shut teams down especially if they don't have the starters which they don't, as of now.  They need help on the infield to since Wright and Reyes are the only guys their they can count on and Reyes has been injured the last couple years.  A front office that no one knows about and only $5 million to spend on a sub .500 team, no one was watching last year.  Is this going to give met fans hope.  Season ticket holders won't renew,  and people won't go to the ball park, they'll be playing in front of no one. Spend that $5 Million wisely.                    

GMS III

Well the late Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner III, was snubbed by the veterans committee today.  It is hard to get into the hall and this committee only puts like 1 person in a year, it is kind of a weird committee that deliberates for hours, votes in private and then doesn't let the public know of their results.  I believe George will eventually get in.  I think George was new to the ballot and the voters didn't have the necessary information to put him in.   The voters were thinking of the bad stuff like when he was banned from baseball not, the good like changing the game, being in on Catfish Hunter the first real free agent, pumping money into the sport by building his team which is now worth billion of dollars( with the Yes Network which is a gold mine and worth a billion by it self), him winning seven championships.  when people do the research and realize he'll be in.     

Cam Newton

I am not a big college football person, more of an NFL guy but I do get up for the big games.  Now Auburn is a good team, I think they are somewhat a product of their quarterback, who led them back in the second half of the Iron bowl last week. Now if his father took money, he broke the rules. I am my father's son, isn't everybody, everyone in a family is connected and so if your parents broke the rules you should have to suffer consequences and vice verso.  now that we know Cam's father screwed up, his son should have to suffer.  Based on all these allegations and statements, I believe Cam Newton should be ineligible for the SEC Championship game on Saturday.        

Hall of Fame class

There's not a whole lot going on in sports right now its the middle of the week, football is not till the weekend, baseball hot stove will heat up with the winter meetings next week, basketball and hockey are early in their seasons.
Lets talk some baseball Hall of Fame balloting.  (P) Bert Blyleven and (2B) Roberto Alomar who should have gotten in last year are near locks for Cooperstown.  Also on the ballot this year are guys like Harold Baines, Juan Gonzalez , Edgar Martinez ,(still don't think the DH gets in) Tino Martinez, Don Mattingly, (I don't think he played long enough) Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, (so writers will never vote for a steroid user) Rafael Palmiro, (hes in the same boat as McGwire) Tim Raines.  I don't think any of those people I just mentioned get in. Jeff Bagwell and Jack Morris are the other two who have a chance in my opinion.           

Playoff!

Can we please get a college football playoff.  These games to compete for this BCS system are fun, but will Boise State get a chance to play for the national championship.  Auburn already beat Alabama in the Iron bowl and Oregon is beating Arizona in their game, that's #1 and 2 who already won, Boise Stat plays Nevada in a couple minutes here but will it matter if the Broncos win.  in recent weeks the Broncos have not gained enough BCS points to jump TCU, also a non automatic qualifier.  If Boise wins will they get enough points to jump into the top two in the standings.  will playing #19 Nevada and winning be the boost they need to get in to the top twp which are currently being occupied by Auburn and Oregon two automatic qualifying schools.  Now it depends who you talk to as to whether a Boise State belongs in the national championship, but how would we ever know?...  It would be easier to figure this whole mess out with a play off, every other sport and collegiate athletic division has one why not Division 1 football.                  

a Knick of hope

I am not a huge basketball fan, due to the fact that the Knicks haven't been good for most of my life.  Yes the knicks were in the Finals in the late 90's but that was a strike shortened season.  The Knicks have had eight coaches since the year 2000 and none of them have been able to get the job done.  Many times this team has been a disaster to watch.  They finally hired a coach and General Manager who broke the team down.  The current Knicks team is close to .500 and is giving us hope early in the season.  

Jeter negoations

Personally I don't think this is a very big deal.  It didn't bother me that the Yankees didn't offer him arbitration because they're going to sign him anyway.  Now the media wants this to be a story and its not.  The Yankees started a 3 years and $40 mil, Jeter started at 5 and $100, I don't think it should be to hard for the two sides to meet somewhere in the middle and settle at something like 3 years maybe an option for a 4th and like $50 mil.  The negotiations may have just taken their first hit when Cashman said " We've encouraged him to test the market and see if there's something he would prefer other than this. If he can, fine. That's the way it works.", although those comments might have given this story some legs, I still believe it's a none issue.  The Yankees still fell their offer is the best and what Derek means to the organization.  Derek also knows what he means to the organization and he wouldn't want to go anywhere else.  A negotiation is always contentious and the never go a smoothly as people would like, but one way or the other he will play for them next season.      

Big Blue, Mash

The New York football Giants are now banged up in almost every position from center to wide receiver.  After last nights game the Giants lost another receiver Hakeem Nicks with an injury, they were already down Steve Smith.  The Giants offensive line is also in shambles C Shaun O'Hara and T David Diehl haven't played much all season, this being the Giants have been playing with a makeshift offensive line.  Being down receivers and players on the offensive line is not ideal, they've had to move people all over the place.  In addition to their injury problems they have a case of the drops.  If they are going to win some more games and make the playoffs they're going to have to fix their fumbling problem.  Coach Tom Coughlin has dealt with the injuries fine so far this season, but the fumbles and interceptions are a problem and it came back in last nights game.  Now last night even with the ball security problems they had their chances but they couldn't really contain Michael Vick who can not only beat you with his legs but can now beat you with his arm.  The Giants may have gotten a gift on the Bradshaw fumble that was overturned and Eli Manning has to slide feet first on that first down run, he is not a runner so he has to get down safely when he can.  If they don't fix especially the ball security issue, they won't be in the playoffs.  The NFC is not as bad as it once was and your going to need 9-10 wins to make the playoffs.  The Giants have three winnable games coming up, with Jacksonville, Washington, and Minnesota, before finishing up with Philly, Green Bay and Washington.  I think they'll be in the playoffs starting with getting back on the winning track this weekend.        

lucky or good (NYJ)

Let me start by saying that I am not a Jets fan.  Are the New York Jets lucky or good.  I have watched a bunch of Jets games which could have gone either way.  When I've turned on Jets games, I was expecting to be watching a more mature version of what I saw last year.  But its different the offense seems to have taken a step or two forward with the evolution of Mark Sanchez.  but at the same time their offense is better then a year ago, their defense has gone the other way.  if you just look at their defense, they are a totally different team, where have the constant of blitzes gone.  I believe the rest of the league has caught up to Rex Ryan and his blitzing schemes which are few and far between this season.  I have watched a handful of Jets games in which they have let the opposition come back in the 4th quarter and their offense has had to come and bail them out.  Is this luck or talent?  I do not believe the New York Jets are as good as their record.  the Jets have gotten a few gifts at the end of games and against the elite competition that will hurt.  The Jets games coming up against the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots will be very telling.  Against that type of elite competition if you give up a fourth quarter lead your probably not coming back.                 

football in baseball venues

This is a nice idea in theory, but not always practical.  I watched both of these games today.  Northwestern and Illinois at the famed Wrigley Field started the week as a mess but turned out fine today.  I heard that according to the NCAA there has to be at least six feet between the back of the end zone and a wall for it to be safe for play, if this was the case the plan to put a football game at Wrigley Field should have been revised or scraped altogether.  All of the offensive plays in this game had to be directed in the same direction due to the fact that the one end zone was less then six inches from the brick outfield wall, the brick wall was padded but its still brick and was therefore ruled unsafe by the teams and the Big Ten Conference.  As soon as this plan was proposed or when the pictures of this fie;d were taken on Monday the NCAA and/or the Big Ten Conference should have stepped up and realized their flaw.  While football at Wrigley was just weird football at Yankee Stadium was magical. There were no flaws with this field and it was Notre Dame and Army two schools with great tradition and pride.  You had the Corp of Cadets descending upon the Big Apple and marching into 'The House That George Built" with all the Yankee Stadium tradition and Notre Dame donning their green jerseys which they only wear on special occasions.  This was a great night of college football in New York which is not a great college football town. 

Jeter contract negoations

Derek Jeter is one of the few immortal Yankees, he has to and will finish his career as a Yankee.  Derek will go down in history with the Ruth's, DiMaggio, Gehrig, Yogi, and Ford and his Yankee career will grow further, next spring when he becomes the first Yankee to ever reach 3,000 hits.  Derek needs his next contract, it should be a slam dunk but as with all negotiations there will be some back and forth.  Part of the reason people are talking about this is because people want these negations to be public.  They shouldn't be public until the final numbers are hashed out.  I not saying give him whatever he wants but be reasonable he means more to the New York Yankees then Any other franchise.  Be respectful of him and all he's done for New York and yes he is getting older and will change positions at some point, but your singing him to this contract right now as a shortstop. His contract is probably going be for 3 or 4 years at 18-24 Million.  After next season when Posada is retired you come to Jeter and present him with two options he can move to third and A-Rod becomes our DH, or move to left field.        

State of the NFL

More than ever the NFL is becoming a win now league.  show me the great team out there, they all seem to have their flaws.  The New York Jets are a perfect example, they are not as good as their record would indicate.  The Jets barely escaped a couple times.  The top teams in the AFC would have to be the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts.  The NFC is probably a little more wide open with what were supposed to be the best teams in the beginning of the year falling, flat on their face.  The Green Bay Packers have had injuries everywhere.  The Minnesota Vikings who started the year desperate, with going down to Mississippi to get the ageless Brett Favre can't get their offense going and made a huge mistake with Randy Moss.  The Dallas Cowboys Just can't get out of their own way, too many turnovers, and penalties with a lack of discipline and defense won't get it done.  In my opinion the beat team in the NFC is the New York Giants who have gotten the defense back in recent weeks, cured their penalty problem, the Giants are starting to resemble their Super Bowl winning team of 2007.
Tim's Power rankings
1.  Indianapolis Colts- you have to stop Peyton Manning       
2.  New York Giants-  keep the offense hearty and keep playing defense
3.  Pittsburgh Steelers - big Ben's back see what you can do   
4.  Tennessee Titans- they can run the ball lets see what they do with Randy Moss
5.  New Orleans Saints- get over that post Super Bowl hangover.    

Sweet Lou and the Mess in queens while all is steady in yankee land

Today one of the most beloved men in baseball has decided to retire.  Stepping down early due to a family issue Lou Piniella better known as a manager then as a player from 1964-1984. I only remember the stories I've heard of him playing for the Yankees.  Piniella and The Boss George Steinbrenner got into the occasional argument while he was with the team, which was why he didn't stay on as manager or general manager of the team long.  I remember him taking the rains of Seattle, Tampa Bay, and the Cubs.  he was defiantly a fiery manager who did his best to break teams down and build them back up.  Although he didn't win much as manager except for that one championship and NL pennant in 1990 with the reds, we was a good a sweet guy.

While Robinson Cano was hitting 6 RBI's for the Yankees were beating the Mariners 10-0, through the rain drops in the Bronx.  The cross town rival Mets were back to their loosing was in Pittsburgh.  One would have thought this would have been a great opertunity for the Mets who haven't won a road series all year to not only win a series but sweep one.  The Pirates have now clinched their 18th stright loosing season.  The Mets are only slightly better at home.  It dosen't matter a whole lot where they play since they can't hit in the cluch and only 2/5 of their rotation gives them good outings.  If it wasn't for the Yankees the baseball fans in this town would go nuts. the Yankees have the pitching and the offense to get it done.  I am not to worried about Burnnet and/or Vazquez beacuse the team still has a potent offense that can erupt at any moment. Although I don't know what they are doing with Phil Hughes in terms of his innings limit, I am confident they'll do something and maybe it starts with Ivan Nova on Monday night.